Young women gets a once in a life time experience to showcase her talents in the kitchen.
By Julia Pascucci
Mitchell, 18, decided to major in communication with a concentration in public relations after seeing the people who interview and promote the show during the filming of MasterChef Junior.
Mitchell’s path to appearing on the show came when she saw it mentioned on the last episode in the first season of MasterChef. “After I watched the episode and saw the application, I filled it out that night. I believe it was in December of 2013, because we filmed in 2014. I only applied for fun, I wasn’t thinking much of it,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said there were multiple steps to take in order to be selected as a contestant on the show. “You need to fill out the initial application and after that you'll have a phone interview to get selected for an open call audition in New York City. During the open call, you do basic cooking things like chop celery, measure water, cook something with an egg, and they finish with a mini interview. If you get past that round, you need to do a live cooking demo and make a home video about yourself,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell learned she was going to be on the show the night of the Superbowl that year. “While watching the game, I received the call that I would be heading to L.A. for filming. I could not contain my excitement during the whole phone call and I couldn’t stop smiling for the rest of the night,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell left with her mother to film MasterChef Junior on her birthday, March 22, 2014. “Leaving was a crazy and surreal experience, because it happened so fast. I was so excited that I was going to film in Los Angeles, but at the time I couldn’t tell my friends where I was going so it was all a big mystery,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said she spent a lot of her time on set at Paramount Studios, where the show was filmed. “Overnight my mom and I would stay in a huge hotel room and in the morning we would get sent shuttles or cars to bring me to the studio. They had food trucks for lunch and while some of the contestants had interviews or promotional things to do, others did school. So we all were always together and became a big family,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said being on the set felt unreal. “I felt like I was watching an episode of MasterChef junior and not an actual contestant on the show,” Mitchell said.
The first challenge on the show was not good, she said. “I was trying to multitask and cut a lime simultaneously looking up at an interviewer and that's when it happened, I cut my finger. I was freaking out, because the medic said I would need stitches but he ended up using instant scab and I was able to keep going. Surprising enough, I won this challenge and the prize was the sweetest thing, an ice cream sundae,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said the experience was unforgettable and life altering. “Overall, being on the show, filming with a group of kids that I was with everyday, meeting celebrity chefs, and seeing the behind the scenes was some of the best memories I could ever have,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell’s mother, Michelle Mitchell, said the experience brought the two closer. “Kayla asked me to audition and I supported her, I was not thinking anything of it until I got a phone call at work that said she was moving onto the next round. Making arrangements to leave work was difficult, but with the support from my family, friends, and my workplace I was able to make it happen and I was so excited for Kayla to have an opportunity like this because it only comes once. Watching the behind the scenes action and watching Kayla be herself was an awesome experience,” she said.
Mitchell’s younger sister, Lauryn Mitchell, was a contestant on Chopped Junior and won. “Lauryn was on Chopped Junior in 2016 of July and I’m so happy we both got to have an experience with cooking on television. I couldn’t be more proud of her for how much hardwork and effort she dedicated towards her time on the show,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell teaches cooking classes for children and hosts birthday parties for kids in the area. “So my mom and I teach cooking classes through an enrichment program at our school district, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, as well as teaching them at my house. It’s awesome to watch the kids have creative freedom in the kitchen,” Mitchell said.
Lauryn joins in helping out with the cooking classes that Mitchell teaches. “One of the birthday parties we do for kids is Chopped inspired,” Mitchell said.
The mother and daughter created a Facebook account together to post their creations and announce dates for cooking classes. “We would post on Facebook for classes and it would take a few minutes to an hour until we are completely booked. I’ve loved cooking since I was a child too, so passing it on to Kayla and now other kids too is such an awesome experience,” The mother said.
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