MasterChef Junior champions: Where are they now?

The mini MasterChef apron is a menu favorite.

MasterChef Junior has launched the careers of kids who know how to flambé, sauté, and everything in between since its 2013 premiere. While Gordon Ramsay, Aarón Sanchez, and Daphne Oz (who joined the panel in season 8) judge the next batch of young home cooks, many junior MasterChefs of the past are continuing their paths toward culinary excellence.

Some of the show's winners are still cooking in their adulthood, but others have taken a step away from the kitchen. Take a look at what the show's former champions have on their plates.

Season 1: Alexander Weiss

Though Alexander Weiss made his mark on the show back in 2013, he's still on Ramsay's mind. The judge mentioned the first-ever MasterChef Junior winner in a 2019 episode of Hot Ones, saying, "This guy is a prolific chef, he's barely 19 years of age, and for the last five years, he spent weekends and holidays in some of the most amazing restaurants across the world."

Since his win, Weiss has provided culinary experiences around New York City with his company Dinners by Alexander; studied at the Culinary Institute of America; interned at the James Beard Award-winning restaurantthe Barn at Blackberry Farm; worked as a private chef in California; and appeared as a guest judge in season 8 of MasterChef Junior.

Season 2: Logan Guleff

Logan Guleff won at 11 years old with the title of Cupcake King. The young chef was named Southern Living's Best New Chef at 13 and made Time's Most Influential Teens list a year later. At 15, Guleff gave a TEDx talk called, "The Art of the Flavor."

In 2021, he enrolled at Pepperdine University, began working as a Youth Advisor for City Harvest — a New York City nonprofit dedicated ending hunger in the Big Apple — and became the first chef to offer a virtual dining experience NFT.

Season 3: Nathan Odom

After taking home the MasterChef Junior trophy at 12, Nathan Odom immersed himself in Japanese cuisine, moving to the country for almost two years to study under a 3 Michelin star chef. The youngster moved back to San Diego in fall 2021 and launched a private dinner and catering company, Restaurant Neo (which ended the following year).

When he's not dominating the kitchen, he's mastering other skills like learning how to play various instruments and making leather handbags.

Season 4: Addison Osta Smith

The first girl to win the title, Addison Osta Smith went on to compete on Dancing With the Stars: Juniors and MasterChef Junior: Celebrity Showdown. At age 10, she was the youngest MasterChef Junior victor at the time, though she's now tied with season 6's Beni Cwiakala and season 8's Liya Chu. Her cooking account has been inactive since 2019, but she posts regularly on her TikTok.

Season 5: Jasmine Stewart

Jasmine Stewart's enthusiasm and pineapple upside down cake are her legacies in the MasterChef Junior kitchen — where she was the first contestant to win after being eliminated. She's continued her success by touring with MasterChef Junior Live through March 2020 and contributing to MasterChef's #AtHomeWith series that year. Stewart has also started her own company, JustJas, LLC, focused on "girl empowerment and motivational speaking."

Season 6: Beni Cwiakala

Beni Cwiakala's signatures in the kitchen were her bold confidence and risky decisions. Since her win, the MasterChef is still cooking, though her Instagram feed also consists of Instagram Live book reviews (hence the video series' title "A Cook With Books."), as well as her sharing episode reviews of MasterChef Junior season 8. The Chicagoan also raised money for restaurant relief in 2021 as part of a live cooking demo fundraiser.

Season 7: Che Spiotta

The former champion has taken his talents to TikTok, where Che Spiotta continues to cook up a storm. The gluten-free chef contributed to MasterChef's #AtHomeWith series in 2020 by sharing a black bean soup recipe. Spiotta continues to appear on cooking shows like The Chin Twins and has hosted Zoom cooking classes for charity.

Season 8: Liya Chu

Growing up in her parent's Taiwanese restaurant in New York, Liya Chu applied her family's roots and Asian culture to cook up impressive dishes that earned her the crowning title at 10 years old. After winning MasterChef Junior, Chu went on tour with her former opponents from season 8. She continues to share her culinary skills on her Instagram.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Related content:

• Gordon Ramsay teaches Lil Nas X how to make a 'meanie' panini
• Gordon Ramsay donated $50,000 to late MasterChef Junior contestant Ben Watkins' cancer treatment
• Michelle Obama's MasterChef Junior surprise made kids 'incredibly excited,' dishes showrunner