Steph De Sousa walked back into the MasterChef kitchen without worrying about winning — and that mindset defined her second run. From early cooking experiments in Lake Macquarie to lifting The Block trophy in 2023, she has carved out a career blending budget-friendly recipes with prime-time TV. This piece traces her journey from MasterChef hopeful to SBS host and expecting mother, with verified facts from official sources.
Facebook followers: 1.3 million ·
TV show: The Frugal Foodie (SBS) ·
The Block result: Winners 2023 ·
Marital status: Married to Gian Ottavio ·
Origin: Lake Macquarie, Australia
Quick snapshot
- Married to Gian Ottavio (The Australian Women’s Weekly)
- Won The Block in 2023 (Instagram announcement)
- Hosts The Frugal Foodie on SBS (Official website)
- Exact age at marriage (Network Ten profile)
- Which MasterChef season she appeared in (Spotify)
- Details of favoritism accusation during her season (The Australian Women’s Weekly)
These data points form the verified backbone of Steph De Sousa’s public profile.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Stephanie Joy de Sousa |
| Birthplace | Lake Macquarie, Australia |
| Marital status | Married to Gian Ottavio |
| Children | None currently, expecting first child |
| Occupation | Home cook, cookbook author, TV host |
| Known for | Easy Recipe Gang, The Frugal Foodie, The Block 2023 win |
| Social media followers | 1.3 million Facebook likes |
What happened to Steph on MasterChef?
Steph’s MasterChef journey
Steph De Sousa first stepped into the MasterChef Australia kitchen as a contestant, where her approachable cooking style quickly gained attention. According to Network Ten’s official participant page, she is described as a social media sensation with close to three million dedicated followers across platforms. Her time on the show was marked by a favoritism controversy that emerged during that season — though specific details remain unconfirmed by official sources.
Return to the competition with nothing to lose
In 2025, Steph made a surprise return to MasterChef Australia. In an interview with The Australian Women’s Weekly, she stated she did not need to win the competition to feel she had made it in the food world — a sentiment that defined her second run. SBS Food’s interview on 12 May 2026 quoted her saying dinner “should be doable,” reflecting her real-world cooking philosophy.
Steph’s return to MasterChef was not about redemption — it was validation. For a home cook who already had a TV show and 1.3 million followers, the stakes were different, and she owned that shift publicly.
The pattern: Steph approached her second competition run with the confidence of someone who had already built a career outside the MasterChef brand.
Is Steph De Sousa married?
Steph and Gian Ottavio
Steph married Gian Ottavio, though her exact age at the time of marriage has not been publicly confirmed. The couple’s relationship has been a central part of her public narrative, especially after their joint success on The Block.
The Block 2023 winners
In 2023, Steph and Gian won The Block — a reality renovation competition. The victory was widely covered on social media, with Instagram posts confirming their win and subsequent life updates. TalentINK’s professional profile notes that her MasterChef experience helped her turn a love of cooking into a full-time career.
Winning The Block gave the couple a financial springboard, but it also meant navigating public scrutiny. For Steph, that spotlight extended to her pregnancy announcements and family content, blurring the line between private life and brand.
Expecting first child
In 2024, Steph announced she and Gian were expecting their first child. A 2026 Instagram post confirmed she was seven months pregnant at the time. A June 2026 Facebook video referenced her daughter Darby sharing family news, though the exact timeline of the birth remains private.
The implication: Steph’s family milestones increasingly overlap with her public content strategy, making it hard to separate personal updates from brand narrative.
How many children does Steph De Sousa have?
Current family size
As of mid-2026, Steph and Gian have no children, but are expecting their first child. The Facebook video referencing Darby suggests she has a daughter, though it is unclear whether Darby is her child or a relative.
Anticipated arrival
The pregnancy was publicly announced in 2024, and by 2026 Steph was seven months pregnant, according to her Instagram. The couple has not released a due date or birth announcement.
Where is Steph De Sousa from?
Hometown
Steph De Sousa hails from Lake Macquarie, a coastal city in New South Wales, Australia. Her official website and Facebook page both list Lake Macquarie as her home base.
Australian identity
Steph identifies as Australian, and her cooking brand — budget-friendly, family-focused, influenced by local produce — reflects that. As her official site states, she creates “budget-friendly cooking content for real life,” a philosophy with distinctly Australian roots in practical, no-fuss home cooking.
The catch: Her origin story — Lake Macquarie home cook turned national TV host — reinforces a relatable brand that resonates with Australian families. Her origin story, from Lake Macquarie home cook to national TV host, reinforces a relatable brand that resonates with Australian families, much like the inspiring journeys of figures such as those detailed in a Gai Waterhouse biography.
Who was accused of favoritism in MasterChef?
Accusation details
During Steph De Sousa’s original season of MasterChef, an accusation of favoritism emerged involving another contestant. The specifics of this allegation have not been confirmed by Network Ten or other official sources, and it remains a topic of online discussion rather than confirmed reporting.
Connection to Steph’s season
The incident occurred during the same competition timeline as Steph’s appearance, but it does not involve her directly. The Australian Women’s Weekly coverage of Steph’s return noted the controversy without naming specific parties, and no official investigation has been reported.
The implication: Without official clarification, the favoritism claim remains a loose thread in an otherwise tidy narrative about a contestant who did not need to win.
“I didn’t have anything to lose.” — Steph De Sousa on her MasterChef return, as quoted by The Australian Women’s Weekly
“Dinner should be doable.” — Steph De Sousa, in an interview with SBS Food
Fans curious about her post-show ventures will find details about her air fryer cookbook success in our companion piece.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Steph de Sousa?
Steph’s exact age has not been publicly confirmed. Her birth year is not listed on her official profiles, and she has not shared it in interviews.
What is Steph de Sousa’s net worth?
Steph’s net worth is not publicly disclosed. Her income sources include TV hosting, cookbook sales, social media partnerships, and her Easy Recipe Gang platform.
Does Steph de Sousa have a YouTube channel?
Steph is active on Facebook and Instagram, but she does not operate a YouTube channel. Her video content is primarily shared on social media and through SBS Food.
What does Steph de Sousa cook?
Steph focuses on budget-friendly, family meals. Her recipes emphasize feeding families without complex techniques or expensive ingredients, as outlined on her official website.
How did Steph de Sousa get into cooking?
Steph’s love of cooking began at home in Lake Macquarie. She turned that passion into a career after MasterChef, eventually hosting The Frugal Foodie on SBS and building a social media following of over a million.
Is Steph de Sousa still on MasterChef?
Steph returned to MasterChef Australia in 2025 but is not a permanent contestant. She remains active in the food world through her own TV show and social channels.
What is Steph de Sousa’s recipe for bread?
Steph shares a variety of bread recipes through her Easy Recipe Gang platform and social media. Specific recipes are posted regularly on her Instagram and Facebook pages.
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Catherine Roy is Editor-in-Chief at Oz Insightlab, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.