Since MasterChef judge Melissa Leong shared an Instagram post in July of her sickeningly chic face mask , the accessorys creator Rian Difuntorum has been bombarded with over 400 orders.

The Melbourne-based creative credits Melissa as the sweetest person who came up with the idea that she sell these masks to fund her gender affirming surgery before her 30th birthday next year.

What many wouldnt know is the story behind the mask is based on a beautiful friendship that has been in the making for years. It all began over three years ago when Melissa met Rian, then known as Ian, during the filming of The Chefs Line on SBS.

While their engagement on the cooking show set was rather limited, they reconnected on social media a year later when the program aired.

In that time, I had begun my transition, Rian told HuffPost Australia. So when Mel and I connected on social media, she saw my story and was like Oh my god thats so cool, Im so happy for you.