Since joining MasterChef Australia: Back To Win this year, new judges Andy Allen, Melissa Leong and Jock Zonfrillo have attracted mixed reactions from viewers.

However, the shows most recently eliminated contestant Dani Venn has said she believes Melissa has received the most criticism because shes a woman.

Women are underrepresented in so many industries, in particular food and also media, Dani told HuffPost Australia on Monday. To have Melissa step into that role, I knew from the start she would be the one getting criticised the most, purely because shes a female.