There are big changes ahead for MasterChef Australia as the show's three judges, now household names, depart after a decade.

MasterChef Australia is often credited with changing lives and making careers. Just ask Adam Liaw or Poh Ling Yeow.

But what about the tweens who signed up to compete in the junior version of the show?

It was almost half their lifetime ago, back in 2010, that 12 children aged 12 and under were selected from more than 5,000 applicants to compete in Australia's first series of Junior MasterChef.

So what was it like being a kid on MasterChef? And almost a decade later, how has the experience shaped their lives?

Most have abandoned their "food dream" but the experience of appearing on MasterChef was lifechanging nonetheless.

Six contestants from that first series of Junior MasterChef Australia explain.

Jack Lark, Runner-up

Then: 12 years old

Signature dish: Tea Smoked Quail

Where are you now? I'm 21, managing a whisky distillery in Hobart but planning a dream career directing musical theatre.

Jack Lark manages his family's whiskey distillery in Hobart. ( Supplied )

As a 12-year-old I enjoyed cooking for the ones I loved and when I found out about the application I remember thinking: "what's the worse that can happen?".

I never aspired to become a chef. I just loved cooking and I thought MasterChef was a great opportunity to have fun.

It was a special feeling to be the only Tasmanian in the top 50. Every step of the way before elimination I always said to myself "I'd be happy to leave now. I've come so far and had a great experience" but then the next thing I knew I was in the grand final.

Jack Lark was a contestant on Junior MasterChef Season 1 in 2010 ( Network 10: MasterChef Australia )

It was a humbling experience. I may have been too young to process the pressure. I remember getting physically exhausted because when we weren't on set we'd be teaching ourselves new cooking techniques and recipes.

Sometimes I'd come home after filming and sleep for 12 hours. But I never felt too overwhelmed.

We were looked after extremely well on and off set and all the contestants got along well too which was a bonus.

During the snail challenge I recreated Hester Blumenthal's snail porridge which was the dish that got me into the grand final.

Around three months later a parcel arrived and enclosed was a mounted menu along with a photo of Heston's snail porridge, signed "To Jack, do you want a job? Waiting for you in Bray, Heston.".

That's a very special parcel for a child to receive from their idol.

I had incredible experiences after MasterChef including going over to the Fat Duck to cook in the kitchen for a day and meet Heston. MasterChef did a lot of good things for me.

Lucy Bonanno, Top 8

Then: 11

Signature dish: Tres leches. It is a cake soaked in condensed milk, evaporated milk and cream, covered in whipped cream and served with some variety of berry coulis.

Where are you now? I am 20, studying international relations at university in Melbourne.

Lucy Bonanno reached the Top 8 of Junior MasterChef's first season in 2010 ( Supplied )

Ever since I was really young I've loved cooking and my mum and grandmother are both excellent bakers. When I saw there was a kid's MasterChef I had to apply!

Getting through the auditions and making the top 12 was very exciting. It always felt like a dream.

The first two or three episodes were stressful and it felt crazy to have cameras on me all the time but then, I just got used to it, except for the episode I forgot the eggs in Donna Hay's chocolate cake and the big camera kept panning into my flustered face!

We had a lot of fun behind the scenes. We would hang out and chat after filming with the guest chefs as well as the judges.

We were all excited for the catered lunches we were given each day. We would play Wii together in our break room, and there were a lot of laughs driving to the kitchen every day with our chaperones and listening to music.

Lucy was inspired to cook by her mother and grandmother. ( Network 10: MasterChef Australia )

Ultimately the friends I made on MasterChef are perhaps the biggest highlight of being on the show for me. Those friendships are still strong and we have organised multiple reunions.

MasterChef gave me the ability to believe in myself and in the unimaginable.

I have always been a very confident and motivated person but achieving the things I did at such a young age showed me that with a little determination I really can do anything I want.

For a long time I wanted to become a food technologist but this plan fizzled when I actually did science at high school.

Cooking remains one of my favourite things to do but in the years following MasterChef I learnt that my biggest passion is travel.

I've travelled widely but I still love coming back to my home town and working at a local dairy farm to balance out all the city living.

Reality TV is real, what you see is really what happened. But what you don't see is even better: the friendships, connections, laughter and fun behind the scenes.

It's something we will never forget.

Sam Bradley, Top 12

Then: 11

Signature dish: Pound Cake

Where am I now? I am 20, I studied a Bachelor of Popular Music and I'm currently working on my first EP!

Sam Bradley, a contestant on Season 1 of Junior MasterChef, has traded cooking for music. ( Supplied )

I had a strong passion for cooking as a kid. I got the Nintendo DS game Cooking Guide when I was 10 and experimented with a lot of the recipes I learnt through the game.

A classmate told me that they saw an advertisement for Junior MasterChef on TV and that I should apply for it. Little did I know that a few months later, I'd be cooking prawns with a lemon and chocolate sauce on national TV!

When I showed up on the first day of auditions, I was super nervous. I found out I made it through to the Top 50 after my Mum read the official email back to me.

The family went into a frenzy and I was living for it.

Sam Bradley loved baking mararons but they were his downfall. ( Network 10: MasterChef Australia )

I felt an enormous amount of pressure on the show. Most of the other kids had a lot more experience than I did in the kitchen so I did my best to get by.

It helped that all the other kids and the MasterChef staff were so friendly. It turned out to be a super wholesome experience through all the highs and lows.

My favourite recipe, ironically, were the macarons that got me eliminated. I was incredibly fascinated by them at the time.

Now, my favourite recipe is Vegemite toast. I can get the golden brown crust on the bread just about perfect. Ladies, hit me up.

I would bring a football to the set almost every day, and me and a few of the other MasterChef kids would have a kick during breaks.

One time, we were kicking the ball out the front of the MasterChef house. One of the kids kicked it so high in the air that when I went to chase and catch the ball, I accidentally nose-dived right into the centre of the big 'M' bush outside the front of the house.

I don't think I brought any more footies to the set after that.

Almost 10 years on from the show, it hasn't influenced my life career-wise. I still get into the kitchen now and then, but my current passion is music.

I'm super grateful for the friends I made and the other opportunities it's given me. But if I could do it again, I definitely wouldn't have elected to make the chocolate prawns.

Pierre Khoury, Top 8

Then: 12

Signature MasterChef dish: Lamb Wellington

Where are you now? I'm 21, studying for a Bachelor of Construction Project Management in Sydney and working as a cadet for a building developer.

Pierre Khoury, Junior MasterChef Season 1 contestant, in 2019 ( Supplied )

I was always eager to try new things and take every opportunity that I could.

I wanted to share my cooking, grow and learn.

At first the show was extremely overwhelming and the competition was stressful at times, just as everyday life can be.

But the MasterChef team made us feel like one big family and in some ways that is still how we are today.

When we were not on TV we were encouraged to be ourselves. The feedback, even if it was negative, allowed us to grow and get through the pressures of each challenge.

Off camera I have fond memories of all the games and food we ate and I even have memories of the judges running around, kicking a ball in front of the MasterChef kitchen doors.

Pierre Khoury says appearing in the show gave him confidence and taught him to work under pressure. ( Network 10: MasterChef Australia )

The show had a huge impact on me. If you knew me before the show you would know that I was always shy, timid and nervous.

The show allowed me to learn what it is to truly work under pressure and how focused and calm you must be. This lesson has assisted me in my current job.

I am not pursuing a food career but cooking will always be something fun that I like to do when I can.

Cassidy Higgins, Top 8

Then: 12

Signature MasterChef dish: chicken and mushroom risotto

Where are you now? I am 21, run my own baking business part time while I study at university

Cassidy Higgins (centre) with fellow Junior MasterChef Season 1 contestants including season winner Isabella Bliss (left) and Lucy Bonanno (right). ( Supplied )

From being a lover of MasterChef to being able to have my own experience in the MasterChef kitchen was so exciting.

I first applied to the show because I had always loved cooking. I had been helping my parents cook for many years and I also loved baking and trying new recipes.

When I applied I never thought I would actually get onto the show so making it all the way to the top 12 was a shock to not only me but my mum and dad as well. The whole experience felt like a dream because of how unique and crazy it was.

I can still remember the feeling of walking onto the set for the first time. I had so many emotions and I was definitely fan girl-ing.

It was amazing to see all the work that went on behind the scenes to create the show, so many people were involved with creating every episode.

Cassidy Higgins now runs a part-time baking business. ( Network 10: MasterChef Australia )

When we weren't on set you could find us kids playing the Wii, board games and totem tennis, which some of the celebrity chefs got involved in too. I still remember Donna Hay playing soccer with us kids outside the MasterChef kitchen.

Now nine years on I can see how many positive effects it has had on me. From teaching me to handle pressure, to building confidence and also continuing my love of cooking. MasterChef has also given me lifelong friends.

Nick Lieurance, Top 8

Then: 10

Signature MasterChef dish: steak with mashed potatoes

Where are you now? I am 19, on a gap year after finishing high school.

Nick Lieurance was the youngest contestant in the top 12. ( Supplied )

It was an incredible experience and to this day, just shy of 10 years later, it is the coolest thing I've ever done.

It was my insane love of adult MasterChef that made me want to apply. I did not believe it was even a remote possibility I would actually make it past the online application.

You can imagine how exited 10-year-old me must have been to discover I'd made it onto the show.

The pressure of competing was almost non-existent because of how accommodating the crew and chaperones were both on and off set. They were always cracking jokes and providing us with more food and entertainment than we could ask for.

This playful behaviour carried on with the judges and they always chatted to us between takes.

Even when it was time for me to leave after reaching the top eight I didn't feel sad, simply grateful for the happy memories.

To this day I can't play Super Mario Brothers without thinking of the show.

Nick Lieurance, Junior MasterChef contestant 2010, with Adam Liaw who won the adult verion of the show that year. ( Supplied )

I had great experiences after the show performing cooking demonstrations or presenting an award at the Nikelodeon Kid's choice Awards with some of the other contenstants.

The experience has a continuing impact on my life. It's done wonders for my confidence and self-esteem.

Although I am not pursuing a career in the food industry, I have a hobby for life.