MasterChef: Back to Win chefs (Who’s in the second chance season?)

MasterChef is back on May 25 with a special season for its twelfth outing. Dubbed MasterChef: Back to Win, the new season brings 20 contestants back to compete once more for a shot at the title. Among the contestants are two MasterChef Junior alums–Dara and Shayne–who are competing as adults this go around.

Every chef in season 12 is vying to claim the prize they’d come short of winning in their debut seasons. As such, the stakes for them are higher and the competition is even more challenging. The standards to which they’ll be held to by the judges (Gordon Ramsay, Aarón Sánchez, and Joe Bastianich) will surpass what was expected of them before.

$250,000 dollars is on the line along with a state-of-the-art kitchen by Viking and the coveted MasterChef title. For these chefs, season 12 is a chance for redemption. It’s an opportunity to test their skills and rise to new challenges in the hopes of winning the competition this time. But, because it’s their second try at besting their fellow chefs, defeat will sting that much harder.

The best, most popular, and talented chefs were chosen for this season. Here’s who will be competing in MasterChef: Back to Win!

Who are the chefs in MasterChef: Back to Win?

• Michael (season 10)
• Tommy (season 6)
• Derrick (season 6)
• Shelly (season 6)
• Brandi (season 7)
• Bri (season 10)
• Willie (season 5)
• Fred (season 10)
• Stephen (season 6)
• Gabriel (season 8)
• Samantha (season 9)
• Emily (season 9)
• Shayne (MasterChef Junior season 5)
• Alejandro (season 11)
• Cate (season 8)
• Dara (MasterChef Junior season 1)
• Amanda (season 6)
• Christian (season 5)
• Bowen (season 9)
• Shanika (season 9)

Who will come out on top? We can’t wait to start this second chance journey with the MasterChef: Back to Win contestants starting May 25.

MasterChef: Back to Win airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Fox after So You Think You Can Dance. New episodes will be available to stream next day on Hulu.