In last night’s grand final Ms Dean overcame nerves and perceptions that she “gets frazzled and sometimes can’t handle the heat in the kitchen” to win the popular cooking contest.

Ms Dean scored nine out of 10 from all three judges for her dessert in the third and final round of the final to take the Australian MasterChef 2013 crown.

She was surrounded by family who were surprise visitors to the show as the judges read out the final results.

“I loved the beautiful layer of crunchy thin meringue,” said Garry Mehigan.

“I loved that thick creamy curd, it was delicious,” said George Calombaris.

Ms Dean wins $100,000 to follow her culinary dream, a cookbook deal with New Holland and access to Australia’s best chefs for work experience.

She also won an Alfa Romeo in a surprise twist.

Her boyfriend Dan said she was a star who had not let the family down.

“I’m speechless,” Ms Dean told the judges.

“It’s just amazing. It’s just going to set us up – it’s the start of my dream and I’m just amazed that you guys believed in me and this one believed in me. I wouldn’t have won if it hadn’t have been for Dan.”