MasterChef Australia judge Poh Ling Yeow has left her social media followers utterly astonished after sharing photos from her 52nd birthday celebrations earlier this month, with many convinced she is ageing in reverse.
A Reflective Celebration
The television personality marked the milestone by posting a series of images showcasing her seemingly ageless visage and figure. In one striking photo, the foodie is seen relaxing in a hammock, wearing a chic black two-piece swimsuit.
Accompanying the visuals was a deeply personal caption where Yeow reflected on her journey. "I remember at 15, wondering if anyone would ever notice me and thinking 30 was old, then actually turning 30 and daftly feeling ancient," she wrote. "But now, freshly 52, after having been tumbled by the whole spectrum of life’s happenings, I instead feel new."
She poetically compared her experience to a river polishing a pebble, becoming shinier with age and letting life's debris slide away.
Fans Marvel and Future Goals
The celebrity chef's legions of fans were quick to flood the comments with praise and disbelief at her youthful appearance. One admirer exclaimed, "I’d swear you were a young girl in that photo," while another added, "Look at you, getting more & more gorgeous with age goddamit … how hot you gonna be at 100?"
Alongside her birthday wishes, Yeow also shared her aspirations for the New Year, stating her aim is to "rush less" in 2026. She expressed a wish for her followers to also make time for simple pleasures, symbolised by "curling up in the hammock with an old dog." "I’m slowly learning there’s no point in working your a**e off if you don’t also teach yourself to enjoy," she wisely noted.
A Personal History and Career Milestones
In a second, more intimate birthday post, Yeow opened up about her childhood, revealing she grew up in a family that rarely celebrated birthdays, "to the point of forgetting a good number of them." "So as odd as it sounds, I’ve not received many presents in my life," she explained.
The photo featured her modelling the same bikini, with her long black hair in pigtails, accessorised with a wide-brimmed straw hat and a stunning beaded necklace made by a friend from the Yawanawà tribe of the Amazon, which she bought for herself.
Professionally, 2025 was a significant year for Yeow, as she received a nomination for a Gold Logie. She was in esteemed company, nominated alongside Julia Morris, Ally Langdon, Sonia Kruger, Lisa Millar, Hamish Blake, with the award ultimately going to Lynne McGranger.
Yeow joined the MasterChef Australia judging panel in 2022, stepping into the role following the tragic death of Jock Zonfrillo and the departures of fellow judges Melissa Leong and Andy Allen.
