Christine Ha is not your ordinary
MasterChef contestant.
The 33-year-old Vietnamese-American writer is an early contender to take out the third season of MasterChef USA — and she's legally blind.
Even judge Gordon Ramsay can't help but be moved by Christine's emotional story and against-the-odds victories. Watch the video above to see Gordon let his guard down after trying Christine's winning apple pie.
The first blind contestant in MasterChef history, Christine has had the help of a sighted assistant and a cane to get around the kitchen.
"I have to depend a lot more on the other senses to cook — taste, smell, how certain ingredients feel," Christine told People magazine.
"I'll know if a piece of meat is close to being done by how it feels against my hand or utensils."
Christine lost her sight between 1999 and 2007 due to an autoimmune disease. While she is not 100 percent blind, her condition is considered severe.
While she initially struggled with the bright lights of the MasterChef kitchen, Christine is powering on as a favourite to take out the series, getting plenty of fan mail in the process.
"The outpouring of support from strangers has been amazing. The awesome fan mail I've been getting. Just saying, like, 'You've inspired me to try out for the high school soccer team'," she told Entertainment Weekly.
"It's even weird to be saying 'I'm getting fan mail.' It's been awesome to be in a position to affect people's lives in a positive way."
