How Poh Ling Yeow became the queen of reinvention | Life of Poh | Australian Story

From a “nerd” named Sharon to one of Australia’s most loved celebrity chefs - how Poh Ling Yeow has refined the art of reinvention and made peace with her past. Subscribe: ab.co/3yqPOZ5
Poh Ling Yeow burst onto screens in the first series of MasterChef Australia in 2009, her energy and daring quickly making her an audience favourite.
Her popularity rested on her resilience and ability to bounce back from disaster. And bouncing back is something she’s done all her life, with her rise to fame anything but conventional.
By the time Poh auditioned for MasterChef at the age of 35, she was a flourishing artist who had left her family’s Mormon religion and survived a painful divorce.
She says her “wild journey” has taught her much about seeing adversity as an opportunity and that she’s “good friends” with uncertainty.
Read more here: ab.co/3Xb22zg
#PohMasterChef #PohLingYeow #abcnewsaustralia
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[@catherinepatterson4720]

Thank you ABC for allowing viewers to comment. I just wanted to say that I have all of Poh’s cookbooks, most of her DVDs and her children’s book (she did with Sarah). I like Poh’s sense of colour, pattern & style. She is inspiring. Thank you Poh for being you 🌻

[@mariec5716]

hi. thanky for this story. i can not believe what is Poh. what an amazing personality. thanking You for Sharing. You have a Super day and LIFE...Bless POH...

[@lululand1653]

Love you Poh in all your endeavours, your creativity is very inspiring. Thank you for your open honesty, one of the rarest character traits in this mad world today.

[@lordcaptain73]

I don’t know if it’s my age or this season of amazing people, the storytelling of their lives is so compelling. And what a whole person Poh is, so much humanity and humility.

[@cranberries44]

This was a great watch, I've always loved seeing Poh on tv - she just lights up the screen!

[@williamseneka9959]

"You often find yourself in your uncertainty"! That's Poh👌🏾..and so, the audiences take that excitement to her greatest leverage💪🏿. And, she's cool, Aussie-Malay 😎 ! You are soo loved ❤️👍🏾🇦🇺!

[@tweedy4sg]

Aussie-Malaysian. Malaysia is a country and Malay is an ethnic group. She's ethnically Chinese though.

[@jillconyers2710]

Poh is so beautiful ,and lights up the room with her smile !

[@janvas7690]

Delightful presentation! Capturing not only wonderful visual images but tangible emotional highs and lows! Would love to meet Pooh as a result! Well done!

[@randolphpinkle4482]

I think it's really like this: She expresses herself in a way that other people believe is so authentic. Everyone alive is real. It's not a Marvel movie. Being alive is authentic, but how you show you're alive. Now, there's the rub. Most people harbor that secret: Something special is going to happen to my life. But it usually doesn't last long. A certain type of extroversion might give the illusion of a real person, a genuine human being, but that's all smoke and mirrors. Usually, you have to dig a little. That's where the real, the true, the genuine, the authentic rewards lie. That's where love lies. But that doesn't make for good television.

[@rollingdownfalling]

I find her story so fascinating. Even tho I am a Chinese migrant myself, I find my experience loads different to hers. I'm lucky that I have never been through big identity issue. My biggest one was when I was in year 6. This was when I first found out that I don't fit in very well due to my cultural background (in retrospect, I guess that is what people called culture shock where no one speaks your language) but as a child, our sense of world view and perception is much more moldable and intuitive. In Year 12, I sometimes felt as if I have a split personality. When I followed a KZbinr who has a very similar personality to mine, race gradually became much less relevant. I've also realized that I can understand views from both sides and it fascinates me. I also find that people has little clue what either side is like (mind/expression wise). The fascination gradually made me want to learn other languages because it is like a key to a gate (although the experience is much more difficult as an adult) but I am very intuitive in trying to understand other people's perspectives as I have been through this once already.

[@chaotiongsai]

Her story is different because she’s not a Chinese migrant. Her parents are Malaysian. Not Chinese.

[@rollingdownfalling]

@@chaotiongsai You took ethnicity too seriously. One aspect of the documentary is not putting yourself in a box.

[@chaotiongsai]

@@rollingdownfalling I’m stating a fact. Chinese means CHINA. Lots of Chinese now like to go around claiming others.

[@jamesismyfriend4403]

Bloody love Poh! What a loving and positive gem! 💎

[@bumbabums-]

I seriously didn't even know she was still around ..... Good for her 🥂

[@jeng5591]

what a perfect documentary to watch on New Year's Day! Full of inspiration, honesty and exuberance! This one's a keeper.

[@yushikuang7877]

I remember seeing Poh on that Master Chief season. She had the chance to share a little bit of her painting and her life...and I love her instantly. Everything she is doing is so authentic with herself and she really in the same time beeing in harmony with other people and feels their happiness and sadness.

[@toinoi123]

What a wonderful Australian Story...and Poh's a Westie owner! ❤

[@jeanettewight2805]

I just watched this as missed on TV. I am sad that Poh & Johnno broke up as l had no idea.

[@AllIsWellaus]

What a remarkable woman and her story. Inspiring. Thank you for sharing you with us. (an artist currently struggling with a turning point in my life)

[@bluejuiceist]

A true creative 🙌🏽

[@Hochspitz]

I have managed to make just one of Poh's dishes, a lemon cake that she made look easy. It was and it wasn't at the same time. What eventuated wasn't quite what it looked like on Master Chef but it was truly delicious. What a life, Poh!

[@antant06]

So touching, thank you for sharing ❤️

[@sandramalone3522]

I love her home, it was just so fabulous.

[@parvinparvin3444]

Aside from her cooking, her personality along with her looks is stunning when I was a teenager I had crush on her first time I saw, I was smitten by her great smile

[@ahkl77]

Enjoyed this interview ❤

[@elizgg7980]

I respect you so much. Every episode on MasterChef, I glue on Poh only.

[@jeanrkfchan7215]

Poh I do have a quite similar story as yours. You are just simply an amazing person ❤❤❤❤

[@gittenielsen95]

After seeing her on Masterchef I just had to know more about her, so I looked her up and saw her beautiful art. I'm so happy that people recognise her for the special person she is 🤗

[@jennyc1846]

Always loved Poh, especially her art I think she should do or show more of that. Sad to hear she and Jonno have parted ways, he's just a little bit gorgeous isnt he..but to live with? Mmmmmm only Poh would know I guess.... nobody really knows what goes on behind closed doors. I felt watching this story that we got a glimpse of the real Poh rather than the TV version, she is a very private person. Thanks Matt, thanks Aust Story.

[@alvinjwales3039]

Absolutely adore Poh .. Best wishes to in all your present & future endevours Poh .. Cheers

[@karenkhajotia4750]

She is amazingly beautiful and talented woman, I just recently went to her exhibition in Adelaide. Love it ❤

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

I've always had a huge crush on Poh.

[@opra221]

Thank you for being so real ❤ love you Poh

[@indysmith4437]

A lovely human being.

[@alingtham7998]

I love Poh and Masterchef Australia…love from Malaysia

[@gabrielcastellanos5680]

I think I'd cry if I ever see her. Love her!

[@tauIrrydah]

National Treasure!

[@SiddhisvariBulloch]

What a fabulously talented woman. Open up Jam Face here in Barcelona please!! X

[@carolking6355]

I really enjoyed this . Thank you. 🌈

[@gabrielcastellanos5680]

She's so good at evrything!

[@HenryThong]

Absolute legend 💪🏼🎨🎬

[@ABCNewsIndepth]

Watch more Australian Story episodes over on our playlist 👉 kzbin.info/aero/PLDTPrMoGHssDzqF7spxT_VH3Zd266tSEp

[@mswilson2104]

Wow,I'm maori,I have no asian friends,this story made me sad for our asian brothers n sisters,must suk adapting to a new country,oz is a big place,ya got a stand on your own feet..NZ

[@jonowf1725]

Poh, the great Australian story. About time ABC, this is long overdue.

[@stephaniemambwe9930]

For sure, this girl was loved by the first judges of Masterchef Australia, the second judges including Gordon Ramsey. Seems management loves her too reason why she is judge today.

[@alingtham7998]

Oh no….Poh and Jono broke up?After watching this til finish,then i know the ‘news’…gosh,i missed so much….but am so glad Poh is still the Poh that i know before….All the best and Luv u lots Poh❤️

[@stephaniemambwe9930]

So cute, why is George always left out? Beautiful Poh

[@Ildy04]

Amazing person.

[@iblessyou.forextrablessing7597]

I am not young but I start with baking too.

[@bangreadone99]

I Love Ger Skill On Masterchef Australia Back To Win 😊❤❤

[@eugenio1542]

Delightful and delectable..☝️❤️🌍

[@anyadutton1085]

Poh sounds so lovely.

[@maccart67]

Legend!

[@angielee4306]

Only just knowing Poh. Interesting life story

[@cthgbs6267]

I am a Chinese Malaysian from Kuala Lumpur. I hated learning the Malay language too, and I don't feel a sense of belonging having lived in Malaysia for 42 years since I was born here. Unfortunately I haven't had any opportunity to migrate to another country. Right now the goal of my life is to get out of Malaysia, and live the rest of my life in a better country.

[@ajaj9056]

Chinese Indonesians put in the effort to learn and speak Indonesian. Its in their blood, culture, and household. Stop complaining

[@prudenceappleby5111]

Oh my god, they've got their own JAY RAYNER OZ style 🤣😂😅

[@topcat2033]

Love you Poh 💐💞

[@AndrewSheldon]

Good story.

[@mstavros_youtube]

A true queen.

[@seanbaskett5506]

Congrats on your exit from the Mormon Church! I’m from Southern Idaho in the US, and I’d say 15-20% of our town (in my high school days, at least) were Church members. We’re an afternoon’s drive from Salt Lake City, so I guess that’s only natural. Interesting group of people, aren’t they? I just hope none of my dozen-or-so Mormon friends read this. Or ever know that I believe Joseph Smith to be full of sh*t.

[@sebastiank9175]

POH is what all immigrants should be like ! she is inspiring, positive, engaging and loaded with personality.

[@creetatinirau-bu1zm]

Smiley poh..

[@mabellee424]

She is very stringy. One time she was visiting ‘The Project’ , she didn’t bring any food for the team. They were so disappointed and mentioned to her!

[@candysays100]

Why would she make food for channel 10? They can afford it lol

[@loveleeluv7]

At the end of the day, her best friend was still kind of creepy fancying Poh's ex-husband when Poh and her ex were still together on the brink of breaking. Because she was right then and there ready to Catch the fallen man.🤔 And her ex husband, obviously one of those who cant mentally survive without a woman right away, hushing them wiping their tears... Makes you wonder so Who was there for Poh through the hardest part of her divorce? Was it also the same woman bestfriend who immediately caught her husband??? Oh well, I guess thats how sister-wives environments go. And Poh just REALLY HAVE THAT BIG OF A HEART to live through that. With Poh's talents she actually could run her business with any other talented people to do honest and smooth business with -- Without Poh having to still tear up about it now and again as she said in many interviews, for whatever reason that she still does.🤷🏻‍♀️ I wish no more tears for a kindhearted person like her. You do great Art, Food & Laughter Pho💖God bless you!

[@asyd2905]

They are adults. There is nothing wrong about being adults about it. When she divorced him, he is free.

[@frankttt604]

Asians are fine and good looking! I travelled Asia many times and always enjoyed it!

[@creetatinirau-bu1zm]

Get a job.. save.. And get away from my parents.. Haha

[@lionizamayola2520]

She really needs exercise boundaries and lot of therapy...going about your life thinking that everyone is more than you, will get you in hot waters. No good deed goes unpunished

[@susieleventis5126]

Shame she didn't embrace her own language.

[@dannythomas7902]

Cute x10 let me know if your single

[@kiettrinh8704]

Can’t stand poh

[@tikaalik]

Why not?