Celebrity MasterChef Star Fires Back at Troll with Empowering Response to Appearance Criticism

A star from Celebrity MasterChef has taken a stand against an online critic who disparaged her participation in the BBC One cooking competition. The critic described her appearance as ‘absolutely ludicrous’.

Ginger Johnson, renowned for her success on RuPaul’s Drag Race where she clinched the title in 2023, was a finalist on the cooking show. She responded to the spiteful comment through her social media, demonstrating her resilience against negativity.

Throughout her time in the MasterChef kitchen, Ginger, whose real name is Donald Marshall, embraced her drag persona, complete with a striking ginger wig and elaborate makeup. Her bold presence became a focal point of discussion among viewers.

Among the comments, one viewer chose to express disdain via social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The comment harshly criticized Ginger, stating, “Ginger, you’re not a ‘woman’; you look absolutely ludicrous,” while using the show’s hashtag to draw attention to their remark.

‘Ginger, you’re not a “woman” you look absolutely ludicrous,’ the nasty commenter penned, including the hashtag for the Celebrity MasterChef series.

Underneath the comment, Ginger hit back: ‘Thank you, sweetheart! “Ludicrous” is exactly what I’m aiming for. Have a lovely Christmas.’

The RuPaul’s Drag Race star, who made it to the final of the series last night, took to social media to hit back with a response to the nasty comment

Ginger, 36, the stage name for Donald Marshall, was branded ‘ludicrous’ by one cruel viewer, who took to X, formerly Twitter, to hit out at her appearance

Fans of the star were thrilled to see her clap back against the user, and flooded her with supportive messages telling her they ‘love her’. 

‘Well you’re succeeding beyond expectations dear, well done,’ one wrote, as another chimed in: ‘There’s something really funny about adding a hashtag to a hate post…’

Ginger made it to the final of Celebrity MasterChef alongside writer Dawn O’Porter, and rugby star Alun Wyn Jones, beating Uma Jammesh, Ashley Cain, Chris Hughes and Michelle Heaton. 

She shot to fame in 2023 when she won RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, and went on to co-present online breakfast show Wakey! and host her own BBC Three series, Ginger’s House the following year. 

Ginger has also written children’s short stories Glamorous Gran and Other Tall Stories, which she has performed at the Southbank Centre.  

Last night, the final three contestants of Celebrity MasterChef 2025 were revealed on Tuesday’s show after Alfie Boe bowed out of the competition. 

The tenor, 52, was eliminated after failing to impress with a cake that tasted a bit ‘eggy’, leaving Dawn O’Porter, Alun Why Jones and Ginger Johnson to sail through to Friday’s grande finale.  

After his exit, viewers took to X to reveal they were ‘gutted’ for Alfie as they wanted to see him go on through to the next round.  

Ginger, who won her series of Drag Race in 2023, took to the MasterChef kitchen in full drag, including her large ginger wig and glamorous make-up

Ginger made it to the final of Celebrity MasterChef alongside writer Dawn O’Porter, and rugby star Alun Wyn Jones

The show started with judges Grace Dent and John Torode welcoming the final four and telling them to cook a dish dedicated to someone special.

Alfie created a two-layer cake in tribute to his late father, who died 28 years ago.

One half of it was a nod to his father’s favourite cake, Yorkshire ginger Parkin and the other was a nod to his incredible career as a tenor as he made a Belgian Le Misérable cake topped with ginger and cinnamon poached apricots. 

But the dish didn’t quite hit the mark with Grace, who told him: ‘The Le Mis part of it is undercooked and because of that, it tastes a bit of egg. But the Parkin is just incredible, it’s gingery and satisfying. Love it.’ 

Meanwhile, the judges were impressed with Dawn and said she showed her ‘very best’ after she made a kebab, which was in homage to the kebab she ate on the night she became her husband Chris O’Dowd’s girlfriend.

After the four lined up the judges announced Alfie would go home. 

Reflecting on his exit, the singer said: ‘This has been quite precious. These moments in life that come about are really special. I’m happy to be going home as a Celebrity MasterChef finalist.’  

Viewers were sad Alfie didn’t make it to through and wrote on X: ‘I’m gutted Alfie has gone. He’s done such good dishes (cook of the day three times) and it was great seeing him fight his nerves. He should still be there’. 

The tenor, 52, was eliminated after failing to impress with a cake that tasted a bit ‘eggy’, leaving Dawn O’Porter, Alun Why Jones and Ginger Johnson to sail through as the finalists

Alun, Dawn and Ginger then each had to cook one of Liam’s modern British dishes for six chefs who are also at the top of their game

‘Ginge shouldn’t still be in #celebritymasterchef if you miss a major team challenge you should be gone. Alfie should have stayed!!’

‘Just caught up on #celebritymasterchef @AlfieBoe I feel as if I went through every step that with you , as did all of your fans. Thankful and proud of you’.

The final three then headed straight to Lichfield in Staffordshire for their next assignment, the daunting Chef’s Table.

It was held at The Boat, a three-rosette restaurant led by chef patron Liam Dillon.   

Alun, Dawn and Ginger each had to cook one of Liam’s modern British dishes for six chefs who are also at the top of their game: Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Sat Bains, Paul Ainsworth, Chet Sharma, David Taylor and Chantelle Nicholson. 

After the round, no one left the competition.

John said: ‘All the lessons are over. It’s back to the MasterChef kitchen because there’s three cooks and only one that can be our winner.’

The Celebrity MasterChef 2025 Final takes place on Friday December 19, 2025 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.