Former MasterChef star Ben Ungermann revealed his dramatic new look on Wednesday, three years after being spared a criminal conviction.
The 40-year-old bodybuilder and executive chef announced he’s in his ‘white hair era’ as he showed off his new hair colour from his new home in Cape Town, South Africa.
‘THEY SAY A CHANGE IS AS GOOD AS A HOLIDAY. And since I won’t be going to the Alps anytime soon…’ he began the caption to his Instagram post.
‘So, I’m embracing my white hair era,’ the chef continued as he thanked his ‘hair guru’ for the ‘incredible transformation.’
Ungermann, who opened his restaurant Ben’s Italian in the South African capital in 2023, added: ‘Silver Fox mode activated.’
In another image, he sported a wide grin and showed off his white hairstyle as he boasted about putting on ‘Masterclasses’ at the Capsicum Culinary School in Johannesburg.
Former MasterChef star Ben Ungermann revealed his dramatic new look on Wednesday, three years after being spared a criminal conviction. Pictured Ben in 2017
The 40-year-old bodybuilder and executive chef announced he’s in his ‘white hair era’ as he showed off his new hair colour from his new home in Cape Town, South Africa
‘Masterchef? Well duhhhhhhh,’ he captioned the photo taken after his first event, which shows the Masterchef Australia runner-up guiding diners through preparing their own ‘Mystery Box’ meal under his tutelage for AUD$64 ($750R).
The Australian reality TV contestant tags all of his Instagram posts with, ‘power chef,’ a title he has ascribed to himself.
His bio reads: ‘POWER CHEF. Australian MasterChef Runner Up. CULINARILY ARTIST. GYM ENTHUSIAST. MEN’S FASHIONIST.’
The page itself is a collage of food, gym selfies, fit checks, and life mottos written out as captions.
Ungermann appears to have cared out a new life in South Africa, departing Australia after he was spared a criminal conviction in 2021 for physically assaulting a 16-year-old girl in a Melbourne hotel room.
The chef was instead placed on a diversion program, allowing him to avoid a criminal record, for the Docklands assault in February 2020.
Three sexual assault charges against Ungermann over the same incident were struck out in Melbourne Magistrates Court.
They were replaced with one charge of common law assault, with the consent of prosecutors and the girl.
In another image, he sported a wide grin and showed off his white hairstyle as he boasted about putting on ‘Masterclasses’ at the Capsicum Culinary School in Johannesburg
Ungermann appears to have cared out a new life in South Africa, departing Australia after he was spared a criminal conviction in 2021 for physically assaulting a 16-year-old girl in a Melbourne hotel room
Ungermann admitted to physically grabbing the girl and pulling her towards him in his hotel room for a few seconds.
At the time, he had travelled to Melbourne for filming for the Channel 10 cooking show MasterChef: Back to Win.
He and the girl had dinner, drunk sake and spoke about Ungermann’s relationship breakdown before the assault.
Ungermann said he was going to get ‘s**tfaced’ before returning to the hotel room, asking the girl for a hug and pulling her onto his chest.
His barrister, Abbie Roodenburg, said Ungermann took responsibility for what happened.
‘This was a one-off brief touch,’ the barrister also said, adding that it was ‘out of character’.
Ungermann agreed to write an letter of apology, make a $1,000 donation to charity and undergo mental health treatment as part of the diversion.
The girl wanted to read a statement about the effects of the assault to the court.
At the time, he had travelled to Melbourne for filming for the Channel 10 cooking show MasterChef: Back to Win
Magistrate Mia Stylianou did not allow it, saying the wording was inconsistent with the charge Ungermann ultimately admitted to.
‘I’ve read that and I’m saddened by it,’ the magistrate also said of the statement.
Ms Stylianou emphasised the stress the victim had gone through, particularly as she had prepared to give evidence against Ungermann before the case resolved.
Ms Roodenburg said the ‘public personality’ lost his reputation and sponsorships gained through his first appearance on MasterChef in 2017, when he was runner-up.
‘He understands that this process is stressful for everybody,’ the barrister added.
‘But certainly for Mr Ungermann, the way in which these charges have come about and the media attention has caused significant extra-curial punishment.’
Ms Roodenburg also said a criminal conviction would have made it hard for Ungermann to move forward and pursue work overseas.
He was also represented by Western Australian-based solicitor and fellow 2017 MasterChef contestant Benjamin Bullock.
Outside court, Mr Bullock said: ‘We welcome the opportunity for Benny to clear his name. It’s really just about him going forward now and moving on with his life.’
The magistrate acknowledged Ungermann had endured public opprobrium through media coverage of his case.
