MASTERCHEF JUNIOR Reveals the 24 Kids Competing in Upcoming Season

Kicking off its seventh season, MASTERCHEF JUNIOR gives talented kids between the ages of 8 and 13 the chance to showcase their culinary abilities and passion for food through a series of fun, mouth-watering challenges. Having already won a coveted white apron, 24 young chef-testants - 12 girls and 12 boys - must prove that they deserve to stay in the game by completing their first Mystery Box Challenge. Award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay and renowned pastry chef Christina Tosi will be joined by celebrated chef and restaurateur Aarón Sánchez on the judges' panel. These three culinary heavyweights will determine which pint-sized home cook will be named America's next MASTERCHEF JUNIOR, taking home a trophy and $100,000 in prize money.

Season Seven will feature even more unique and messy challenges for the judges and chef-testants, including attending and preparing a meal for 51 circus performers, pulling a live lobster out of a tank and having 60 MINUTES to make a mind-blowing dish, competing to see which team can first roll out a perfect sheet of pasta to a length of 24 feet and powering through the fan-favorite RESTAURANT TAKEOVER challenge.

In the premiere episode, "Culinary ABC's," airing Tuesday, Feb. 26 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX, the Top 24 must prove they've mastered the first meal of the day, breakfast, in a mystery box challenge. Then, school lunches get a total makeover as contestants are tasked with elevating three classic school lunch dishes into restaurant-quality cuisine.

Meet the MASTERCHEF JUNIOR Top 24 and find out their signature dishes:

Aaron

Age: 10

Hometown: Powder Springs, GA

Signature Dish: Baked Salmon with Sautéed Green Beans & Lemon Couscous

Ashley

Age: 9

Hometown: Queens, NY

Signature Dish: Spicy Steamed Salmon with Carrots & Okra

Ben

Age: 11

Hometown: Morristown, NJ

Signature Dish: Fried Chicken & Coleslaw

Brielle

Age: 8

Hometown: Conley, GA

Signature Dish: Caribbean Jerk Shrimp with Avocado Cream Sauce over Pineapple

& Tomato Rice

Che

Age: 12

Hometown: Boiceville, NY

Signature Dish: Pan-Seared Salmon with Celeriac & Potato Purée & Sautéed Leeks

with Kale Avocado Salad

Evie

Age: 11

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Signature Dish: Seared Steak Crostini with Chimichurri Sauce

Ivy

Age: 11

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Signature Dish: Beef Stir Fry with Broccoli & Peanut Sauce

Jaala

Age: 10

Hometown: Pawtucket, RI

Signature Dish: Mushroom Alfredo Pasta

Jayden

Age: 12

Hometown: San Antonio, TX

Signature Dish: Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry with Mixed Vegetables & Scratch-Made Soy Sauce

Kate

Age: 8

Hometown: Roanoke, AL

Signature Dish: Chicken & Veggie Stir Fry

Kyle

Age: 11

Hometown: Rye, NY

Signature Dish: Pan-Seared Salmon with a Citrus Salad

Malia

Age: 11

Hometown: Newhall, CA

Signature Dish: Tuna & CUCUMBER Roll with Garlic & Soy Sautéed Broccolini

Mateo

Age: 8

Hometown: Demarest, NJ

Signature Dish: Baked & Seared Asian Salmon with Rice & Bok Choy

Matthew

Age: 8

Hometown: Livingston, NJ

Signature Dish: Filet Mignon with a CUCUMBER & Tomato Salad

Miguel

Age: 12

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Signature Dish: Thyme, Garlic, Buttered Seared Steak with Sautéed Mushrooms & Organic Side Salad

Nayeli

Age: 9

Hometown: San Antonio, TX

Signature Dish: Cheese Enchiladas with Roja Sauce & Sautéed Potatoes & Carrots with Chorizo, & a Cabbage Radish Slaw

Neko

Age: 11

Hometown: San Antonio, TX

Signature Dish: Irish Potato Soup with Bacon

Reid

Age: 8

Hometown: Newnan, GA

Signature Dish: Southern State Sliders with Bacon & Cheese Infused Burger Patties & a Special Sauce

Rhashad

Age: 12

Hometown: Milton, GA

Signature Dish: Shrimp Scampi over Pasta

Sadie

Age: 12

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Signature Dish: Spaghetti with Tomato, Basil, Pignoli & Cheese

Shannen

Age: 9

Hometown: Scarsdale, NY

Signature Dish: Yellow Turmeric Grilled Chicken with a Vegetable Medley

Tal

Age: 13

Hometown: Port Washington, NY

Signature Dish: Kombu-Cured Salmon with a Miso Buerre-Blanc & Yuzu Kosho (Japanese white wine grape)

Talulah

Age: 11

Hometown: New York, NY

Signature Dish: Savory Mushroom Crepe

Thomas

Age: 12

Hometown: Boerne, TX

Signature Dish: Personally Harvested Dove served on Toast topped with a Red Wine Jalapeño Jelly

MASTERCHEF JUNIOR is produced by Endemol Shine NORTH AMERICA and One Potato Two Potato, and is based on a format created by Franc Roddam and Endemol Shine. Robin Ashbrook, Danny Schrader, Elisabeth Murdoch, Georgie Hurford-Jones, Gordon Ramsay, Yasmin Shackleton, Patricia Llewellyn and Ben Adler serve as executive producers. "Like" MASTERCHEF JUNIOR on Facebook at facebook.com/MasterChefJuniorFOX. Follow the series on Twitter @MasterChefJrFOX and join the discussion at #MasterChefJunior. Check out photos and videos on Instagram @masterchefjunior/.

Be part of Camp MasterChef this summer! Join former MASTERCHEF and MASTERCHEF JUNIOR winners and fan favorites for an enriching and immersive culinary experience designed for kids and teens ages 8-16. For more information and to register for Camp MasterChef, visit CampMasterChef.com

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