A young woman described how she built on learning to cook from her mother - eventually winning through to the final of a BBC cooking series. 

Sheryl Teya has officially made it to the final stage of Young MasterChef. 

The 21-year-old is one of three remaining contestants in the contest, which is shown on BBC Three.

Sheryl, a software engineering apprentice at Ravensbourne University, found out she had made it onto Young MasterChef in April 2023. 

Islington Gazette: Sheryl first discovered cooking by watching her mum.Sheryl first discovered cooking by watching her mum. (Image: BBC/Shine TV)

She said: "It was definitely an exciting feeling.

"I felt like 'okay I have a chance to bring my skills and put everything on the table'."

The young chef said she discovered her passion for cooking as a child because of her mum.

Sheryl said: "Growing up I used to kind of watch my mum cook."

"Copying her patterns, creating my own recipes - it stemmed from there."

Islington Gazette: Sheryl pictured with the other finalists Famara and Lewis and judges Big Has and Poppy O'Toole. Sheryl pictured with the other finalists Famara and Lewis and judges Big Has and Poppy O'Toole. (Image: BBC/Shine TV)

Despite the pressure in the kitchen, Sheryl has found her release through cooking, calling it her "therapy". 

The 21-year-old will appear on screens for the final time tonight (February 5), where we will see if she took the title of Young MasterChef 2024.

The contestants are judged by Michelin-trained social media star Poppy O’Toole and chef, author and YouTube food star Big Has.

Reflecting on her experience, Sheryl said: "It's something I would just love to do all over again. 

"It's taught me to just jump into the deep end and really go for what I want in life."