Group 1 - Florist and Princess

Leigh and Jennifer have forged a close bond despite having only met two years ago.

Leigh, a florist, met Jennifer, 25, after her teammate's husband Wayne kept coming into her shop to spoil her with flowers. “I thought this guy has got so many girlfriends,” she says. “But then I found it was just for one girl.”

The two met and hit it off straightaway. “We just connected,” Jennifer says.

Leigh, 33, adds: “We're like sisters without the fighting.”

The Adelaide pair discovered they shared a passion for food and fashion. “We get along in every aspect and I can talk to her about anything,” Leigh says. “When Jen and I get together the main topics that come up are food...” “Shoes, fashion and makeup,” Jennifer adds.

While Leigh is originally from Sydney, Jennifer was born and bred in Bangkok, Thailand, and moved to Australia nine years ago. They both enjoy cooking Asian food especially curries and laksa. “I love experimenting with Asian food and Jen has been a huge influence on me in that area of late,” Leigh says.

They both learnt to cook thanks to their respective families.

“Everyone in my family is obsessed with food,” Jennifer says. “So I started baking with my dad and making fresh pasta. He was very inspirational. He would say, ‘If you want to learn about a culture, just try their food.'”

For Leigh, it was her grandmother who taught her the basics. “I remember baking with my nan, making chocolate cakes at the age of six,” she says. “I have always been a keen cook and ruled the kitchen.”

The girls think they have what it takes to win the competition. “I think we will win because apart from our fabulous cooking and great skills, we've got this fantastic bond,” Leigh says. “We work very well together in the kitchen and that closeness will see us through.”

Plating is also their strength. “Working with flowers is very similar to working with food,” Leigh says. “Presentation is everything.”

But a lack of communication could be their downfall. “We don't talk enough when we're cooking,” Leigh says. “We keep our heads down and get the job done. But who knows? If we start chatting too much, it might work against us.”

While Leigh is a fan of Aussie meat maestro Adrian Richardson, Jennifer looks up to New York chef David Chang. “His food is the sort of stuff I love to eat and cook,” Jennifer says. “It's fresh and delicious.”

Leigh, who runs her florist with musician boyfriend Anthony, dreams of expanding the business to include a café. “In time, I'd like to expand and serve food, coffee, pastries and cakes. I think that concept would work.”

Jennifer, who works as a PA for her husband's online betting business, would love to release her own cook book. But for now they have their sights set on the My Kitchen Rules crown. “We will win because our food is impossible to resist,” Leigh says.