“MasterChef Australia” has crowned its winner. Emma Dean has beaten stockman Lynton Tapp and stay-at-home mum Samira El Khafir for the title of Master Chef during the show’s fifth season finale on Sunday night.

Dean, a former professional cyclist, won a total score of 85, just four points more than Tapp’s 81 points over the final three rounds.

As with all MasterChef finales, the dessert challenge was the deciding factor in determining the winner. Having El Khafir already eliminated at the previous challenge, both Dean and Tapp went on to recreate Ben Shewry’s “Plight of the Bees” from the restaurant Attica.

Tapp, unfortunately, wasn’t able to advance with a floppy meringue. Dean, on the other hand, managed to impress judges with her layered dessert.

The 35-year-old from Victoria took home a $100,000 cash prize plus an Alfa Romeo Giulietta, a cook book deal, and the opportunity to work with some of Australia’s best chefs.

“I just can’t believe it, it hasn’t really sunk in yet,” the newly crowned chef said. “The whole experience feels like a dream, what a roller coaster!

“I’m really privileged to have been able to share this with Lynton, who’s become a wonderful friend. I can’t wait to head out into the food world and make this restaurant a reality.”

Dean has already bought a second-hand commercial kitchen, and she just needs a space to open her restaurant with her boyfriend Dan.

Tapp, who won second place, received American Express cash grant of $20,000 to help him realise their food dreams, while El Khafir received $10,000 for coming in at third place.

“I’m proud of how much I grew throughout the competition,” Tapp declared. “Emma’s a deserving winner, she’s a great cook and I know she’ll succeed at whatever she does next. I’m looking forward to getting some hands on experience in kitchens across Melbourne.

“I just want to learn as much as I can from the amazing chefs we’ve been exposed to on MasterChef.”

“MasterChef Australia” will be back for its sixth season on Network Ten in 2014.

The sneak peak of the show’s fifth season in June:

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