Gemma

Gemma Costa's path to the MasterChef kitchen is one of the most unconventional in Series 18. Originally from Naples, she moved to Scotland in 2014 without speaking English and without any formal culinary training. Before she ever set foot in a professional kitchen, Gemma served two years in the Italian Army and worked as a barista. It was in Edinburgh where her culinary life began — starting in a café, she worked her way up entirely through hands-on learning, progressing from the ground level to sous chef without ever attending culinary school, in kitchens she describes as often dominated by men. Over time, she developed a deep passion for plant-based cooking, teaching herself the craft with the same determination that brought her from Naples to Scotland.

In 2024, Gemma and her wife Marta Negro Puig co-founded Planet G, a plant-based catering and food truck business operating from Edinburgh's Stockbridge and Leith markets. The venture won at the Scottish Street Food Awards and organised Edinburgh's first fully vegan Burns Night — a statement of intent about making plant-based food celebratory rather than restrictive. Planet G also caters sustainable weddings and events, with Gemma as the creative chef behind every dish and Marta handling the business side. Together they secured startup funding, opened a production kitchen, and built a loyal following. Queen Margaret University even collaborated with Planet G on developing a shelf-stable vegan sauce, reflecting the seriousness of their food science approach.