One year after MasterChef: what Antonio’s new life is like and why he opened up to talk about his sexuality

Antonio Lopez (21), the young man from La Merced, Salta, won many hearts during his time MasterChef Argentina 2023 (Telefe). Although he did not reach the final, the Salto man left his mark thanks to his humility, passion for cooking and his history of improvement.

From its modest beginnings in a home where clay and wood-fired cooking was the norm, Antonio has traveled a path full of challenges and sacrifices.

After dropping out of nursing to pursue her culinary dream, she took a trip to Buenos Aires, where the support of friends and neighbors was crucial to her adjustment to the big city.

However, his career in MasterChef was marked by a painful loss: the passing of his beloved grandmothercentral figure in his life and in his love for the traditional cuisine of northern Argentina.

Despite adversity, Antonio found the strength to continue, inspiring the audience with his determination.

Since I participated in the program, Antonio’s life has undergone a radical change.

Today he is close to opening his own empanada place in Buenos Aires with his mother.

One year after the debut of MasterChef Argentina 2023, Antonio spoke with Clarion and shared his experiences, dreams and reflections on his time spent in the reality, In addition to his gastronomic venture and his recent revelation about his bisexuality.

-How has your life changed since you’ve been here? MasterChef?

-My life has changed 100% in every way. Personally it helped me a lot to trust myself a little, to change my attitudes. I don’t think I’m the same person I was before the program on a personal level. And also at a work level. Before, I was 100% dependent on my family and today I am the one who lends my shoulder to help my family move forward.

-How have you been able to help your family since then?

-Before my mother was the only one working and after my time inside MasterChef I have a good number of followers. Now I’m going to work in advertising and I’m going to have my own empanada shop. Then I was able to say to my mother: ‘Mom, stop working, I’ll take care of it now’. She doesn’t want to stop working, but I said ‘well, do a shift, half a shift’.

-How did the idea to start your own empanadas business come about?

-The idea came about mainly because after the program I was very well financially. I tried not to leave the money sitting there. I’ve been trying to find a way to have some savings, to start something. And so it turned out, I told my family that I would like to go to Buenos Aires for a while to see how things were going with the empanadas sales. I think that’s my strong point. Here since I was a child I made empanadas with my family.

-What’s your next dream?

-Selling my product would be a dream, having as many stores as possible. Not just in Buenos Aires, but in Cordoba, in as many provinces as you can. It’s a very big dream and I would like to be able to make it come true.

-Do you still talk to Betular, Donato or Martitegui? And with Wanda Nara?

-We don’t have a great relationship with the chefs, but from time to time they invite us to the events they organize. Well, with Wanda we are always aware of what loads her and she of what we load. We congratulate each other on each other’s achievements. Wanda was always there. The program passes and you think that Wanda disappears from our lives, but she always told us that the relationship would remain as it is. If we need help, she will always be there to lend us a hand.

-Would you like to participate in reality shows again or work on television?

-Many people have told me that now, in this new year, various proposals are starting. And last year I had interviews to be able to participate in the programs. But I couldn’t close anything because I was still participating MasterChef. But yes, if it happens, I will be happy about it. I’m getting in shape in case a proposal comes along.

-Do people recognize you in Salta?

-In my city, the same kids who asked me for photos when I arrived in July, when I finished the program, ask me for photos again. This is what I like about citizens, who continue to recognize and appreciate the effort you have made. And I’m very happy because they see me as a person who has managed to make their dreams come true. I like it, they are always aware. When they pass by my house they greet me, ask me for photos. And in the most inhospitable places in Salta, when I go, the people are very loving and always treat me in the best way.

-Do you think that’s why people connected with you through the reality show?

-I think that many people, more internal, saw themselves reflected in me as a boy who left everything to make his dreams come true. When I left, I left with the last thing I had, leaving my nursing career. I think that’s what people saw, that I took a risk. I gave it my all and it went as expected.

-Now you post videos with inspiring messages on your social networks to empathize with people. What is your goal and how did the idea to start making them come about?

-My idea has never been to dedicate myself 100% to cooking on my social networks. From time to time I upload recipes, but I like the idea that people can see a bit of my reality, how I live, how I’m growing… Why do so many people always ask me ‘Antonio, what’s happening in your life’? ‘. And I show them that I’m moving forward one way or another. I am very satisfied with my life and I want to show people that it is possible. I also try to show the value of family, I talk a lot about my mother, my goddaughter…

Antonio López and the love story that changed his life

At the beginning of the year, on his Tik-Tok account, Antonio had reported a love story from years ago which changed his life.

“He accompanied me when he was most by my side”, pointed out who his partner was. “He taught me to be free, he made me leave aside my prejudices, he made me understand that I should just love madly regardless of what others say”, she added in that publication about the importance of this person.

And there he said: “I am proudly bisexual.”

-Why did you decide to talk publicly about your sexuality?

-I decided this thinking that, like me, there are many people who find themselves in the same or worse situation than me. I thank my family who has always supported me, I have always had approval. But there are those who have it worse than me. Tell them they will always have someone to talk to. That they should always ask for help, talk about it because hiding it is wrong. We all know that in Salta, in the north, in the provinces far from Buenos Aires, there are still some prejudices. As also happens to Lucia from Big Brother. I understood it 100% when she talked about her problems. Because maybe in Buenos Aires it has become normalized but in Salta it is still seen as a bad thing.