The finale pitted Courtney Lapresi against Elizabeth Cauvel, an advertising account executive. The final challenge required both contestants to prepare a three-course meal within two hours to be evaluated by the judges (Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot, and Joe Bastianich) and a guest panel of culinary experts.
Courtney Lapresi, an aerial dancer from Philadelphia, was crowned the winner of MasterChef US Season 5 on September 15, 2014. Her victory remains one of the most talked-about and controversial in the show's history due to her unconventional background and persistent accusations of favoritism from viewers and fellow contestants. The Journey of a Controversial Champion masterchef us season 5 winner