Creating the Muse by Indah Pages

Creating the Muse by Indah Pages - Interview with Elena Duggan

Indiana Holley

Welcome to another episode of Creating the Muse, where we’re joined by an extraordinary creative, educator, and advocate, Elena Duggan.

Elena first came into the public eye as the 2016 winner of MasterChef Australia, where her intuitive, visual approach to food captivated the nation. But behind the plates and pressure tests is a woman of remarkable depth, a teacher, mother, artist, and activist who uses food not only to nourish, but to heal, connect, and spark change.

Today, Elena leads transformative food literacy programs working with students from over 40 nationalities, many of whom are navigating trauma, neurodivergence, or systemic disadvantage. Her classroom is a kitchen. Her curriculum is compassion. Her mission is inclusion.

In this episode, we explore:
Reclaiming Creativity Through Healing – Her deeply personal journey through endometriosis, PCOS, and mental health, and how she rebuilt her sense of self through therapy, art, boundaries, and motherhood.

Ritual, Resilience & Leadership – From intuitive sketching to classroom rituals that honour her students' humanity, Elena shares the practices that help her lead with emotional integrity.

Creating Safe Spaces – How she creates inclusive, trauma-informed environments where young people feel seen, supported, and empowered to explore their identity through food.

Elena’s story is an invitation to slow down, feel deeply, and reimagine what it means to live, and create, with integrity. Her work reminds us that true nourishment happens when we are present, purposeful, and willing to sit with the mess as much as the magic.

To learn more about Elena’s work and programs, connect with her on Instagram @elena_jo_duggan.

www.indahpages.com.au