Syabira Yusoff Becomes The First Malaysian To Win The Great British Bake Off
Syabira also pulled out the best track record while competing throughout the competition.
By Wayne Garreth — 16 Nov 2022, 01:09 PM
All hail the supreme baker of Great Britain for 2022, Malaysia's very own Syabira Yusoff
A fan-favourite throughout the series, 32-year-old postdoctoral researcher Syabira Yusoff has officially claimed the title of champion for Series 13 of The Great British Bake Off.
Beating out stiff competition in her other co-finalists, Syabira inched out 29-year-old Abdul Rehman Sharif and 30-year-old Nelsandro "Sandro" Farmhouse in what was said to be one of the toughest finales in Bake Off history.
Syabira's win also makes her the third person of colour (POC) to win the series in its 13-season tenure, after Series 6 winner and favourite, Nadiya Hussain, and Series 9 winner Rahul Mandal.
Syabira and the two co-judges of 'The Great British Bake Off', Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith.
Image via @BritishBakeOff (Twitter)Praising Syabira for her win, co-judge Paul Hollywood stated that the competition had never seen some of the flavours she produced before
"Some of the flavours we have never had in the tent before and are unlikely to have again, she is an incredible baker," gushed Hollywood about the 32-year-old winner on the show, according to The Daily Mail.
Dame Prue Leith, the other co-judge for the series called Syabira a very skilful baker. "She is creative and she is careful, she practices like anything, and she is imaginative, she just has the lot."
Syabira with her other co-finalists for Series 13, Abdul (middle) and Sandro (right).
Image via Mark Bourdillon/Channel 4/The TelegraphThe final signature challenge saw all three finalists tasked with creating a summer picnic, using seasonal ingredients from across the UK to encourage sustainability.
A three-hour task that required competitors to make six mini-cakes, six individual vegetarian pies, and six finger sandwiches made from a classic white loaf, was deemed to be "the most challenging signature ever seen in a bake-off final".
Syabira herself made an innovative 'no porky pie', which consisted of aubergine and mushrooms, as well as a broad bean with coriander paste and salsa verde heart-shaped sandwich, that was deemed unusual, but really delicious by co-judge Leith.
Judges for Bake Off, Hollywood and Leith, with co-hosts, Noel Fielding (second from the right) and Matt Lucas (right).
Image via Channel 4/UK NEWS TO DAYDelighted over her win, Syabira openly stated that this is the biggest achievement in her life
"All of the hard work, all of the trial and error, it's all worth it. I'm very proud," she said on the show after claiming the crown.
Candid about her win not sinking in just yet, Syabira stated that she was very pleased to have won the series, as a woman hasn't won in quite awhile. The last woman to win was Sophie Faldo, who won Series 8 in 2017.
"I'm coming out as a new person after this competition. I became more confident and I trust my instinct. We can do anything we want as long as we give all of our heart and work for it."
Gleaming in her new-found confidence, Syabira expressed how she will never be too shy again, and keep her motto close to her heart: hard work always pays off.
Syabira and her orangutan sculpture for the final challenge, themed, "Our Beautiful Planet".
Image via @britishbakeoff (Instagram)A plethora of people from Malaysia and beyond, also took to social media to congratulate Syabira on her monumental win
