Are you ready for a new season of MasterChef? Season eight of the cooking competition series will premiere later this month, and the 40 contestants that will try to cook their way to the top have been revealed.

“Host and award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay, world-renowned pastry chef Christina Tosi and James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Aarón Sánchez welcome 40 of the nation’s best home cooks to the MASTERCHEF kitchen on the Season Eight premiere of MASTERCHEF, airing Wednesday, May 31 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.

In the season premiere, the Top 40 travel to Los Angeles to compete in the Battle for a White Apron challenge, during which only 20 will move forward in the contest for the MASTERCHEF title, a cookbook deal and the $250,000 grand prize.

Hopefuls auditioned at MASTERCHEF’s open casting calls in Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Los Angeles, CA; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Oklahoma City, OK; Orlando, FL; Portland, OR; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; and Washington D.C. to prove they have the culinary skills to be the next MASTERCHEF. Only one talented home cook will join MASTERCHEF winners Shaun O’Neale (Season Seven), Claudia Sandoval (Season Six), Courtney Lapresi (Season Five); Luca Manfe (Season Four); Christine Ha (Season Three), the first-ever blind contestant; Jennifer Behm (Season Two); and Whitney Miller (Season One) in the elite group of MASTERCHEF titleholders.

This season features 40 contestants from all walks of life, representing 18 states – including a debt collector, dentist, PE teacher, Harvard student, swimsuit model and two ministers – all with the hopes of turning their culinary dreams into reality.

Below are the hometowns, names and professions of the Top 40 Home Cooks who will participate in the MASTERCHEF Battle for a White Apron:

State/Hometown Name Profession

California
Pacific Beach Lauren Lawless Sales Rep
Redding Brien O’Brien Magazine Ad Sales

Florida
Clearwater Paola Annoni Patel Dentist
Miami Heather Dombrosky Registered Nurse
Land O’Lakes Danny Flores Steel Supplier
Tampa Jeff Philbin Marketing Director

Hawaii
Honolulu Paige Jimenez Swimsuit Model
Pahoa Tom Ward Draftsman

Illinois
Chicago Caitlin Meade Nutritionist
Eboni Henry Addiction Counselor

Louisiana
Chalmette Jennifer Williams Debt Collector
New Orleans Janice Scott Tour Guide
Kelseay Reed Events Planner
Vacherie Lesci Oubre Phys. Ed. Teacher

Massachusetts
Cambridge Adam Wong Harvard Student
Medford Daniel Pontes-Macedo Substitute Teacher
Newton Jason Wang High School Music Teacher
Springfield David Smith Wedding Singer

Michigan
Ann Arbor Julia Huldin Food Truck Promoter
Detroit Yachecia Holston Minister

New Jersey
North Arlington Michael Lertchitvikul Former Startup COO

New York
Bensonhurst Dino Luciano Ignacio Dancer
Brooklyn Mia Rivera Grocery Clerk

Ohio
Cincinnati Jenny Cavellier Special Needs Therapist
Josh Cooper Political Consultant

Oklahoma
Oklahoma City Gabriel Lewis Fast Food Server
Ty Hamilton Model

Oregon
Myrtle Beach Shasta Dring Bartender
Portland Mark Togni Stay-at-home Dad

Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Caitlin Jones Dancer

Puerto Rico
Carolina Nilka Barbosa Human Resources

South Carolina
Newberry Necco Ceresani Marketing Manager

Texas
Austin Taylor Waltmon Digital Marketer
Carthage Reba Billingsley Stay-at-home Mom
Lipan Mike Newton Ranch Owner

Virginia
Alexandria Aakash Trivedi Client Manager

Washington
Yakima Shawn Niles Pastor

Washington, D.C.
Angel Anderson Spice Store Owner
Jessica Heath Former Model
Sam Reiff-Pasarew Creative Writing Teacher

MASTERCHEF is produced by Endemol Shine North America and One Potato Two Potato, and is based on a format created by Franc Roddam and Endemol Shine. Robin Ashbrook, Elisabeth Murdoch, Eden Gaha, Adeline Ramage Rooney, Georgie Hurford-Jones, Gordon Ramsay, Patricia Llewellyn and Ben Adler serve as executive producers. “Like” MASTERCHEF JUNIOR on Facebook at facebook.com/Masterchef/. Follow the series on Twitter @MasterChefonFOX and join the discussion with #MasterChef. See photos and videos on Instagram @MasterchefonFOX. Follow the judges on Twitter: Gordon Ramsay – @gordonramsay; Christina Tosi – @christinatosi; Aarón Sánchez – @Chef_Aaron.”

Do you plan to check out the new season of MasterChef? Tell us what you think.