Channel Ten's reality cooking show Masterchef has a local feel to it this year.

Geelong roller derby player TREGAN BORG's made it to the top 24, after impressing the judges with a salmon creation.

The 25-year-old, who grew up in Altona but skates in the Geelong league, says she wants to use the experience to help educate disadvantaged youth about food.

She says her Maltese background has had a big influence on her cooking, and she used to love cooking pasta with her mother and grandmother as a child.

Tregan’s prominent tattoos give her that tough skater look but she says they feature images of her family.