Bake Off winner Jasmine on praying in the tent

Jemimah Wright (JW): You’re probably tired of talking about Bake Off, but it’s so impressive that you’re the winner! Congratulations! I saw on your Instagram that you’ve got well over 100,000 followers now. What was it before Bake Off?

Jasmine Mitchell (JM):  Under 2,000!

JW: Wow – it’s certainly a big change going from an unknown medical student to being in the public eye. How has that been?

JM: It’s honestly been the quickest learning curve ever! I think it actually hit me around week three – after that episode aired, when I’d just got Star Baker. The first two weeks were super fun and exciting. No one recognised me because I’d had maybe a minute of airtime on each episode.

Then suddenly, after week three, people started recognising me in the street, saying: “You’re Jasmine from Bake Off!” The first week was so much fun. I’d been looking forward to that kind of thing and thought: “This is so cool!” But very quickly it turned into: “Oh my goodness, I’m exhausted.” It became quite overwhelming. So I went from a week of really good fun to a couple of weeks of wanting to hide and become a hermit! I’ve adapted now – I’ve learned when I need to disguise myself or protect my energy. I’ll shove on a beanie and sunglasses, though even then some still recognise me! It’s been a mix of getting used to it and learning how to handle being recognised while keeping my life normal.

JW: Because you’re a medical student, what year are you in now?

JM: I’m in my fifth year of six.

JW: So are you on hospital rotations?

JM: Yeah, I am, which makes things even funnier because sometimes patients or staff recognise me. I was once with a doctor consenting a patient for surgery, and the patient suddenly went: “Oh, you’re Jasmine from Bake Off!” and I thought: “How do I keep this on track and professional?!” It’s been a process of adjusting, learning I can’t be everyone’s best friend. My natural instinct is to connect deeply with everyone I meet, but I’ve had to learn about boundaries, to love the people right in front of me while still keeping some space. That’s been a big, ongoing lesson.

JW: This is probably a question you’ve been asked many times, but can you tell me briefly about your journey to Bake Off? Was it a lifelong dream, or a spontaneous thing?

JM: Totally spontaneous! My friend Daisy actually threatened to apply for me if I didn’t. The year before I got on, I was sitting in a lecture, and there was a random Bake Off analogy on the slides. Clearly I was really engaged because I started Googling ‘Bake Off applications’.

Even though they’d closed two months earlier, I phoned up the team to ask if there was still a way to apply. Obviously, I never heard back! But the following year Daisy said: “If you don’t apply, I’m applying for you,” so I threw in an application – and then kept being surprised every time I got through to the next stage. I didn’t expect it at all.

JW: Were you always baking a lot at home? Is that why Daisy pushed you to apply?

JM: That’s the funny thing, not really! I was known more for cooking than baking. I loved hosting dinners, bringing people together, cooking big meals for friends. I’ve always been passionate about creating space around food and the table, but I wasn’t someone who spent all day making cakes. But I think cooking and baking overlap more than people think. I like problem-solving, figuring things out as I go. Once you know the basics, I think you can be a bit freer with baking than people realise. I’ll experiment and sometimes it fails miserably, but that’s half the fun! I’m quite laid-back with it – probably too relaxed at times.

JW: That’s interesting – because cooking and baking are such different mindsets. And maybe that connects with medicine too, right? 

JM: Yes, either surgery or anaesthetics! I think there are actually loads of similarities between Bake Off and medicine. Both are about problem-solving under pressure: you’re short on time, missing ingredients or tools and you still have to make it work. That’s when I thrive. Even when cooking, I’ll stand in front of the fridge with no plan and think: “What can I do with this?” I love that challenge. But I’m also quite organised – I’ll mentally plan out how it’ll work, even while ‘winging it’. I’ve had so many moments lying in bed, on a run or in the shower, mentally engineering how to make something work!

I’ve had to learn about boundaries, to love the people right in front of me while still keeping some space

JW: You seem to juggle so much – medicine, Bake Off, everything. How do you manage?

JM: Capacity is something I’ve learned a lot about this year. I used to be terrible at saying no. Bake Off forced me to learn it the hard way. At first, I tried to do everything: full-time medicine, Bake Off recipe development, social life and I totally crashed before filming even started. I remember my cousin Ella asking me one Saturday night if I was coming to Sabbath the next day, and I said: “No, I don’t have time.” I thought if I just worked harder, I could do it all. But that was the moment I realised I couldn’t do everything in my own strength. That striving wouldn’t make it better. That’s when I learned to say no, to rest and to rely on God’s strength instead of my own. It completely changed how I live.

JW: That’s a lesson we all need to hear. You mentioned your faith – did you talk about it on the show?

JM: Not really. There’s no point in the episodes where I directly talk about it. That wasn’t an intentional decision; it just didn’t come up naturally. But since the show, I’ve had more opportunities to talk about it. I’ve always wanted my faith to come through more in how I live than in what I say. I’m not a stand-on-a-street-corner evangelist! I prefer one-to-one conversations, showing love and kindness in small ways. In the Bake Off tent, that meant getting to know people deeply, listening, sharing life. That’s how I like to share my faith.

JW: How did God help you through the pressure of Bake Off?

JM: I think it was his grace that carried me through. Life got so full-on. I’d look at my week and think: “I can’t possibly do all this.” I’d pray that what truly needed doing would get done  and every week, somehow, it would. Before every stage of the Bake Off process, I’d pray: “God, if this is meant to happen, give me the capacity.” It meant I could hold it lightly – if I didn’t get through, that was OK. But I kept feeling his presence through every round, every new challenge. Even now, every new stage brings new adjustments, and I still have to trust that God has me. I never feel fully equipped, but he always pulls [me] through.

JW: I’d love to ask about your alopecia. I loved your quote about learning that being authentically yourself is more beautiful than trying to look like everyone else.

JM: Yeah, that’s exactly it. Looking like everyone else isn’t the answer to being confident in your own skin. I spent years trying to fit in, aiming to look similar to everyone around me. The real turning point was when I went travelling to Vietnam with my cousin. I’d only booked it a week before, and I was so determined not to let alopecia stop me doing anything. But it was 35°C and humid – completely impractical for a wig! Within a couple of days, I stopped wearing it. At first, I was terrified. But every few days we met new people, and I got to reintroduce myself – just me, without explaining. And I realised people don’t care! I forced myself to act confident, even though I didn’t feel it, because I knew people would take me at face value if I did. And slowly, I actually became confident. That trip was the start of me learning that, even with no hair, I could still be seen as beautiful.

JW: That’s such a powerful journey. Did you ever go through a “Why me?” moment with God?

JM: I don’t think I ever asked: “Why me?” I definitely had moments of wishing I had hair, especially when doing things like swimming, cliff jumping, sports. It was mostly practical! I love being outdoors, so that part was frustrating. But there’s nothing I could do about it, so I just thought: “OK, this is my reality. Keep going.” It’s unlikely my hair will ever grow back, because I’ve got complete hair loss. But honestly, I’m at peace with that now. I can’t imagine wanting it back. I am learning to love how I look now.

Before every stage of the Bake Off process, I’d pray: ‘God, if this is meant to happen, give me the capacity’

JW: Have you baked much since finishing the show, or are you totally over it?

JM: (laughs) Honestly, I’ve only baked about three times since! But I’ve cooked a lot. Cooking is still where my heart is – I think that’s where I want to go with things. Food, for me, has always been about connection and community.

JW: Has winning Bake Off changed your future plans?

JM: I think it’s added to them rather than changed them. I still want to finish medicine and become a doctor, but I’d love to write a cookbook one day, and maybe do some more TV – maybe a mini-series or something around food. I’ve got such a passion for bringing people together around the table. We’re living in a time where loneliness is everywhere, and I think food is one of the most powerful ways to build community. I want to create spaces that are beautiful and warm – the table, the lighting, the music, everything – to help people connect again.

JW: That’s wonderful – the spiritual gift of hospitality! Finally, is there a Bible verse or passage that’s really carried you through this season?

JM: Definitely the Lord’s Prayer. I’ve prayed it so many times, especially during filming. There were lots of long pauses in the tent, like waiting for judging, and I’d just stand there silently praying: “Our Father who art in heaven…” When my mind was busy and I didn’t have words, it grounded me. And Sabbath has also become really important for me. It’s my one day to stop and go slow with God. I’ve become quite strict about it. I turn my phone off, don’t plan anything, eat good food, rest, sleep and just let the day be slow. It’s such a reminder that I can’t do everything in my own strength. I absolutely love it.

Watch Jasmine in The Great British Bake Off  Series 16 on Channel Four.