Melissa Leong Embraces 'Boy Sober' Trend

Former MasterChef Australia star Melissa Leong, 44, has publicly embraced the "boy sober" trend, a social media phenomenon gaining traction among Gen Z women. This movement centers on abstaining from romantic relationships with men to prioritize personal well-being and self-improvement.

The trend, initially popularized by American comedian Hope Woodard, also encourages women to forgo sexual activity with men while focusing on self-empowerment. Leong stated that after experiencing a failed marriage and a subsequent unsuccessful long-term relationship, she finds herself aligned with this movement.

"Right now, I could not be less interested in dating," Leong told the Daily Telegraph. "I could not be incentivised to do it. I have been asked to be involved in certain dating-related television pursuits, and I can't even... I could not be less interested."

Leong attributed hearing the term "boy sober" to feminist and Triple J host Dee Salmin. "I am boy sober, and I could not be more thrilled about it," Leong said.

She explained that she currently experiences "peace and agency" in her life and is unwilling to compromise this for a partner who does not positively contribute to her world. "It's not that men suck, although the bar is extremely low. I have a really full life. I have great friends. I have a great family," Leong shared. "I have a really amazing life that I get to live with all of these incredible people in it."

Leong was previously married to Joe Jones, with whom she tied the knot in 2017. The couple separated after three years of marriage. Reflecting on this period, Leong indicated that she felt she rushed into the marriage, partly due to societal expectations around settling down as she approached age 35.

"I rushed... I'm 34, I've just met this amazing human being, who's just barrelled on into my life," she recalled in an interview on the Inherited podcast. "I wasn't expecting it, so it was all very, 'Let's get married,' within a three-month period of being together."

Following her divorce, Leong began a relationship with Rob Mason, which she debuted in October 2021, approximately ten months after her split from Jones. However, this relationship has since ended. Leong had previously expressed feeling content after finding love with Mason, but she later shared on the Inherited podcast that she is now enjoying her life as a single woman.