Behind the smiles of bubbly Greek Australian twins Vikki and Helena, lies a tragic family past. Their father passed away suddenly from a heart attack when the girls were only 12-years-old.

They have said they are trying to win the cooking contest My Kitchen Rules for their late father.

“Vikki and I grew up really quickly, so we learnt to cook and clean the house and do most of the things to help mum,” explains Helena to Neos Kosmos.

“It was like we matured overnight – we went from 12 to 16,” she says of what it was like for the girls after their father passed.

But they both say the tragedy has made them stronger, and made them appreciative to love and live life the fullest.

Helena says “do something that makes you happy” was always the advice given by their grandmother – which couldn’t be more true with their decision to go on My Kitchen Rules.