Is ‘Logan bogan’ a derogatory term the city has struggled to shake, or a title we can proudly claim?
It’s a question that will soon unfold on national television, as proud Logan friends Lol and Lil dodge stereotypes and sly digs on the upcoming season of My Kitchen Rules (MKR).
The lifelong friends will enter the kitchen in true Logan fashion – as underdogs. Before filming, Lol had never even been on a plane or left Queensland.
The first episode is yet to air. Still, lifelong friends Lol and Lil are already batting away the ‘Logan bogan’ label.
In an MKR promo aired on Channel 7 last week, a fellow MKR contestant refers to the women as “The Logan Bogans”.
“Can’t wait for him to see us cook and really eat his words,” Lil said in response.
“And maybe choke on them a little bit,” Lol added.
For a bit of light entertainment, Lol and Lil will no doubt be forced to overcome the outdated stereotypes and barriers imposed by our elitist southern states.
But Lol and Lil’s fighting spirit and tough nature could be their greatest strength.
“I mean, we are cute, but we do bite,” Lil said.
“We’re from Logan, we’re fighters, and we’re going to keep pushing on.”
Locals know Logan does an underdog well. Look no further than our very own Olympic speed skater Steven Bradbury, who won Austalia its first ever Winter Olympic gold at the 2002 games after his competition fell over seconds before reaching the finish line.
Cooking is a deeply personal passion for the young women who make family recipes and state delicacies.
“My dessert recipe comes from my grandma. When she passed away, we didn’t actually have it for a little bit,” Lol said. “So cooking it makes me feel closer to her.”
“She would be so proud,” Lil said.
The show is a big deal for the team who could join the growing list of Logan stars, such as Dami Im, Corey Parker, Luke Smith, Jason Daniel, and Logan Martin.
“It is huge that Lil and I are here on MKR,” Lol said.
Hopefully, they will battle to the end of the competition and emerge victorious.
But they’re not the only ones struggling with impacts of Logan’s persistently poor reputation.
Over at Logan City Council Chambers, councillors have endorsed a new plan in the hopes of transforming the city’s reputation.
According to council research conducted in 2024, Logan “continues to suffer from a
poor reputation”.
“The research found there was limited awareness and understanding of the Logan region, favourable impressions were lower than other surrounding regions, and associations often focused on crime,” a council report read.
The new strategy will aim to rehabilitate the city’s image, reshaping “outdated narratives” to instead focus on Logan as a multicultural city full of opportunity.
The council’s corporate communications manager said the research showed the city’s younger residents had the least-positive perceptions of the city, while older residents had the most positive.
“Outside our city, it was that family demographic [that was most positive] and likely that is driven by the affordable place to buy and home and a great place to raise a family.”
