"MasterChef" Winner Whitney Miller Victorious Despite Chicken Mishap

NEW YORK (CBS) Whitney Miller manages to win the title of "MasterChef" despite a chicken nightmare.

The 22-year-old University of Southern Mississippi nutrition student emerged triumphant after a horrifying last-minute error when she had to prepare a chicken breast in seven minutes after dropping the first one she cooked.

Miller whipped up a corncake with turnip green pesto, country fried chicken and a white chocolate bread pudding during Wednesday night's two hour finale of the Fox cooking competition.

Miller takes home a quarter of a million dollars and will get to write her own cookbook, along with the honor of being called the "MasterChef."

"I never would have thought this would ever happen in my life and just to relive it now watching it - it's surreal," Miller said to the Hattiesburg American newspaper of her "MasterChef" victory.

Miller was hand-picked in July from an open audition in New Orleans to appear on the television show. The judges commented how impressed they were throughout the season on her unique twists on traditional Southern cuisine.

Miller said she plans to take a few days off but said she is ready to start work on her cookbook.

"I've got to get on my cookbook because I want everyone to be able to have it as soon as possible," she said.