TheBelow Deckfranchise has been gracing Bravo screens for over a decade, and these eight alums continued their yachting careers after appearing on the hit series.Below Deck Down Underseason 3is underway, with Captain Jason Chambers managing a nearly new yachting crew, save for Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph and Deckhand Harry Van Vilet. However, many cast members, includingChief Stew Lara Rigby, come to the show with years of experience under their belts.
Below Deckhas jumpstarted some careers and ended others. While these eight yachties have continued working in the industry, other careers have come to a screeching halt.Bosun Luke Jones was firedafter an attempted sexual assault inBelow Deck Down Underseason 2, andDani Soares became a nurseafter getting pregnant with Jean-Luc Cerza’s baby onBelow Deck Sailing Yacht. Who’s still thriving in the industry off-screen?
8Kelsie Goglia
Below Deck Sailing Yacht
Deckhand Kelsie Goglia joinedBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseason 3 and continues to work in yachting after leaving the show. Hailing from San Diego, California, Kelsie pursued a degree in journalism and worked at a corporate desk job. However, a sailing holiday in Croatia ignited her desire for travel, and she made a lifestyle switch ahead of her appearance onBelow Deck Sailing Yacht.
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Following her appearance on the show,Kelsie continues to thrive in her yachting career.As of 2025, she remains active in the industry, taking on various roles aboard luxury yachts. Her dedication and work ethic have solidified her reputation as a competent professional in the field, rising through the ranks as a more advanced Deckhand. She now has experience as a Captain aboard yachts, becoming a proud ambassador of female representation in the male-dominated field of yachting.
7Jessika Asai
Below Deck Mediterranean
Jessika Asai was born in Hawaii and began her yachting career around five years ago, appearing inBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 8. Despite her island upbringing, she hadn’t set foot on a boat until she boarded a mega yacht in Florida, marking the beginning of her journey in the industry. After a couple of years of experience, Jessika starred as a Stew aboard the Mustique. Throughout the season, she demonstrated a strong work ethic and dedication to her role, though she faced personal issues with Luka Brunton.
Following her appearance on the show, Jessika returned to Hawaii, where she has been focusing on personal growth, spending time with her family, and yachting a little closer to home. She has also embraced outdoor activities around the island and in the ocean, often alongside her boyfriend, Mark Reeves. Jessika might not have returned toBelow Deck Mediterranean, but she caught the yachting bug.
6João Franco
Below Deck Mediterranean/Below Deck Down Under
João Franco first appeared onBelow Deck Mediterraneanduring its third season as a deckhand, quickly advancing to the role of Bosun by season 4. His tenure on the show was marked by his professional growth and personal drama, including an unforgettable love triangle with Stews Brooke Laughton and Kasey Cohen. After departing from the series, João focused on advancing his career, which paid off. He began to serve as a Captain on a smaller yacht by 2021. João was authorized to Captain larger vessels by 2023.
João’s growth is a testament to his dedication to the yachting industry and focus on improving himself.
João returned to theBelow Deckfranchise once more, joiningBelow Deck Down Underas a bosun. As of 2025, João continues to serve as a Captain in the yachting industry, working full time aboard large vessels around the world. Throughout his journey, João demonstrated a commitment to professional development, transitioning from a cocky and unfocused yachtie to a highly respected Captain.
5Rachel Hargrove
Below Deck
Chef Rachel Hargrove starred onBelow Deck, and while she left the show, she’s still serving as a Chef on superyachts. She joined the show in season 8, quickly becoming a fan favorite due to her culinary expertise and vibrant personality. Rachel continued her role through seasons 9 and 10, consistently impressing both guests and crew with her diverse culinary skills.
Chef Rachel was one of the better Chefs on the show, but she needed to choose herself over reality TV.
After filmingBelow Deckseason 10, Rachel announced her departure. She expressed dissatisfaction with the network and individuals, leading to her decision to cut ties with the show. One of her biggest complaints was how production treated cast members and the unfair pay for the stars. Since leavingBelow Deck, Rachel has distanced herself from the Bravo network, but she’s still sailing the high seas as an accomplished Chef.
4Wesley Walton
Wesley “Wes” Walton, originally from South Africa, gained recognition as the Bosun onBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 2, but he’s still working in the industry long after leaving the show. Before yachting, he earned degrees in economics and environmental science. What began as a temporary job evolved into a dedicated career that’s still going strong today.
Malia and Wes dated on the show, but the broke up after some time traveling together.
During his time onBelow Deck Mediterranean, Wes became entangled in a love triangle with deckhand Malia White and Chef Adam Glick. Despite the drama, Malia chose to pursue a relationship with Wes, and the two continued dating after the season ended. They traveled together to various destinations, including South Africa, Fort Lauderdale, Colorado, Los Angeles, and Spain. However, they eventually broke up. Professionally,Wes has remained active in the superyacht industry. He advanced from the role of Bosun to Chief Officer.
3Christine “Bugsy” Drake
Christine “Bugsy” Drake, a South African native, starred inBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 2, but she’s still going strong in the industry after her time on the show. She first appeared in season 2 as a Second Stew and returned in season 5, stepping into the role of Chief Stew. Known for her love of party planning onboard, Bugsy earned the nickname “Queen of Theme.”
AfterBelow Deck Mediterranean, Bugsy continued her yachting career, taking on Chief Stew positions in various locations, including the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. In addition to her on-deck responsibilities,Bugsy wrote a book titledThe Art of Tablescaping: Deck Out Your Table with the Queen of Theme, sharing her expertise in creating memorable dining experiences. She’s staying out of the spotlight but is still one of the most successful yachties after the show.
2Malia White
Malia was one of the bestBelow Deckcast members ever, and her career hasn’t slowed down since leaving the show. She first appeared onBelow Deck Mediterraneanas a Deckhand in season 2, where she quickly made an impression with her dedication and ambition. Her performance led to a promotion to Lead Deckhand during that season. She returned in seasons 5 and 6 as the Bosun, further showcasing her leadership skills.
Malia has overcome her bad reputation from the Hannah Ferrier firing incident by continuing to rise through the ranks in the yachting world.
After her time on the show, Malia continued to advance her yachting career. In January 2023, she became an Officer of the Watch, a certificate that allows her to oversee the navigation and safety of vessels. Malia remains active in yachting, participating in various voyages, including crossing the Atlantic Ocean. In addition to her on-deck responsibilities,Malia expanded her presence in the yachting communityby launching herTotal Ship Showpodcast.
1Chef Johnathan “Jono” Shillingford
Chef Johnathan “Jono” Shillingford, hailing from Roseau, Dominica, made his debut onBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9 as the Chef aboard the superyacht Mustique. Before venturing into the culinary world, Chef Jono pursued a career in architecture but later transitioned to yachting, amassing over seven years of experience as a private yacht chef. While he’d expressed interest in returning for the next season, he had a tumultuous charter season, and Captain Sandy Yawn might not want him back.
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Hometown
Roseau, Dominican Republic
A serious incident involved serving tuna carpaccio to a guest with a medical condition that prohibited the consumption of raw seafood, a mistake that nearly led to his dismissal. However, Captain Sandy couldn’t find a midseason replacement. Luckily,Chef Jono stepped it up for the rest of the charters. It was nice to see him given a second chance, as Chef Jono is known for his cheerful demeanor and unique skills, including twerking and singing. He continues to serve as a Private Chef and could return for anotherBelow Deckseason.
Below Deck Down Underairs on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo and streams the next day on Peacock.
