TheBelow Deckfranchise has featured some incredible, empowering women in the countless hours of onboard drama it’s shown, withsome of the most devious female villains in reality TV driving the drama. While viewers typically watchBellow Deckand its various spin-offs for a look into the lavish lifestyle of superyacht guests and the less-than-lavish lifestyle of their crews, the complicated social dynamics created on the series are a gift on their own. Through the years,Below Deckand its spin-offs, likeBelow Deck MediterraneanandBelow Deck Down Under,have introduced dozens of brand-new reality TV stars.
While someBelow Deckyachites are endearing and hardworking from the beginning, others are brought into the fold to stir up drama. With many yachties bringing their specific brand of drama to the show, many of the franchise’s villains have been explored through the years. Some of themost infamousBelow Deckvillainsare women, who join the crews in all sorts of roles and leave lasting impressions on viewers. Despite women not necessarily wanting to be typecast as villainous,it can be tricky for some to navigate the interpersonal relationships they build aboarda superyacht crew.
Navigating thehigh-stakes world ofBelow Deckyachting, where the traditional responsibilities of a yachtie’s work are extended and pressurized, makes for wonderful TV, but can be stressful for the crew more often than not. With tempers flaring and tensions high,the female villains ofBelow Decksometimes find themselves in conflict with other crew members and guests, which can harm their overall reputation. From stews with snark who instigate conflict to deckhands who play fast and loose, taking things a bit too far, some notorious female villains have changed the fabric ofBelow Deckas a franchise.
The femalevillains of theBelow Deckfranchisedon’t all set out to be villains on the show, as many of them come into the franchise hopeful that they’ll be able to use the experience to advance their yachting career. Working in the industry can be tough, especially on women, so finding a spot on aBelow Deckcrew,many yachties come in hopeful that they’ll be able to earn their place and stick around. With different rules, boundaries, and expectations,Below Deckcrews aren’t the easiest places for yachties to cut their teeth, which isn’t exactly quick to learn.
Despite earning reputations as villains throughout their time on their shows, the femalevillains of theBelow Deckfranchisecan often be misunderstood. While some do have issues that need to be addressed, others simply find themselves victims of poor editing or a lack of a storyline, which leads to misunderstanding and blame being pointed at them by viewers. Regardless,the villains of the series have gotten some major attention in recent seasons, and tend to be beloved byBelow Deckviewers who enjoy their wicked antics.
10Ashley Marti
Below Deck Sailing Yacht
Ashley Marti quickly earned a place among the franchise’s most notorious villains during her time onBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseason 3. Known for the messy crew drama she stirred up, Ashley didn’t shy away from tension like many other yachties, especially when it came to her fellow exterior crew member, Gary King.Ashley’s near-obsession with Gary led to uncomfortable confrontations and jealous fightsbetween her and other yachties that impacted the entire crew, making her one of the season’s most difficult yachties.
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Outside of her romantic pursuit of Gary, Ashley was one of the most competitive yachtiesBelow Deckhas ever seen.She often crossed the line with the rest of the crew because of her competitiveness, clashing with the rest of the yachties aboard Parsifal III as she undermined others. Ashley was willing to be manipulative if it meant something would work in her favor, which was alienating throughout the charter season. Her unapologetic nature and ever-changing attitude made her a difficult yachtie to work with, and a genuine villain.
9Magda Ziomek
Below Deck Down Under
ABelow Deck Down Underalumni,Magda Ziomek was one of the original yachtieson the spin-off series. Appearing onBelow Deck Down Underseason 1, Magda worked as a third stew and had fewer responsibilities than some of the other interior team members because of her position. Despite dealing with less,Magda had a hard time keeping her head above water on the series. She often was slacking off during the charter season, texting her boyfriend back home rather than working.
Magda’s consistent distraction became a major issue for the rest of the crew, creating tension between the yachties as they tried to get her to take care of her responsibilities. On top of her work issues,Magda was defensive and immovable when it came to feedback about her work. While she had a lack of focus, she wasn’t interested in improving, which was a challenge for the rest of the crew.
8Malia White
Below Deck Mediterranean
As the first female Bosun in theBelow Deckfranchise,Malia White was one of the most sought-after powerhouses onBelow Deck Mediterranean,but her position didn’t change her status as a villain. WhileMaliadidn’t have the same sense for misbehavior onBelow Deck Mediterraneanduring her time on the series, her villainy came from the fact that she was a strict rule-follower, which pushed her to pressure others. Malia’s rigid attitude and subsequent power play aboard Captain Sandy Yawn’s vessels alienated her fellow crew, like her most high-profile enemy Hannah Ferrier.
DuringBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 5, Malia chose to report Hannah’s undocumented Valium to Captain Sandy, as well as a CBD pen the Chief Stew had aboard. While Hannah had reasons for keeping her medication private, Captain Sandy had no choice but to let her go once they were reported, whichcemented Malia’s status as a villain. On top of the dynamics between her and Hannah, Malia’s relationship with chef Tom Checketts caused her to have other issues with the rest of the crew, as she had to step in as his proxy at times, which made her unlikable.
7Captain Sandy Yawn
Although Captain Sandy is often revered as one ofthe best Captains in theBelow Deckfranchise, some see her as a villain on the series, especially in her earlier seasons. Though Captain Sandy has a policy for giving her crew members second chances as frequently as possible,her standards are impossibly high for the yachties who find themselves working for her. Captain Sandy, who has been part of the franchise sinceBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 2, has had some difficulties in her own past, but that hasn’t let that soften her.
Throughout her time onBelow Deck Mediterranean,Captain Sandy has been one of the toughest captains in the franchise. She has high standards, knows how to do every job on the ship, and often takes her time doing cabin checks or ensuring work is being done properly. Despite knowing that her crew has a sense of fear around her position,Captain Sandy uses her power to reaffirm that fear rather than dismantle it. Purposefully making herself more powerful, Captain Sandy leaves her crew fearful that she could let them go at any time.
6Rachel Hargrove
Below Deck
A talentedBelow Deckchef, Rachel Hargrove’s time on the series wasn’t exactly bad, but it didn’t paint her in a great light. Unpredictable,Rachel brought a unique mix of culinary expertise and hostility that made her controversialand memorable in equal measure. While she was often blunt and outwardly angry, Rachel’s intensity made for some incredible meals. She was great with the technical side of her position, but when tensions flared aboard the superyacht, Rachel was open about how she felt to a fault.
Rachel had a tendency to bring her conflictsto the forefront, rather than holding things in until she was able to have a conversation with a fellow crew member. Her seeming instability made her difficult to predict, and the chaotic nature of her behavior made the rest of the crew struggle to get along with her throughout the charter season. While her talent was undeniable,the meals she made and the expertise she offered weren’t always an equitable trade-offfor the difficulty of her behavior onBelow Deck.
5Lara Flumiani
Although she was only part ofBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 5for a few episodes,LaraFlumiani was one of the most villainous yachties who’s ever been part of the franchise. Lara, a second stew, clashed with Chief Stew Hannah early in the season. As she felt she knew better than her superior, Lara chose to refuse instruction or direction, undermining Hannah’s authority whenever possible. Disruptive by nature,Lara understood her behavior was unacceptable, but didn’t care.
Instead of trying to find a compromise with Hannah, Lara got worse as the first episodes ofBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 5 wore on. Challenging Hannah and refusing to follow the established hierarchy of the superyacht,Lara continually wore down Hannah until there was no other choice for the Chief Stewbut to terminate her. While she wasn’t there for long, Lara has left a major impression onBelow Deck Medfans with her villainous streak.
4Jenna MacGillivray
As the first Chief Stew ofBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseason 1, Jenna MacGillivray was meant to be a guiding force on the Parsifal III for a brand-new series. Unfortunately,Jenna’s sometimes abrasive management style and her flirtation with Chef Adam Glick made her a difficult figureforBelow Deckviewers to get behind. While Jenna was hired to lead the interior team of the sailing yacht, she prioritized her boatmance with Adam over the rest of the crew, which was frustrating for everyone involved.
On top of her lack of prioritization skills,Jenna had a hard time being empathetic toward the rest of her crewbecause she never took the chance to get to know them. Her critical attitude toward her stews was tough to watch and made her nearly impossible to work with. Jenna’s poor management style and obvious favoritism of some stews over others left her team feeling isolated. Her refusal to put her team’s well-being first made Jenna an easy villain forBelow Deckviewers to root against.
3Elena Dubaich
As a second stew onBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9, Ellie Dubaich was hopeful that she’d be able to use her experience on the show to make the leap to Chief Stew in the future. Working beneath Chief Stew Aesha Scott, who began herBelow Deckjourney on the same series years prior, Ellie was excited about the idea of learning from one of the best. Unfortunately,Ellie’s inability to accept criticism and focus on the hierarchy of the superyachtcaused her to get stuck in an endless cycle.
While the third stew working beneath Ellie, Bri Muller, was meant to take her lead, Ellie felt that she was in more of a position of power with Bri than she actually was. Undermining Aesha at times,Ellie’s ego was inflated throughout her time aboardthe superyacht despite not having much positive feedback from Aesha or Captain Sandy to point to. Ellie’s work ethic was strong, but her time management and prioritization was poor, andbringing her personal issues with Bri into her work quickly made her a villain.
2Lexi Wilson
A stew with a difficult temper, Lexi Wilson is one of the worst villainsBelow Deck Mediterraneanhas ever seen. While she was hopeful that her time aboard Captain Sandy’s superyacht would be good for her yachting career,Lexi’s inability not to get into conflict made her a tough sell from the beginning. Clashing with everyone in her wake, one of the most notable conflicts Lexi had during her time on the series was with Chef Matthew Shea, which got more heated than any other fight. Her temper created a truly troubled working environment for everyone, leaving viewers shocked.
Outside of her numerous verbal altercations,Lexi had a difficult time contributingto the interior team’s success. While Chief Stew Katie Flood did her best to bring Lexi into the fold and guide her through the charter season, Lexi’s moods and attitude worked directly against Katie’s guidance. Pushing everyone’s patience to its limit,Lexi was a disruptive part of the crew who couldn’t be coddledthroughout the charter season.
1Laura Bileskalne
As one of the worst villains ofBelow Deckhistory,Laura Bileskalne was difficult to watchduring her stint onBelow Deck Down Underseason 2. Laura’s attitude was noticeable early on, but things onBelow Deck Down Underseason 2 changed tremendously after the incident between Margot Sisson and Luke Jones, which Laura wound up on the wrong side of. Despite knowing that the crew agreed Luke had crossed a massive boundary,Laura tried to support him after his near sexual assault of Margot.
On top of her outward support of Luke, Laura often had boundary issues of her own. Pushing her own agenda to Adam Kodra, who she was romantically interested in, Laura ignored his blatant rejection and tried to push him into something he didn’t want.Laura’s lack of boundaries, disregard for personal space, and blatant unprofessionalismwith both Adam and Chief Stew Aesha made her a difficult yachtie to watch. Her work disrupted theBelow Deckteam, which made her an even bigger problem.
Sources:Malia White/Instagram,US Weekly/Instagram
Below Deck is a popular reality TV franchise that focuses on a group of crew members as they work on luxurious yachts and cater to their client’s needs. After the original series proved to be a success, Bravo developed a handful of spinoff shows including Below Deck Selling Yacht, Below Deck Adventure, Below Deck Down Under, and Below Deck Mediterranean.
