Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph is embroiled in yet another feud on Below Deck Down Under, and it's become increasingly clear that she's the problem in all of these embittered relationships. Captain Jason Chambers had to make the tough decision to fire Bosun Wihan Du Toit and Deckhand Johnny Arvanitis in a recent episode of Below Deck Down Under season 3. The Bosun was a terrible leader more concerned with wooing women than leading his deck crew, and Johnny's anger issues culminated in punching a wall, which was a major red flag.
However, now that Wihan and Johnny are gone, it's become increasingly clear that there's another problematic crew member on board. Chef Tzarina is now feuding with Chief Stew Lara Rigby and, seemingly, her new Sous Chef, Alesia Harris. They seemed poised to get along much better than Chef Tzarina and former Sous Chef Anthony Bird, but problems are mounting in the galley. Does Chef Tzarina just have the worst luck in the world, or is she the issue on Below Deck Down Under season 3?
Chef Tzarina Pushed Anthony Bird Away
She Treated Him Like A Dishwasher
Anthony was undoubtedly a Sous Chef with a chip on his shoulder and a bad ego, but Chef Tzarina didn't exactly set up their relationship to be a success. While Chef Tzarina is no doubt creative and charismatic, her inability to lead with structure and professionalism may have been exactly what pushed Anthony away. From the beginning, Chef Tzarina struggled to give Anthony clear direction.
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Rather than establishing a defined workflow or expectations, she leaned into her signature chaotic style, something that didn’t sit well with Anthony, who expected more organization and cleanliness in the high-pressure environment of yacht service. Instead of feeling like a valued teammate, Anthony was cut adrift, and he definitely didn't enjoy being treated like a glorified dishwasher.
To make matters worse, Tzarina didn’t take Anthony’s concerns seriously. When he voiced his frustrations, she seemed more concerned with defending herself than adjusting her management style. Rather than seeing his feedback as constructive, she got combative. Anthony shouldn't have blindsided Captain Jason Chambers by announcing his departure mid-season, but it was also understandable that he wanted to leave.
Chef Tzarina Is Antagonizing Alesia
Alesia Is Siding With Lara
Anthony wasn't a likable character on Below Deck Down Under season 3, but it seemed like Alesia would be different. Chef Tzarina liked her from the start, and Alesia was happy to fulfill Chef Tzarina's chaotic and varied whims in the galley. However, their relationship has started to show cracks amid Chef Tzarina's mounting feud with Lara.
Chef Tzarina feels insecure in her relationship with Lara, and Alesia has gotten caught in the crossfire.
Their conflict bubbled to the surface when Chef Tzarina, feeling iced out by the interior crew's budding friendship with Alesia, began throwing shade that didn’t go unnoticed. During a crew outing to a rum distillery, Chef Tzarina's passive-aggressive comments about Alesia's ability to handle tasks solo didn't land well. The snarky tone wasn’t lost on Alesia, who later broke down while filming a confessional.
Lara only added fuel to the fire. At one point, Chef Tzarina even claimed Lara was “grooming” Alesia against her. There was a glimmer of hope when Chef Tzarina extended an olive branch during a crew night out. Her apology to Alesia was heartfelt, acknowledging that her frustrations were misdirected and not Alesia’s fault. However, once again, Chef Tzarina is the root of the relationship problem. Drama seems to follow her.
Will Tzarina Get Fired?
She's Unlikely To Get Let Go
Despite all of her issues, it's unlikely that Chef Tzarina will get fired. Captain Jason seems to like her and take her side, evidenced by his swift firing of Anthony. He is also more focused on his issues with Lara, who doesn't seem to want to involve Marina Marcondes de Barros in service. Captain Jason and Chef Tzarina are generally more aligned than he and Lara, who are poised to engaged in a power struggle.
Below Deck Down Under
Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph
Age
31
Job
Chef
Hometown
Bristol, UK
It's more difficult to replace a good chef than it is to replace a Chief Stew, if it comes down to firing Lara. Additionally, Chef Tzarina is a returning cast member who has an established relationship with the Captain. Furthermore, Chef Tzarina is a truly excellent Chef. Her food almost never misses, looks amazing, and always garners compliments from the charter guests. Despite her personal issues, Chef Tzarina isn't going anywhere on Below Deck Down Under season 3.
Below Deck Down Under season 3 airs on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo and stream the next day on Peacock.
