Chief Stew Lara Rigby is getting a lot of flack on Below Deck Down Under season 3, but she's the exact leader the show needs, unlike Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph. Below Deck Down Under season 3 has been a dramatic ride thus far, with Captain Jason Chambers firing three cast members so far: Bosun Wihan Du Toit, Deckhand Johnny Arvanitis, and Sous Chef Anthony Bird. While there's a war brewing between Chef Tzarina and Lara, the strict Chief Stew is in the right.
Chef Tzarina is an odd duck. However, that doesn't make her a bad guy-- Lara's comments about her being Weird Barbie or the strange Brady Bunch sister are totally out of line. That being said, Lara knows how to run a tight interior crew, making her exactly what the Below Deck Down Under season 3 crew needs. Here's why she's the right woman for the job and shouldn't be fired. Captain Jason would be making a big mistake.
Lara Rigby Has Ample Yachting Experience
She's An Expert
Overlooking Lara's vast experience before her Below Deck Down Under casting would be a mistake. With an impressive 14 years of experience in the industry, Lara didn’t just step onto the Katina hoping to keep up; she stepped on already knowing how to run the show. While the first charter threw her off bit due to the number of stairs, she quickly developed calves of steel and modified her usual game plan.
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From the start, Lara made it clear she holds herself to the highest professional standard. Unfortunately, this isn't usually the norm on Below Deck, which often features cast members who prioritize partying over working hard. This relentless drive for perfection sets her apart, especially on a boat where chaos is never far away. Lara’s managerial prowess, while strict, focuses on structure, accountability, and holding the guest's happiness above all.
The rest of the crew has been distracting Lara, with only Brianna Duffield happily doing her job while Marina Marcondes de Barros and Adair Werley complain about favoritism and Lara's bossiness. However, there's no emotion involved for Lara; she wants to keep the team’s eyes on the prize: delivering exceptional service. The villain edit is unfair.
Lara Knows How To Command Respect Among Her Stews
She Won't Let Adair Or Marina's Complaints Bring Her Down
Lara's strict leadership style ultimately creates a sense of respect among her Stews. Her first big battle of the season involved former Bosun Wihan, who was fired last week. His relaxed attitude and frequent flirtations didn’t exactly speak to his professionalism, but rather than spiral into the chaos, Lara stayed focused. Even when Wihan seemed more concerned with relationships than work, Lara made sure her department didn’t miss a beat.
Lara isn't as stereotypically fun as Chief Stews like Aesha Scott, but she gets the job done and commands respect.
Things didn’t exactly get easier with Chef Tzarina, either. Although the two were friends before the season, their working relationship got tense fast, especially when communication broke down in the galley. Their feud will likely reach a fever pitch in future episodes, but Lara's still got control over her team. Her main problems were with the other heads of department, who aren't as organized and regimented as she is.
Marina wasn’t thrilled about being locked into housekeeping duties and didn’t hesitate to make her feelings known to Captain Jason. Still, Lara stood firm. She made staffing decisions that prioritized smooth operations and elite service over crew popularity contests. Captain Jason hired her to run the interior; he needed to let her do her job. She kept her standards high, her focus laser-sharp, and never lost sight of what her guests deserved.
Will Lara Or Chef Tzarina Get Fired?
Both Will Probably Last The Season
Despite their missteps, it's highly unlikely that either Chef Tzarina or Lara will get fired on Below Deck Down Under. Captain Jason has already had to make some tough decisions, and unless something wild happens, he's going to force them to work together rather than let one of them go. Chef Tzarina and Lara's leadership styles are completely different, but that doesn't mean they can't get it together and work it out.
Below Deck Down Under
Lara Rigby
Astrological Sign
Virgo
Job
Chief Stew
Hometown
Cornwall, UK
Lara probably needs to relinquish some control over Chef Tzarina's chaotic galley, but Chef Tzarina could also see her organizational skills as a point of improvement. The British Chief Stew knows how to successfully run an interior crew, and she needs to work closely with whoever's running the galley. Regardless, Lara isn't the villain everyone's making her out to be on Below Deck Down Under.
Below Deck Down Under season 3 airs on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo and streams the next day on Peacock.
