Why Kate Chastain left Below Deck? What is she doing now?

For more than five seasons, Kate Chastain took viewers on an amazing ride. From her quirky comments to full-blown fights and her party sense, Kate was the perfect Head Stewardess anyone could hope for. One of the oldest members of the crew, Kate is second in command after Captain Lee Rosbach. Kate first rose to fame following her appearances in the second season of Below Deck. Valued by the captain, Kate quickly climbed amongst the ranks and was soon handling the duties of the head stewardess. However, Kate decided to leave the show after the 7th season. In this article, we take a closer look at Kate’s departure and her life after that.

Big Shoes to Fill

When news broke out that Kate Chastain would be departing from the series, the crew was just as surprised as the fans. As Captain Lee Rosbach puts it,

“That was out of left field. I did not see that coming at all. I was totally blown away. Kate called me and it was a bittersweet thing. She let me know that she wasn’t going to come back, but she thought it was time to move on.”

But for all his disappointment, the good captain is happy the Kate is moving on with her life. He believes that she is destined for new and greater things. A valued member of the team, Captain Lee believes that whoever takes the position of Kate has got some big shoes to fill.

Leaving the Show

Kate joined the cast of Below Deck during the second season and has remained as the head stewardess ever since. With her appearances in the 7th season, Kate became one of the longest-running members of the crew just beside Captain Lee. Most accustomed to the madness that goes on set, Kate is never fazed on duty. The rocket ship blanket, her feuds with the stews, and her witty comments, everything about Kate was classy. Even though Kate never shied away from the drama, Season 7 proved to be quite the challenge.

In one of the episodes, Kate found herself in a heated debate with second stew Simone Mashile, chef Kevin Dobson, and bosun Ashton Pienaar. In one of the crew’s nights out, Kate seemingly walked off the yacht after a heated argument with Ashton on the way home. But Kate returned the next morning ready to support her crew in full capacity.

Always loyal to her crew, Kate revealed the decision to leave Below Deck in an Instagram post. Kate Wrote,

“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, I have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new land-based role. I intend to step back as a senior member of the Below Deck Family and work to become financially independent”.

Life after Below Deck

Kate Chastain joined Below Deck in its second season and became a fan favorite for her witty remarks, professional attitude, and glamorous style. She left the show after six seasons, announcing her departure on Instagram in February 2020.

Since then, Chastain has been busy pursuing new opportunities and projects in the entertainment industry. She has hosted Bravo’s Chat Room, a talk show where she and other Bravo personalities discuss the latest happenings on the network. She has also starred on Below Deck Galley Talk, a spin-off series where former cast members watch and comment on episodes of Below Deck. Additionally, she has appeared on Peacock’s The Traitors, a reality competition show where she competed against other celebrities in various challenges.

Chastain has also made some major changes in her personal life. She moved from Florida to New York City, where she enjoys exploring the city and its culture. She also welcomed her first child, a son named Sullivan Cay, in May 2023