8 Signs Aesha Scott's Replacement Lara Rigby Won't Last Long On Below Deck Down Under Season 3 (She Has A Lot to Live Up To)

Below Deck Down Under season 3 is on the way, and it's already become clear that former Chief Stew Aesha Scott's replacement, Lara Rigby, won't last long in the new season. On February 3, a brand-new cast and crew sets sail on Below Deck Down Under season 3. One of the new faces is Lara, the Chief Stew, who is unafraid to lay down the law and make waves with her coworkers.

Captain Jason Chambers definitely has his hands full with his new crew. The Below Deck Down Under season 3 trailer dropped in early January 2025, and reveals a charter season filled with plenty of boatmances, conflicts, and even a firing. Lara has big shoes to fill as aBelow Deck Down Under season 3 cast member, and she might not make the cut in the hit Bravo spinoff. for many good reasons.

8 Lara Seems Bossy

Aesha Struck A Better Balance With Her Stews

The Below Deck Down Under season 3 trailer may be short, but it reveals vital information about cast and crew relationships. Lara, the new Chief Stew, seems to embody a bossier demeanor than her predecessor, Aesha, in the hit Bravo spin-off. In the trailer, Lara is heard giving stern demands to her Stews, Brianna Duffield and Marina Marcondes de Barros, featuring them hard at work onboard the South Africa-bound yacht.

"The cabins have to be perfect. Iron the creases. Polish the cutlery. No fingerprints on the table. I want the glassware spotless. Remember, don’t pour too much. It’s not great, do it again."

"The cabins have to be perfect. Iron the creases. Polish the cutlery. No fingerprints on the table. I want the glassware spotless. Remember, don’t pour too much. It’s not great, do it again," Lara is heard in a voiceover, providing foreshadowing regarding her leadership style. It's in stark contrast to Aesha, who, while a solid leader, tends to lead with empathy and humor rather than fear.

7 Lara Can't Match Aesha's Relationship With Captain Jason

Aesha & Captain Jason Had Camaraderie

Matching Captain Jason and Aesha's camaraderie will be difficult for Lara. Captain Jason and Aesha have often talked about their relationship as a sibling vibe, with Aesha saying, "We do have a lot of chemistry — but it's like a sibling chemistry. I see him like a brother," as reported by People. Nevertheless, the chemistry was palpable onscreen. They worked together with humor and similar leadership styles.

Despite insisting there was nothing romantic between them, there were sparks between Captain Jason and Aesha. However, Aesha is very committed to Scotty Dobson, and Captain Jason is more focused on fatherhood. As a dad to his daughter Saskia, Captain Jason co-parents with her mother, Fuchsia Quinn. He has also been linked to beauty mogul Lala Kent, though this seems to be gossip more than anything else. It's unclear whether Lara can rise to Aesha's status with Captain Jason.

6 Lara Could Lack Organizational Skills

It Would Cause Trouble With Her Stews

According to Bravo, Lara is a seasoned yachtie with 14 years of experience serving as an interior crew member. She even knows Chef Johnathan "Jono" Shillingford from Below Deck Mediterranean, so it'll be interesting to hear what she thinks of him. Chef Jono was accused of being a producer plant (and inconsistent last season), with Captain Sandy Yawn desperately trying to replace him mid-season.

Leadership style can make or break a Chief Stew, as seen by chaotic Below Deck Chief Stew Fraser Olender.

Her relationship with Chef Jono could inform her troubled co-working experience with Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph, returning from last season. After Lara was seen in the trailer yelling at Chef Tzarina, the Below Deck Down Under alum responded, "You’re being so unorganized!" While it's yet to be seen, the combination of being a control freak and disorganized could be lethal for the allegedly experienced Chief Stew.

5 Lara Doesn't Have The Same Fun Energy As Aesha

She's Way Too Intense

It almost goes without saying that Aesha has a fun personality. She's not afraid to joke around with guests, dress up or make a fool of herself to entertain everybody. She lets loose on nights out. However, the previews seen of Lara reflect a very different energy. She yells at her Stews and demands perfection. Additionally, she could clash with Captain Jason, with whom Aesha has an electric connection.

Lara could be in trouble if she's too serious with her Stews. It's important to maintain a level of service and luxury on Below Deck Down Under, but it's also her job to keep the interior crew bubbly and bright for the guests. If she's too intense all the time, building morale will become Brianna and Marina's job. Hopefully, she's a little more lighthearted than she lets on. It also won't be very entertaining for viewers if she's always in a bad mood.

4 Lara Isn't Getting Along With The Chef

Chef Tzarina And Lara Fight In The Trailer

One of the highlights of the new Below Deck Down Under trailer is Lara's potential feud with Chef Tzarina. With over five years of experience in yachting, she has showcased her culinary talents on Below Deck Down Under and beyond. She was involved in potentially disastrous relationships with Deckhand Culver Bradbury and Bosun João Franco in season 2, but her romantic entanglements aren't going to be what make her interesting in season 3.

"I will not tolerate the heads of my departments yelling at each other."
-Captain Jason

In the trailer, Lara and Chef Tzarina get into a heated spat. "You’re being a d***head," Lara snaps at Chef Tzarina as she huffs out of the galley. Chef Tzarina, not one to back down from an argument, didn't take too kindly to the accusation. "I’m being a d***head? You're being so disorganized!" Captain Jason was forced to sit down with Lara, accusing her of bullying the Chef. Her days could be numbered if she doesn't figure out how to work with Chef Tzarina.

3 Lara Seems To Treat The Crew With Less Respect Compared To Aesha

Aesha Got Along With Everyone

Aesha has always upheld high standards on Below Deck Down Under and Below Deck Mediterranean, and it's not clear if Lara will be able to match her in that regard. The former Below Deck Down Under Chief Stew played a crucial role in addressing inappropriate behavior on the yacht. When a crew member, Luke Jones, tried to sexually assault Margot Sisson, Aesha promptly intervened. She informed Captain Jason, leading to immediate action to ensure the safety and well-being of the crew.

Aesha is also recognized for her positive leadership and ability to maintain harmony within her team. Unlike some Chief Stews like Fraser or Kate Chastain who have encountered internal conflicts, Aesha's leadership is noted for its lack of unnecessary drama and her supportive approach towards her team members. She even navigated the feud between Bri Muller and Elena "Ellie" Dubaich pretty well in Below Deck Mediterranean.

2 The Boat Seems More Chaotic Without Aesha

They Need Her Voice Of Reason

Based on the trailer, the boat seems much more chaotic without Aesha's calming presence. Marina and Brianna probably have negative feelings towards Lara because of her controlling yet chaotic leadership style, which is unfortunate. Additionally, there are various boatmances at play, with the trailer even alluding to "everyone" hooking up onboard during Below Deck Down Under season 3.

Very few people have longstanding issues with Aesha, which is a testament to her ability to mitigate conflict. She had issues with Chef Ryan McKeown at one point, and was able to engage in direct conversations with him to defuse their issues. Aesha also faced Ellie and Bri head-on in Below Deck Mediterranean, forcing them to communicate with Aesha about their issues and find a solution. Lara might not be able to perform the role of conflict mediator nearly as effectively as Aesha.

1 Captain Jason Lets Someone Go & It Could Be Lara

She's One Of The Options

The Below Deck Down Under season 3 trailer revealed that Captain Jason might have to fire one of the crew members in the upcoming season, and it could very well be Lara. At the end of the trailer, Captain Jason is seen facing off with Lara, Chef Tzarina, and Bosun Wihan Du Toit, alluding to an upcoming firing. Chef Tzarina and Lara clearly don't get along, and Captain Jason accused Lara of bullying the Chef, so it could spell trouble for Lara.

Lara Rigby	Below Deck Down Under
Astrological Sign	Virgo
Job	Chief Stew
Hometown	Cornwall, UK

It's unclear exactly what kind of shenanigans Wihan gets into in Below Deck Down Under season 3 or whether it involves Lara, but it seems like she could be caught up in some trouble. Aesha has always been cool as a cucumber on both Below Deck Down Under and Below Deck Mediterranean, but the same likely can't be said for Lara. Time will tell whether she makes it through her first season on Below Deck Down Under.

Below Deck Down Under premieres on Monday, February 3 on Bravo.