Having very different methods of management, Rigby had some struggles with her exterior counterpart.
And I definitely wanted to give him the opportunity to do those things.
It’s Chief Stew Lara Rigby!
LARA RIGBY:I’m great.
COLLIDER: I am doing so well.
Congratulations on this season.
Image via Bravo
It is so much fun.
How is it joining the amazingBelow Deckfamily?
LARA: Oh, it’s been incredible.
Right from the beginning I was welcomed and I felt at home straight away.
Yeah, it was amazing.
COLLIDER: What was it like working with Captain Jason?
Image via Bravo
LARA: Distracting, because he’s so good-looking.
His eyes are mesmerizing.
He’s a very professional captain.
He’s a very fair captain.
He was a great support to me, so I really enjoyed my time with him.
COLLIDER: Had you been a fan of theBelow Deckfranchise prior to joining?
LARA: Yeah, I have.
I’ve watched a few seasons.
I definitely, I love the show.
Well, let’s back up a second.
How did you get into the world of yachting?
I found it online, and I was like, “Oh, this looks fun.
I’ll give it a go,” and then the rest is history.
COLLIDER: What is it about the world of yachting that keeps you going?
LARA: To be honest, it’s the people I meet and the friendships I form.
The team becomes family to you.
It’s a really good support every day.
Obviously, the travel and the places you get to see is incredible.
It’s just a lot of fun, lot of high energy.
I like the standards that it brings.
And yeah, I enjoy all of it.
LARA: That was tough.
That was definitely, it took a while for me to get used to that.
So yeah, it was fine in the end.
COLLIDER: The Seychelles is proving to be this stunning location.
Talk to me about working there.
Did you get a chance to take in the beauty?
LARA: I mean, that place is like something else.
The water is so blue, the wildlife, everything about that place is stunning.
And yeah, we have a few more days that we can explore coming up.
It was really nice to do that.
COLLIDERL: Katina, beautiful boat.
But she’s a big girl.
What was it like working on her?
LARA: Oh, it was tough.
Like, kill me.
There was a lot of stairs, and the heat.
The heat in the Seychelles is like nothing I’ve experienced, very humid.
So, that was tough.
But yeah, she was very big.
The volume of her is huge, which is good and a bad thing.
Had a lot of space to do things and create these amazing guest setups.
But yeah, the stairs for me were tough.
COLLIDER: Have you worked on a boat before that had a setup similar to that?
Maybe not as many stairs?
COLLIDER: How did it affect your meal service having to go up three flights?
If you forget something on the top level, you got all the way down.
There was definitely challenges with that.
But yachting is like that.
There’s lots of challenges that you have to face.
You just have to adapt and get on with it.
What’s Up With Wihan?
LARA: I definitely had big shoes to fill.
She’s a great person.
So yeah, there was definitely pressure with that.
COLLIDER: Absolutely, and I think you did.
How would you describe your management style?
LARA: I’m definitely throw in A in my personality.
I like things done just the way they are done.
But, yeah, I ran it the way that I would run any other yacht.
I’m fair to the girls.
I put the girls at the forefront, but also the guests are the priority.
COLLIDER: So far, your interior team has been very professional.
We did have a little bit of a talking to with Marina Marcondes this past episode.
But if you could describe your team this season in three words, what would they be?
LARA: Very high standards, funny, and hardworking.
COLLIDER: You formed a really close bond with Bri Duffield.
What is it about her that gravitated you toward her?
And she’s a very special person.
She’s going to do very well in her career.
I’m excited for our friendship to flourish even more.
What was that like watching unfold?
LARA: Oh, I love that, because they’re two great people.
They’re very kind people.
I was all about that.
I was trying to play Cupid and give them advice.
They were like my little younger brother and sister, and trying to put them in the right direction.
It was nice to see that flourish.
COLLIDER: You had previously worked with Chef Tzarina before.
What was it like reuniting with her onBelow Deck Down Under?
LARA: Yeah, it was good.
We were very, very excited about working together again.
We maintained a friendship after our last year, and we spent a lot of time together in Palma.
We were very excited to join forces and have a good time.
COLLIDER: Having heard there, did it make the transition into the reality television scope a little easier?
LARA: Oh, absolutely.
Like I said, I did not know what to expect.
I’ve never done anything like this before, so it was very new to me.
She gave me a lot of advice, and she was a good support system for me.
And it definitely made me feel calmer knowing that I knew someone on board.
COLLIDER: Let’s talk about Wihan.
And I’m saying this as a viewer and a massiveBelow Deckfan, what’s wrong with this guy?
COLLIDER: What was it like working with him?
Because obviously, management styles couldn’t be further apart.
LARA: It was frustrating.
And I definitely wanted to give him the opportunity to do those things.
Because it was frustrating to just watch things not be done the way they should be done.
LARA: Yeah, I do.
I do think that there’s probably that sense.
He is a nice guy.
But when it comes to work, you’re both stressed, and you’re in a high-pressure cooker.
And you know, things just do get too much at times.
We’re still shocked at these ‘Below Deck’ firings!
What is the secret to dealing with some colorful personalities?
LARA: You know what?
you’re free to what you’re free to do, and that’s it.
COLLIDER:House of VillainsstarCorinne Olympioscame on board.
What was it like having her?
LARA: Oh, she was a vibe.
Her energy was just off the Richter scale from day one.
And it didn’t stop until they literally left.
It was tiring for me.
But no, they were great guests.
They were very wild.
COLLIDER: I love a good theme party.
What has been your favorite theme party to curate in your entire career?
LARA: Oh, I love aGreat Gatsbytheme.
Yeah, I love that kind of 1950s style.
LARA: Oh, that’s very, you know, maybe like a white party.
I really like white parties.
I think everyone looks really beautiful and glam and white.
So probably white and sparkles.
That would be my thing.
Where does that inspiration come from?
Yeah, it’s a great thing.
COLLIDER: What is the next dream for Lara?
LARA: You know what?
At the moment, I’m just taking it all in.
I’m loving life.
I have a great job.
COLLIDER: Anything else you want to tease for the rest of the season because I am sat!
I am so excited.
LARA: Well, I will say the drama continues.
It gets more and more intense.
We have very colorful guests coming on board.
We have some amazing themes coming up, and, yeah, maybe a few changes along the way.
But yeah, we’ll have to wait and see.
COLLIDER: Oh, I can’t wait.
The show is amazing.
And welcome to theBelow Deckfamily.
Thank you so much.
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