Below Deck’s new Chief Stew Francesca Rubi hasn’t met Kate Chastain yet

Francesca Rubi is the new Australian star of Bravo’s hit reality series, Below Deck.

And in a new interview on Watch What Happens Live, the Sydneysider admitted that the show’s former Chief Stewardess, Kate Chastain, has yet to reach out to her about the role.

‘Have you interacted at all with Kate Chastain?’ asked host Andy Cohen.

‘Have you two DM’d or met and did she give you any pointers?’ he continued. 

Francesca responded: ‘No we haven’t. I would love too though!’ 

Fan favourite Kate served as Below Deck’s chief stew from season two through to season seven.

She announced her departure from the show in April, making way for newcomer Francesca to step in as her replacement.

‘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,’ Kate wrote on Instagram at the time. 

‘I intend to step back as a senior member of the Below Deck Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support His Majesty Andy Cohen.’

Kate is now one of the panellists of Bravo’s new talk show, Bravo’s Chat Room. 

Francesca isn’t the only Australian joining Below Deck this season, with Kiwi-Aussie Izzy Wouters also joining as a stewardess.

Izzy was born in New Zealand but was raised in Australia from the age of four.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia about the gruelling casting process she underwent to get on the series, Izzy revealed she had to do endless interviews and evaluations for five months before filming started.

‘They were very thorough. They want to make sure that you are actually qualified to work on a boat and that you’re a real yachtie and know what you’re doing,’ she said.

‘Obviously there were background checks and psych evaluations and all that because you’re sticking a bunch of people on a boat so you want to make sure these people are sane,’ she continued.

‘It was thorough and it was long, but it was very much worth it.’

The stewardess also said that the authenticity of Below Deck appealed to her more than the manufactured nature of some other reality shows.

‘It’s not like you’re these glamorised, fake people on this scripted show,’ she said.

‘Everything that happens on the show is real… we’re just real normal people trying to make a living and this is our job,’ she continued.

‘It’s not like we’re Instagram models or anything like that, and that’s what appealed to me about the show.’ 

Below Deck season 8 is now available on hayu and Foxtel