Kayley Smith Talks Joe Bradley Boatmance and Gen Lillie Drama (Exclusive)

The Akira One is in survival mode on Below Deck Mediterranean coming off of Deckhand Luke Brumer’s exit and Bosun Nathan Gallagher battling a bruised disc in his back. Aesha Scott lent a hand outside, and Kayley Smith was given the role of acting Chief Stew. This only added fuel to the fire for Gen Lillie. She already felt passed up when Smith received the Second Stew title. Despite the underlying tension, Smith has impressed Captain Sandy Yawn and Scott. 

Things are going well for the fun-loving Aussie on the boatmance front as well. Her no strings attached breezy relationship with Joe Bradley looks to be smooth sailing — a stark contrast from the drama Bradley found himself in thanks to multiple disastrous love triangles. With Smith leading the interior and Bradley designated as acting Bosun, you could say together they’ve emerged as the Season 11 power couple.  

Below, Smith talks crew dynamic, needy charter guests, and where she stands with Bradley today. 

Fred Jagueneau/Bravo

You already knew Gen’s feelings about you, but how has it been watching it back through the show? Anything that was particularly shocking? 

Kayley Smith: Honestly, it was a shock. I didn’t expect it to be so intense. I knew of it on the boat and the experience of it, but because it was quite literally not to my face, I just didn’t comprehend it was so bad. But at the same time, it wasn’t really my place to change her decisions or her opinion of me or her attitude of me. That’s kind of out of my control. All I could do is put my best foot forward and approach it as best as I can, which is why I had a chat with her and tried my best to air the dirty laundry. It is what it is, but it is the way of yachting as well. 

What did it mean for Aesha to have your back and her support? 

I wouldn’t have gotten through all of this at all. She has had my back since Day 1. She allowed me the space to prove myself and work hard, which is why we clicked. We love to play hard, but we love to work hard as well. For her to have my back the way she did, especially when I didn’t have that belief in myself and she was holding me up, I’m grateful for her. 

It’s very hard for Kat [Johnston] to be stuck in the middle, but she had a balanced view of things. Even though she was close to Gen, she did have your back, too, by telling her she needed to change her attitude or you’re not going to be successful. How did you take that in? 

Kat was inspiring in that situation. I’ve never been in that situation, but for her to hold Gen accountable… Also, she would hold me accountable because she was the one that told me I needed to have a chat with her. She was really trying her best to mediate. I hate she was in that position, but God, she knew exactly what to say and how to approach it. She definitely has her head screwed on right, that girl. 

Talk about what we’ve seen so far regarding your boatmance with Joe, someone who has a reputation. Did you watch the show previously before going on board and knew what you were getting into? 

I had seen a little bit because my sister wanted me to know what I was getting into just in case, with Aesha there as well. But to be honest, I feel like when it comes to a boy and a relationship, especially when you are working with them in such close quarters, you just really need to overcommunicate. I feel like that is something he and I did really well. We had respect for each other and where that line was. We found in the last episode — he was testing me to see where that line was, and he definitely found it. That is for sure. At the same time, I was really lucky to have him. I’m grateful because there were so many supportive people on that boat, but he was definitely one of my confidants through that experience. 

Where do things stand between you today? 

We’re just friends. We were always friends first. We chat and keep up with each other’s lives, checking in on each other. I’m grateful to have someone to bounce things off with him, and he has that in me, too. 

It’s interesting you found success in this situation because of communication. That is advice Luke probably should have taken. What are your thoughts on how things played out for him leaving the boat and then reaching out to Chef Joy [Lefaucheur] after? 

It’s a hard one because in my experience with him on the boat, he made mistakes. We are all human. It was really hard to see how it shook him, the way it hurt him and what he was going through. He was a good guy overall, but he definitely had some learning to do in the girl department and how to approach that, especially with the two women as well. You have a very young woman who needed to be treated a certain way and with respect in Gen. Joy as well on the other side. I think he just needed to be clearer with his words. It was a missed opportunity for him there, but hopefully he won’t make the same mistake again. 

You’re kind of jumping all around with the crew so shortstaffed. What was it like helping the deck?

It was fun to put my hands in the deck part as well as the interior. I don’t know if I’ll be asked back any time soon considering that I did assault a police boat, but it’s solid fun. Joe helped me get the line back in, so it was all good. 

Fred Jagueneau/Bravo

What can you tease about Max Salvador returning? 

I can’t wait for you all to see what happens. He is just a ball of energy. He is so much fun. He is always keeping you on your toes. You never know what is going to happen next with him for sure.

What did you take from your first season on Below Deck? 

It has been such an amazing experience. I feel so seriously blessed to be a part of it. I think the main thing there is amazing opportunities to meet Andy Cohen and get to meet yourself as well. To have taken home the relationships I’ve built from this is unmatched. Now I have Kat in my life forever, Joy in my life forever, Aesha,, etc. I’m so grateful and eternally, I don’t know what I did to deserve this good luck. I’m just so happy. That’s my main takeaway. 

What do you want to tease about the charter guests coming up? 

There are definitely some fun ones. They are unexpected. I know there have been some teasers of this gentlemen’s group joining us. They were a lot of fun. But [there are] also some people on the other hand that will keep you on your toes as well. They are characters for us all to experience. 

There are a lot of demanding guests in this current charter. What can you tell us about what we’re going to see? 

This next chapter is definitely going to test us, but I think we are in the middle of the season and in the trenches right now. We really have our captain and our chef that are currently in the roles they are hired to do. I feel like right now we are in a fight or flight. We are just going to do all we can to get through this storm, so to speak. 

What did you learn about yourself from this experience? 

That I can work an 18-hour day on about four hours of sleep. Apparently, so can everyone else, too. 

You have this experience of being a Chef Stew. Where did you take this opportunity? What are you up to? 

I left the boat, did some traveling, and went back to yachting. I joined a 50-meter similar size to Akira. I joined as Second Stew, but unfortunately, Chef Stew had to leave. We hadn’t hired another stew. So, I was the only stewardess on a 50-meter yacht. I said to the captain why don’t you make me Chef Stew and we’ll see how it goes. I got thrown into the Chef Stew role. It was so much fun. It was very scary and hard, but I had an amazing experience, very similar to Akira One. Yeah, I got to be a Chef Stew. I left here and went full-time traveling full-time. 

You have such great energy. Being in an industry that is so high pressure, that serves you well. Where does that come from? 

It’s not constant. Not everyone can be at 100%. Maybe Aesha. But I try to feel like that. I have natural ADHD and energy and all of that burst about. I really focus on being positive because at the end of the day, you are just serving drinks, you are just serving food. It’s somebody’s holiday there. They just want to have an amazing time. So, you do what you can to do your best. As long as you do that, that’s all you can do. I feel like there is always a divine something in any situation. 

If you were asked back, would you do another season? 

I never want to close a door. I will always leave that open. I’m open to new experiences whatever may be and on my horizon. I’m just sitting here waiting for it. 

Where are you traveling next? 

Right now, I’m back in Australia and was just in Canada. I’m actually moving to Japan at the end of the year, a tiny ski town called Niseko. I’m hoping for the best powder. I’ve been there before, and it’s incredible. I’m going to work in a small little bar. I have an amazing team. I met some of them now. It’s going to be awesome. 

Japan is one of my favorite places. They should do a spinoff there. 

People don’t know this, but there is so much yachting in Japan. It’s a beach haven there as well. Japan should be next on the list. 

Let’s go to Bravo. 

Yeah, let’s do it! 

Below Deck Mediterranean, Mondays, 8/7c, Bravo