Chef Joy Lefaucheur is making waves during her first season of Below Deck Mediterranean! Chef Joy joins the Season 11 crew aboard the M/Y Akira One, where she works with Captain Sandy Yawn, Aesha Scott, Nathan Gallagher, and the rest of the crew as they navigate the waters in Dubrovnik, Croatia. From handling demanding charter guests to finding herself in the middle of some unexpected drama with the crew, Chef Joy has already had plenty of memorable moments this season. Let’s dive into what else there is to know about the Below Deck world’s newest chef!
Who Is Chef Joy on Below Deck Med?
Joy Lefaucheur is the chef aboard the M/Y Akira One on Season 11 of Below Deck Mediterranean. Originally from St. Barth in the Caribbean, Joy told Entertainment Weekly that the crew on her previous boat nicknamed her “little dragon” for her intensity.
Joy was born on March 22 making her an Aries. She personally would identify her special skill as uplifting people, per her Bravo bio. She also has a great sense of humor: When asked about her favorite off-boat activities, Joy said that she enjoys “being successful, attractive, and eating ice cream in Italy.”
And after over a decade of working on yachts, Joy has experienced some pretty amazing moments connected to the seas. She also revealed in her bio that her largest tip included a Bitcoin, an unlimited Louis Vuitton shopping spree, and a week at the Nobu Hotel in Cabo San Lucas.
Despite having years of experience in the yachting industry, Joy wasn’t exactly a Below Deck superfan before joining the crew. During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in July, she revealed that she had never watched Below Deck Med before joining the show.
How long has Chef Joy been a chef?
Joy came into Below Deck Med Season 11 with 10 years of experience being a yacht chef. Before that, she had already cooked for some major names: Her past clients include Leonardo DiCaprio and Rihanna, according to Entertainment Weekly. Her time working on yachts has also taught her that cooking for charter guests isn’t always the only challenge that comes with the job.
“The crew is pickier about food than the guests,” Joy told Bravo. “They act as if they also have a private chef. No one ever eats leftovers.”
During Season 11, viewers have also seen how much Joy cares about the food she serves. After receiving criticism from a particularly demanding charter guest, Joy became emotional over the feedback, sharing, “When she criticized my food, it broke my heart.” (You can see more of the interaction in the preview clip above.)
Joy also opened up about why cooking means so much to her personally: She explained on the show that after losing her mother, focusing on her talent in the kitchen became an outlet for her.
What is Chef Joy’s Role on Below Deck Med?
As the chef aboard the M/Y Akira One, Joy is responsible for preparing meals for charter guests while keeping up with their preferences and requests. However, her time aboard the yacht hasn’t only been about what’s happening in the galley. Joy has also found herself caught up in some of the crew’s relationship drama after she and Luke Brumer shared a flirty connection, while Luke pursued Gen Lillie at the same time.
After Luke and Gen hooked up, Luke later admitted that he felt he had made a mistake. However, when he tried to pursue Joy again, she wasn’t interested in becoming his second choice. Joy later discussed the situation during a July 13 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, where she shared that she and Luke did have chemistry, but she ultimately stands by how she handled that situation.
“He has made his decision and is a grown-up adult,” Joy said. “The fastest way is not always the right decision, which is OK. We make mistakes.”
Despite some of the drama aboard the M/Y Akira One, Joy has already made quite the impression during her first season on Below Deck Med, and there’s still plenty more to come this season!
