You know that feeling when a reality TV character pops up and within five minutes you’re either yelling at the screen or absolutely obsessed? That’s basically the "Lara effect." If you’ve been following the chaos on the high seas, you know that the name Lara carries a lot of weight in the Below Deck Mediterranean universe. But here’s the thing: people often get the "Laras" confused because we’ve had two very different women with that name walk the gangway of Captain Sandy’s boats.
Honestly, it’s a tale of two very different vibes. On one hand, you have the short-lived, high-octane drama of Lara Flumiani from Season 5. On the other, you have the hardworking, fan-favorite energy of Lara Du Preez from Season 8. One quit before the second charter even started; the other became the backbone of the deck team.
Let’s get into why these two women left such a massive footprint on the franchise and what they're up to now.
The Chaos of Lara Flumiani (Season 5)
If you’re looking for the gold standard of "how to not get along with your boss," look no further than Lara Flumiani. She stepped onto The Wellington for Season 5 and immediately hit a wall with Chief Stew Hannah Ferrier. It wasn't just a small disagreement about where the napkins went. It was a full-scale personality war.
Lara had years of experience, including time as a Chief Stew on smaller boats. That’s often a recipe for disaster on Below Deck because you have two people who both think they’re the boss. From the very first meeting, the "vibes" (as Lara put it) were rancid.
Why She Actually Quit
Most stews who struggle at least try to make it through a few charters for the tip money. Not Lara. She was over it by day three. After a series of passive-aggressive (and sometimes just aggressive) standoffs over laundry and table service, things got physical. Well, sort of. There was a moment in the galley where Lara shoved past Hannah, and Hannah told her, "Don't touch me."
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Captain Sandy tried to mediate. She asked for a "reset." But Lara wasn't interested in playing the game. She famously told Captain Sandy that her "happiness was more important than money." She didn't even go back on the boat to get her bags; she made Sandy meet her on the dock to resign. It was one of the quickest exits in the show's history, lasting only about two and a half episodes.
Captain Sandy’s Regret
Years later, Sandy admitted on Watch What Happens Live that if she had known the full extent of Lara’s behavior—specifically the physical contact in the galley—she would have fired her on the spot. At the time, Sandy thought it was just two strong personalities clashing. Watching the footage back was a wake-up call for the Captain.
Lara Flumiani basically vanished from the spotlight after that. She went back to her life in Italy, focusing on fitness and her own travels, seemingly happy to leave the Bravo cameras in her wake.
The Rise of Lara Du Preez (Season 8)
Fast forward a few years, and we get a completely different Lara. Lara Du Preez, a South African powerhouse, joined the deck crew in Season 8. If the first Lara was the "villain," this Lara was the hero we didn't know we needed.
She wasn't there for the drama. She was there to work. And man, did she work.
From Deckhand to Lead Deckhand
Lara came in with four years of experience and a "no-nonsense" attitude that actually worked in her favor. When the original Bosun, Ruan Irving, had to leave due to paperwork issues, Luka Brunton took over. Luka immediately saw that Lara was his strongest asset. She knew the lines, she knew the boat, and she wasn't afraid to give the other deckhands—looking at you, Max Salvador—some "tough love" when they got lazy.
She was eventually promoted to Lead Deckhand, a move that felt incredibly earned. Fans loved her because she was authentic. She opened up about coming out as a lesbian during the pandemic and the struggles she faced with her conservative family in South Africa. It gave her a layer of depth that we rarely see in the midst of drunken crew nights out.
Life After Mustique
Since Season 8 wrapped, Lara has been living her best life. She’s still in the yachting industry (unlike some who just do it for the show) and has been in a long-term relationship with her partner, Arusha Marlene. They actually met back in high school, which is kind of adorable.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Lara "Drama"
People often think the show "edits" these people to look worse or better than they are. While editing is a thing, the contrast between these two women shows that the boat environment just amplifies who you already are.
- Lara Flumiani struggled because she couldn't respect the hierarchy. In yachting, if you aren't the Chief, you follow the Chief. Period.
- Lara Du Preez thrived because she understood that respect is earned through labor. She wasn't looking for camera time; she was looking for a clean deck.
Practical Takeaways for Below Deck Fans
If you're watching these reruns or following the cast on social media, here are a few things to keep in mind about how the "Lara" legacy changed the show:
- Experience isn't everything: Both women were highly experienced. One used that experience to be "above" the work, while the other used it to lead the team.
- The "Sandy" Factor: You can see how Captain Sandy’s management style evolved between Season 5 and Season 8. With Flumiani, she tried to be a peacemaker. By the time Du Preez came around, she was much quicker to empower the people who actually showed up to work.
- The South African Connection: South Africans have a massive presence in the yachting world. Lara Du Preez (along with others like Mzi "Zee" Dempers) really cemented the reputation of South African yachties as the hardest workers on the water.
If you’re looking to follow their current journeys, Lara Du Preez is quite active on Instagram, sharing her travels and life in South Africa. As for Lara Flumiani? She’s mostly stayed off the grid, which, honestly, is probably the best move for her "happiness over money" philosophy.
If you want to understand the modern era of Below Deck Mediterranean, you have to look at the "Lara" evolution. It moved from a show focused almost entirely on interior bickering to one that celebrates genuine skill on the exterior. It’s a better show for it.
Your Next Steps
Check out the Season 8 reunion clips if you haven't seen them yet. They really highlight the bond the deck crew had, which was a refreshing change of pace. You can also look up Lara Du Preez’s travel vlogs—her recent trip to Bali shows a much more relaxed side of the woman who used to spend her days scrubbing the Mustique's swim platform.