Rachel Hargrove made waves as the first successful female chef on the Below Deck franchise. The word “successful” is used strategically as Mila Kolomeitseva deserves mention, but only in disgrace over her steak-licking and plated nachos.
Not only does she know how to cook, but this girl brings the quirky personality that makes for entertaining viewing. Maybe Rachel knows how to bring it for reality TV, because Below Deck was not her first stint on the medium.
A few months ago, Rachel shared throw back pictures from her audition for America’s Next Top Model on her Instagram. She captioned the pictures, “>”hahaha oh 2005 I’m old.” Oh yes, Rachel’s dated outfits scream early 21st century.
“>Rachel is not listed in the cast for Season 4, so she only completed the in-person auditions. She confirmed this by writing, “the girl who is a Lady Kat…..America’s Next Top Model, Season 4, Ep. 1.”
When America’s Next Top Model host Tyra Banks asked, “so, Rachel, why are you here?” She laughed while answering, “why am I here? Why not?”
Though Rachel was hardly plus size at the time, runway coach Jay Alexander told her, “you’d be representing more of a plus size.” To her credit, Rachel was, “down with that.”
RELATED: Hannah Ferrier Wishes She Got To Work With Chef Rachel Hargrove On Below Deck Mediterranean
It’s interesting to hear Rachel’s confessional from fifteen years ago and see the same drive, as well as the humor that she brought to Below Deck this season.
“My competition is everybody, where they’re skinny and tall or voluptuous and larger than me. Anything that I can do, I’ll do it. As long as I ain’t showing nipple, I’m good to go. My grandparents are dead. I have no one to disgrace,” Rachel interviewed.
Modeling may not have been her forte, but Rachel clearly found her niche in cooking. And there’s no body shaming involved here. It’s not about weight, but about the way a person carries themselves. She is much better suited to clonking around the galley, cursing up a storm, then serving an absolutely brilliant meal. Reality TV is all the better for it.
Watch a clip of Rachel on America’s Next Top Model below.
TELL US- DO YOU THINK RACHEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAST ON AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL? ARE YOU SURPRISED SHE TRIED OUT FOR IT? DO YOU WANT RACHEL TO RETURN FOR ANOTHER SEASON OF BELOW DECK?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]
