Most fans remember the wine glass. It was Season 3 of Below Deck Mediterranean, and Joao Franco was, to put it lightly, a menace. He was the guy everyone loved to hate. Between the "Jezabob" alter ego and the messy love triangle with Brooke Laughton and Kasey Cohen, he didn't exactly scream "future captain."
But a lot has changed since those nights in Naples and the South of France.
The Reality of the "Villain" Edit
Joao Franco didn't just walk onto a boat and start trouble. He came from Zimbabwe, a place where he has openly said surviving was a daily objective amidst political strife. When he first appeared on our screens, he was 29, brash, and incredibly defensive.
He was a "misogynist" to some, a "hard worker" to Captain Sandy, and a "nightmare" to Hannah Ferrier. It’s no secret that his relationship with Hannah was toxic. They fought. They made up. They fought again.
Honestly, it was exhausting to watch.
But then something shifted. After Season 4, Joao basically vanished from the Bravo world for a few years. He didn't just sit around waiting for the phone to ring, though. He stayed in the industry. He actually worked.
Moving Past Below Deck Mediterranean
A lot of reality stars try to pivot into "influencing" the second the cameras stop rolling. Joao did the opposite. He went back to school.
By 2021, he was captaining a 30-meter yacht. By 2023, he had earned his Master's License—one of the highest qualifications in the maritime world. This isn't just a TV title; he can legally captain massive vessels with paying guests. He even spent a year helping build a 43-meter superyacht from the ground up.
When he showed up as a surprise replacement for Luke Jones on Below Deck Down Under, the change was jarring.
He was sober.
He was calmer.
He actually apologized to Aesha Scott.
Seeing him mend fences with Aesha was a "hell freezes over" moment for long-time viewers. She had previously called him one of the most manipulative people she’d ever met. Yet, in Australia, they worked together like a well-oiled machine. Mostly.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Comeback
You’ve probably seen the headlines about his "boatmance" with Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph. That was... messy. It reminded everyone that while he’s grown professionally, personal dynamics are still his Achilles' heel. Tzarina later claimed he showed his "true colors" once they left the boat and headed to Palma.
But here is the thing: progress isn't linear.
As of early 2026, Joao is still very much a captain. He recently shared that he spent a grueling 280 days on board a vessel without going home. That kind of schedule would break most people.
He is currently in a relationship with Domi Tesi, who also works in the yachting industry. They’ve had their ups and downs—even a brief breakup before he filmed his most recent stint—but they seem to be the real deal now.
Why He’s Not Your Average "Bravolebrity"
Joao is one of the few cast members who actually has a career that exists entirely independent of the show. He runs a program called "Superyacht Sunday School" where he helps newcomers break into the industry.
He isn't just selling vitamins on Instagram. He’s teaching people how to write CVs and survive the grueling reality of deck work.
- Career Milestone: Master's License (Master 3000gt).
- Business: Superyacht Sunday School.
- Relationship Status: Dating Domi Tesi.
- Sober? Yes, he has been vocal about his journey away from alcohol to avoid the "Jezabob" persona.
If you’re looking for the old, glass-shattering Joao, you probably won't find him on a 140-foot superyacht. He’s traded the tequila for a captain's hat, and honestly? It looks a lot better on him.
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What to do next
If you are looking to keep up with Joao's actual professional life rather than the edited drama, his Instagram is the place to go. He frequently posts behind-the-scenes looks at yacht deliveries and real-world boat maintenance that you never see on the show. For those actually looking to get into yachting, his training courses are widely considered a legitimate entry point for "green" deckhands trying to navigate the industry without getting burned.