Below Deck Down Under - Are Joao Franco & Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph Still Together?

Are Joao and Chef Tzarina still dating after the Below Deck Down Under finale? Their Instagram profiles reveal the truth about their relationship.

Summary

• Tzarina predicted that Joao's arrival would make things awkward for her on the boat, and her prediction turned out to be correct.
• Joao has a rumored new girlfriend now named Domi Tiesi whom he met on Tinder, and they have traveled to over 33 countries together.
• Joao and Tzarina ended their relationship on the show, with Tzarina feeling humiliated by Joao's actions with another crew member.

Joao Franco and Tzarina Mace-Ralph’s story had an unexpected ending in the Below Deck Down Under season 2 finale. Tzarina had a crush on Culver Bradbury earlier in the season, but after Jamiee Neale joined the boat and Jaimee and Culver became a couple, the chef found someone new to romance. Tzarina called Joao a “womanizer” when he first arrived as Luke Jones’ replacement. He was with one of her best friends, and the relationship had ended in heartbreak. Tzarina predicted Joao’s presence was going to make things awkward for her on the boat.

Surprisingly, she wasn’t wrong when she said that. The Below Deck Mediterranean alum joined The Northern Sun’s crew in an August 2023 episode. It didn’t take long for them to go on a dinner date so Tzarina and Joao could explore their connection. After the first time they hooked up, Tzarina asked Joao to not embarrass her. She could have feared she’d face the same fate as her friend. Her walls were up even when he asked her out. Joao was certain Tzarina was hiding how she felt. The date, as expected did not go well, ending their boatmance.

Joao Has A New Girlfriend

Joao has a new girlfriend and isn't dating Tzarina. Since July 2022, Joao started posting pictures with Domi Tiesi. In September 2023, Joao revealed a “fun fact” about his rumored girlfriend. He wrote that they actually met through Tinder in Mallorca, Spain. “She did not know what yachting was before we met,” Joao added. They never wanted to be in a serious relationship when they met, but so far, they have already traveled to over 33 countries together.

Tzarina Doesn't Follow Joao On Instagram

Joao has been reminiscing about the time from his filming days. He wished he could change his haircut and also praised the camera and audio team for mastering the art of chasing the crew around. He’s busy getting new certifications and visiting new countries with Domi. Tzarina, on the other hand, doesn’t appear to be dating anyone new. Tzarina doesn’t follow Joao on Instagram. She even posted a video lipsyncing to Olivia Rodrigo’s new song “Vampire" captioned, “I broke away.” In the comments, a fan wrote, “Joao is an a*s. You, my darling, are everything.”

Did Joao & Tzarina End On Bad Terms?

Joao and Tzarina decided to break up during Below Deck Down Under season 2, episode 18. Joao was emotional during the heart-to-heart conversation he had with Tzarina, but their relationship status was unclear. Tzarina referred to their situation as “casual,” which left Joao feeling upset. Amid the confusion, the Below Deck Down Under cast found themselves dancing at a club where a disheartened Joao kissed Stew Margot Sisson after asking for her permission. Tzarina was humiliated by Joao’s actions, but when Margot asked Joao about his status with the chef, he quoted her and said that things were “casual.”

The next morning, the Below Deck Down Under pair sat down to have a conversation again. Tzarina was not impressed with whatever happened between him and Margot. He took responsibility, and Joao and Tzarina were on the same page when they ended their relationship. Joao was in tears, and Tzarina had reached out to comfort him. The fact that the same Joao who wanted to focus on building his career is now dating a new woman could have been the reason why Tzarina possibly burnt bridges with him.

Sources: Joao Franco/Instagram, Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph/Instagram