Below Deck Mediterranean Season 9: Johnathan Shillingford’s Age, Job, Instagram & More

Summary Johnathan Shillingford joins Below Deck Med as the new chef for season 9.

Aesha Scott returns to save the show after a feud in season 8.

Johnathan brings a positive, energetic vibe and has a unique culinary background.

Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 has undergone a major cast shakeup, and one of the new names joining the franchise is Johnathan Shillingford. The Below Deck spin-off series will be led by Captain Sandy Yawn and former Below Deck Down Under Chief Stew Aesha Scott. Below Deck Med needed a revamp after Natalya Scudder and Tumi Mhlongo’s feud in season 8. Captain Sandy called Aesha to save Below Deck Med, and it’s likely her presence on the show will bring a lighter energy to season 9.

The Below Deck Med season 9 cast sports a slate of new franchise yachties. Captain Sandy, Aesha, and Elena Dubaich are the only returning Below Deck personalities in season 9. Notably, Elena made a very short appearance in Below Deck Med season 7 to fill in for Kyle Viljoen after he was injured. Johnathan joins the cast as the Mustique’s new chef. As one of the newbies onboard the superyacht, it will be interesting to see how he fairs alongside franchise vets like Captain Sandy and Aesha.

Related 20 Best Reality TV Shows Right Now Reality TV is more popular than ever. With so many to choose from, here are some of the best reality TV shows to stream or watch right now.

Johnathan Shillingford’s Age

How Old Is Johnathan Shillingford?

Custom Image by César Garcia

It’s unclear how old Johnathan is. However, his profile introduction on The Daily Dish revealed that his birthday is July 7. He’s originally from Roseau, Dominica, and his zodiac sign is Cancer. Aside from cooking, Johnathan added that he enjoys “twerking” and “singing.”

Johnathan Shillingford’s Job

Johnathan Shillingford Wasn’t Originally Planning On Becoming A Chef

Close

Johnathan will serve as the Mustique’s chef on Below Deck Med season 9. Per The Daily Dish, he went into the season with seven years' of experience in the yachting industry. Johnathan has a self-proclaimed “special skill” for “food and design,” which will be on full display in Below Deck Med. On Instagram, Johnathan revealed that he has a master’s degree in architecture and “became a chef by accident.” He took on a temporary cooking role on a yacht roughly eight years ago, which turned into a two-year-long job.

“About 8 years ago I turned my passion for food into a profession, and pivoted my career to become a Culinary Architect.”

Johnathan expressed how grateful he was to be able to turn his “passion” into a fully-fledged career. While he went to school for architecture, he encouraged those who go down an “unconventional path” to keep pushing and chase their dreams. His background in architecture is evident through some of the pictures he shares of his dishes on Instagram. Johnathan’s career in yachting allowed him to visit French Polynesia and the Tuamotu islands, his admitted favorite charter locations.

Johnathan Shillingford’s Instagram

What Is Johnathan Shillingford’s Instagram?

On the chef’s Instagram, he posts a blend of personal and professional content. Johnathan shares pictures and videos of his dishes. On the contrary, he posts fun, trendy Instagram Reels that showcase a different side of himself. Before the Below Deck Med season 9 premiere, Johnathan posted photos from his time on the Mustique with his co-stars. “So excited for you all to see what our crew is getting up to this season,” he captioned the post. He posed with Aesha in many pictures, hinting that the Chef and Chief Stew form a new friendship.

Aside from his personal Instagram page, Johnathan also has a professional profile. His second Instagram account, @culinaryjono, is a private page with only 17 posts. In the page’s bio, Johnathan called himself a “head yacht chef” and “culinary architect.” As Below Deck Med starts airing, he may choose to switch his Instagram profile to public.

Johnathan Shillingford’s Experience On Below Deck Mediterranean

Johnathan Shillingford Will Be A Fun Addition To Below Deck Med

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Johnathan’s journey in the season is teased in the trailer for Below Deck Med season 9. It seems he got along swimmingly with Chief Stew Aesha, as they danced together in the teaser clip. During one moment, a charter guest asks Johnathan where he trained, and he reveals that he’s a “self-taught” chef. There was a lot of drama teased among the interior team in the trailer, and Johnathan seemed to be excluded from that conflict.

During the final moments of one charter, a guest tells Captain Sandy “the food was okay,” to which he replies in a confessional interview, “damn.” It will be interesting to see how Johnathan fairs throughout the season. From the looks of the trailer, it appears that he’s a high-energy chef who gets close to Chief Aesha. It’s unclear what his journey on Below Deck Med season 9 will look like, but all will soon be revealed.

Johnathan is the new Chef on Below Deck Med season 9. With an impressive background and an interesting pathway to his career, it will be interesting to see how he fares under Captain Sandy’s leadership in the new season. Johnathan seems to be a lively person who will likely bring positive energy to the forthcoming season of Below Deck Med.

Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 premieres Monday, June 3 at 9 p.m. EDT on Bravo.

Sources: Johnathan Shillingford/Instagram, The Daily Dish, Johnathan Shillingford/Instagram, Johnathan Shillingford/Instagram, Bravo/YouTube