Below Deck Mediterranean: Gael Cameron’s Lack Of Confidence Is Holding Her Back. Can she improve or must she accept her fate of being fired?

Below Deck Mediterranean Deckhand Gael Cameron’s self-doubt may be preventing her from reaching her full potential. Gael made waves as the only female member of the deck crew aboard the Mustique. She cited her competitive upbringing alongside her older brother as the reason for her ease at working in a male-dominated role. Gael started season 9 with a strong sense of self-assuredness, but as the season progressed, cracks in Gael’s confidence began to show.

The crew of Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 has faced some well-deserved criticism. Chef Johnathan Shillingford’s underwhelming dishes were the first source of Captain Sandy Yawn’s frustration. Stewards Bri Muller and Elena Dubaich’s personal feud got in the way of their work, while Bosun Iain Maclean failed to take control of the deck team. Sandy has expressed her disappointment with the crew, although she has yet to fire anybody. Meanwhile, Gael caught the attention of several male crew members, particularly Nathan Gallagher, but she was focused on salvaging her relationship with her boyfriend back home.

Gael Showed Her Anxiety After Making A Mistake On Deck

Her Nervousness Revealed A Different Side Of Her Personality

Gael is a competent member of the Mustique’s crew, especially in comparison to the rest of her team. However, she made her first major mistake after she filled up the jacuzzi for a guest. Gael left the jacuzzi valve open, which caused the entire ship to run out of hot water. When Sandy confronted some of the deck crew, Nathan quickly took responsibility, trying to protect Gael’s reputation. However, Gael knew she had to own up to her mistake.

When Gael approached Sandy, her change in demeanor was startling. Gael was shaking and stammering as she admitted she was responsible for leaving the jacuzzi valve open. Sandy noticed Gael’s nervousness, and she reassured Gael that she was not in trouble. Gael’s honesty is admirable, but this interaction with the captain was the first sign that Gael is not always as confident as she seems.

Gael Doubted Her Boating Skills

She Admitted Her Inexperience When Tasked With Driving

Due to strong winds, the Mustique was forced to remain anchored at sea as guests and provisions arrived. Gael’s insecurity showed when she was asked to drive the tender boat to shore to retrieve the provisions. She admitted to being scared by her lack of experience driving tenders, a skill that is required for deckhands. This suggests Gael’s anxiety may have prevented her from gaining the experience necessary to move forward in her career.

Gael was nervous while driving, and she was equally excited when she docked the tender successfully. This gives insight to the evolution of Gael’s career, as her usual confidence likely comes from having faced nerve-racking experiences in the past. She commented that “life’s about little wins,” and she allows herself to celebrate when she faces her fears. Gael has proven herself to be a talented deckhand, but she would become even more successful in her career if she did not allow fear to get in her way from the start.

Gael’s Lack Of Confidence May Also Impact Her Romantic Relationships

She Recently Broke Up With Her Boyfriend

During her time on Bravo’s Below Deck Mediterranean, Gael’s talent on deck has often been overshadowed by her love life. Gael disappointed her crewmates when she announced upon meeting them that she was in a relationship. However, that did not prevent her from nearly hooking up with Nathan. As Gael focused on her work, her relationship with her boyfriend suffered. They broke up after he accused her of not giving him enough attention.

Gael was devastated, saying she had done all she could to save her relationship. She talked to her boyfriend every day, despite working long hours in grueling conditions. It seems like their breakup was for the best. Gael constantly had to reassure her boyfriend of her love for him, and because of her lack of confidence, she did not see the unhealthy dynamic that created.

Now that Gael is no longer taken, she is still slow to dive into romance with Nathan. While she is wise for exercising caution, it is questionable whether self-doubt prevents her from pursuing her desires. Nathan has repeatedly shown his interest in Gael, but she still appears hesitant. Gael should allow herself to pursue a romance with Nathan if that is what she wants.

Gael Is Slowly Learning To Trust Herself

Gael Builds Confidence As She Faces Her Fears

Despite often letting anxiety and hesitation get the best of her, Gael is working toward improving her confidence. She has been forced to step up when Iain’s poor management leaves the deck crew fending for themselves. Gael is seeing an increase in her confidence as she learns to go with her gut, even if that means going against Iain. She acknowledged she is fully capable of doing her job well and just needs to trust herself.

Gael has proven herself to be one of the best crew members on Below Deck Mediterranean season 9. Her ability to overcome anxiety will be essential for reaching her goals and moving up in the yachting world. As Gael continues to face her fears and build confidence in herself, she will achieve success in her career as well as her love life.

Below Deck Mediterranean airs Mondays at 9 p.m. EDT on Bravo, then streams the following day on Peacock.