It was a reunion seven years in the making, as former Below Deck Mediterranean stew/chef Anastasia Surmava surprised chief stew Aesha Scott at Aesha’s bachelorette party during Below Deck Med Season 11 (ahead of Aesha’s marriage to Scott Dobson).
While she was partying in Croatia, Anastasia also detailed her life in the years since she was a crew member on Sirocco, and revealed just how much has changed. “I left yachting six years ago,” Anastasia said during Episode 11. “Bought a business. Got married. I had a kid.”
Of Anastasia’s relationship with Aesha now, Anastasia shared the two remain as close as ever. “Aesha’s one of the only people who I would literally drop everything to travel to see each other for one night,” Anastasia confessed to producers during Below Deck Med’s Aug. 24 episode.
What does Below Deck Med alum Anastasia Surmava do for a living today?
Anastasia shared that she’s left the yachting world behind since she was on Below Deck Med, and now has a job in an entirely different field. “I work in finance now,” she told the Akira One crew during the Aug. 24 episode.
She previously was in business with Below Deck Med alum Hannah Ferrier. They started the Ocean International Training Academy, which provided lessons and courses on how to have a career in yachting. Hannah shared in July 2026 she was closing down the academy.
Your Chance to Win the Ultimate Bravo Fan Fest 2026 Sweepstakes
Bravo Fan Fest 2026 may be sold out, but Bravo Insiders can still score a trip to the Charleston-based event by entering the ultimate Bravo Fan Fest 2026 Sweepstakes. The winner and a guest will receive VIP tickets to Bravo Fan Fest, as well as roundtrip airfare, four-night hotel accommodations, and two tickets to each of the Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen tapings happening that weekend.
No Pur. Nec. Void where prohibited. 21+ Ends 8/31. Subject to Official Rules.
Where does Anastasia Surmava live?
Anastasia lives in Vermont. According to her bio, she was raised in Burlington, and graduated with a bachelor of science degree from the University of Vermont, specializing in Nuclear Medicine.
Is Anastasia Surmava from Below Deck Med married?
Anastasia is married to British model Will Higginson. He proposed during a March 2022 outing in Vermont, and the two tied the knot in July 2022 at the Mountain Top Inn and Resort in Chittenden, Vermont.
Does Anastasia Surmava have any children?
Anastasia welcomed her daughter, Arabella Higginson, in March 2023, calling her a “precious gift” on her Instagram post.
When was Anastasia Surmava on Below Deck Mediterranean?
Anastasia was part of the crew of Below Deck Med Season 4 (which premiered in June 2019) serving as both the third stews, and a temporary chef. During the Aug. 23 episode, Aesha explained that Anastasia was part of “her original interior team.” While Aesha was second stew at the time, Hannah was the chief stew.
What happened when Anastasia Surmava was on Below Deck Mediterranean?
Anastasia was thrown into a unique situation during Below Deck Med Season 4 when she stepped up from third stew to chef, after Captain Sandy Yawn fired Mila Kolomeitseva mid-way through the charter season.
Anastasia admitted during her Oct. 2019 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen that filling in as a chef was both chaotic and stressful.
“Inside, I was internally combusting, and on the outside, I was just trying to hold it together,” Anastasia reflected at the time. “So I think I was just maybe trying to convince myself that I could do it.”
Anastasia was later replaced as chef by Below Deck alum Ben Robinson. Despite going back to stew, she still helped Ben in the galley, and Ben had high praise for Anastasia.
“She’s very, very intelligent…she was a great asset,” he told Bravo Insider during an August 2019 interview. He later added, “I’m really proud of her. I actually admired what she did…She killed it.”
ICYMI, check out all of Below Deck Med Season 11’s guests, including those that are picky and unpredictable.
