Below Deck Star Cat Baugh Opens Up About Feeling ‘Suppressed’ After Leaving Religious Cult as a Teen: ‘A Lot of Trauma.
In the latest installment of Below Deck, Cat Baugh bravely shared about the “trauma” she endured during her involvement with a religious cult.
Fraser Olender, speaking to the cameras on Monday, February 19, observed Cat’s struggle to acclimate to the interior team and noted, “It’s clear that Cat is a deeply sensitive individual. I sense she may need more of a listening ear.” He expressed his own empathy, saying, “I’ve never had someone to guide me through this daunting industry. That’s why I want to provide that support for someone else.
Fraser was taken aback when Cat revealed that Baugh wasn’t her actual surname.
I grew up in foster care. My father passed away from Multiple Sclerosis when I was nine, and then my mother passed away when I was 13, unexpectedly in her sleep. It was a sudden loss, and they couldn’t determine the cause,” she recounted. “As a result, my brother and I were placed into the system and separated.”
Cat explained that she was under the care of a manipulative group of individuals, stating, “I don’t maintain contact with the family I lived with because they were involved in a cult-like religion.
Cat’s foster family prohibited her from maintaining contact with her brother, even though they were in the same state. “They wouldn’t even allow me to communicate with him because he didn’t share their religious beliefs,” she elaborated. “Their religious extremism was so severe that they wouldn’t even permit me to speak to my own flesh and blood.
During a confessional, Cat provided further insights into her challenging upbringing, revealing, “I was raised in Orange County, California, by a foster family in a town called Yorba Linda. From the ages of 13 to 18, I was immersed in their culture, life, and dynamics.”
Cat expressed her perception that her foster family lacked genuine concern for her welfare.
“In the church, everything revolved around seeking praise, and I felt like nothing more than a mere prop to them,” she reflected. “It seemed as though they wished to erase my past entirely. I felt suffocated and never found the courage to assert myself.”
It wasn’t until Cat reached the age of 18 that she seized control of her life.
“When I expressed a desire to maintain a relationship with my biological brother, they opposed it,” she recounted. “Upon reaching 18, I made the decision to prioritize my brother and my own life. I chose to live for myself, which marked the beginning of my journey toward independence. Now, my brother and I share an incredibly close bond. He’s like my closest confidant.”
Viewers of Below Deck have witnessed Cat’s struggle to find her footing within the interior team since she joined the franchise in January 2024. Earlier in the season, Cat found herself at odds with fellow stews Barbie Pascual and Xandi Olivier. During Monday’s episode, she opened up further about how her childhood experiences have influenced her approach to work.
“Growing up with a lot of trauma instills a deep sense of insecurity. The foster family I was placed with often made me feel inadequate, like I could never measure up to their standards of perfection,” she recounted. “Perfection was demanded, so how others perceive my work ethic holds significant weight for me. I strive not to appear weak because the thought of it triggers intense anxiety.”
Cat wasn’t the sole individual to divulge startling revelations about her past. In his personal confessional, Fraser disclosed the challenges he encountered on his journey to attaining the position of chief steward.
For my initial role on a boat, I served as a crew mess stew, essentially catering to the needs of the crew. It was the lowest position imaginable. On my very first day, the chief engineer discovered I was gay and displayed severe homophobia,” Fraser recounted. “As I was washing dishes, he intentionally poured the scalding hot tea I had just prepared for him over my hands. That marked the beginning of my yachting journey.”
He persisted, telling himself, “Just keep pushing forward. Because someday, none of this will matter. You’ll rise to the top. And someday, you’ll see him fired.” And indeed, that day came.
Catch Below Deck season 11 on Bravo every Monday at 9 p.m. ET. New episodes will be available for streaming the following day on Peacock.
