Below Deck’s Kyle Viljoen is Engaged!

Last time we checked in on Below Deck Mediterranean’s  Kyle Viljoen he had revealed that the televised romance between himself and Frank Fay, a charter guest from the show, had fizzled out but that he was in a serious relationship with new beau Dr. Zachary Riley. Well, the two lovebirds have now made it official, taking to social media to announce their engagement.

An overjoyed Viljoen took to Instagram to share the good news: “Zachary & I are officially engaged and to my universe I want to thank you for loving me unconditionally, desirably, and with full intent to be my forever and always. We have walked a rocky but loving road, you have made my heart full and I found home in not materialistic things but in my soul you have your place!”

Viljoen and Riley were on a trip to Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa when Viljoen popped the question.

“We have walked a rocky but loving road, you have made my heart full and I found home in not materialistic things but in my soul you have your place! Flying to South Africa on Table Mountain was the point I wanted to scream highest to say we have our place in this universe and surrounded by his and my family was a sacred energy that we could only have wished for and more,” explained Viljoen.

The Chief Stew revealed on the most recent season of Below Deck Mediterranean that he had been in a secret 12-year relationship with a man in his native South Africa. The relationship ended when the man left Viljoen for a woman, presumably because of the anti-LGBT sentiment in the country at that time. Viljoen added on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen that he only stayed in the relationship due to the small queer community and limited options available to him at the time. It was during this appearance that he also revealed his relationship with Riley.

Since announcing their relationship, Viljoen had joyfully chronicled their adventures on social media at various outings and events. Their engagement is the culmination of a whirlwind romance that began soon after Below Deck season 7 wrapped.

We’re sure that Viljoen’s engagement will be at least one question Andy Cohen will ask during the Below Deck Mediterranean reunion – not scheduled at the time this article was published. However, the rumor is that it may air on November 21 after the Season 10 premiere of the original Below Deck series. We can’t wait to see hear if the happy couple will have a destination wedding or honeymoon in some fabulous location. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, you can watch episodes of Below Deck Mediterranean on Bravo or catch them streaming on Peacock.