below deck sailing yacht dani

Search Please fill out this field.
Manage Your Subscription
Give a Gift Subscription
Newsletters
Sweepstakes
Celebrity Family
Celebrity Babies

'Below Deck Sailing Yacht' 's Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux Confirms He Fathered Dani Soares' Baby Girl

Dani Soares, who welcomed her daughter Lilly Rose in May, previously said the baby's father, whose identity she did not reveal at the time, was keeping a distance from her and their child

Below Deck Sailing Yacht star Jean-Luc "J.L." Cerza-Lanaux has come forward to confirm he is the father of Dani Soares' baby

Nearly eight months after the birth of Soares' daughter Lilly Rose , deckhand Cerza-Lanaux announced that the baby girl is his daughter in a lengthy Instagram post on Wednesday.

"As the year 2021 came to a close. A new year in 2022 begins with high ambitions and positivity. My silence on social media has been intentional and much needed. I used that time to focus on what was important to me and my mental health," he began. "I can't let 2022 go any further without sharing some beautiful news. An international DNA test that was done awhile ago was no small feat. I'm happy and proud to say Sweet and beautiful Lilly rose is my daughter."

Cerza-Lanaux, 26, went on to share that he and Soares, 33, have been learning to co-parent as best they can given their busy schedules.

"Dani and I have been working and communicating together to the best of our ability; given Dani is a full time mother and worker, and I being gone for extended periods of time not knowing when I will step back on land. This is imperative for the sake of our daughter as she needs both parents in her life," he explained.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE 's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"With that being said, going forward, I will no longer feel the need to explain myself to anybody, when realizing people only understand from their level of perception," he continued. "I am thankful for my friends, and family who have stuck by my side through thick and thin. As I look forward to this new year with new opportunities, I will be striving to be the best man and father that I can be. God bless."

Following the birth of Lilly in May, rumors had been swirling that deckhand Cerza-Lanaux was the father, ever since a preview for the Bravo show's season 2 reunion showed Soares saying that her baby's father is keeping a distance from her and his offspring .

"He thinks it's not his child, he doesn't want to have anything to do with it," Soares said in a teaser for the episode back in June.

"I'm not going to badmouth anybody because my daughter is going to see everything that I'm saying, everything that I'm doing and I don't want her to see things going back and forth on social media or things being said in a moment of anger," Soares told PEOPLE at the time. "As I said, the door's always open, but you need to do more than just talk. You need to actually have some action, do some action."

"The father was part of it, I didn't make her alone," she added of her daughter. "So, if he wants to be part of her life obviously [he can]. But he needs to do more than talk."

At the time, Cerza-Lanaux tried to "clear the air" in an Instagram post, hitting back at Soares' reunion comments in the process.

"While others are off chasing their 15 minutes of fame, I am working on a yacht in Central America and heartbroken to have to hear about the baby's birth on social media and read headlines like ' Dani Soares Says Her Baby's Father Doesn't Want Anything to Do With It ,' Cerza-Lanaux wrote. "All I can say is if she's mine, I want to be involved 100%."

"As someone who grew up with parents who weren't together, I wouldn't wish that on any child," he added. "Not looking for a pity party. Just want everyone to know how strongly I feel about this, especially the haters who are so sure I am neglecting my responsibility. No one wants to know more than me if this is my baby girl!"

Below Deck Sailing Yacht’s Captain Glenn Shephard Gives Update on Dani Soares and Jean-Luc’s Co-Parenting of Daughter Lilly Rose, Plus Cast’s Reaction

Below Deck Sailing Yacht’s Captain Glenn Shephard Shares Update on Dani Soares and Jean-Luc’s Progress in Co-Parenting Daughter Lilly Rose, Plus Cast's Reaction

Avid Below Deck Sailing Yacht fans will definitely recall the paternity drama that unfolded between former stew Dani Soares and deckhand Jean-Luc Cerza-Launaux during their respective season on the franchise.

Although the two have apparently sorted out the paternity drama, their former boss, Captain Glenn Shephard , is giving us an update on how the couple is co-parenting following their split.

Below Deck star Dani Soares poses with daughter Lilly Rose

Speaking to Us Weekly , Glenn said Jean-Luc has somewhat stepped up to the plate and has “some involvement now” in daughter Lilly Rose’s life. He has even started up a college fund for her.

“I know that [Jean-Luc] has some involvement now with [his and Dani’s] baby. I heard that he’s setting up a college fund and that he talks to her regularly on zoom because they’re far apart,” Glenn told the outlet at the NBCUniversal Upfront on Monday, May 16. “[Dani is] in Australia and his boat is in the states. He has to keep working obviously and I don’t think he can go to Australia and start a job.”

Glenn admits he gets most of his updates on the couple through secondhand sources, but he added that he thinks Jean-Luc should do more, especially after adamantly dismissing the child as his own in the past.

“I was asking someone what’s his involvement because it’s been a while. Personally, I think he should do more. But I don’t know all the details. I’m not that close with them so I can’t really speak to it,” Glenn shared.

Viewers saw the whole drama play out on their screens between Dani and Jean-Luc.

“Let’s put it this way, this baby was made during the season while we had cameras 24/7 with us and I only slept with one guy,” Dani said in June 2021. “He hasn’t supported me at all in any way. He thinks it is not his child and he doesn’t want to have anything to do with it,” Dani said.

Several months after Dani gave birth to Lilly Rose, and after a paternity test that was demanded by Jean-Luc, he finally claimed the child as his own.

“I’m happy and proud to say sweet and beautiful Lilly Rose is my daughter,” he wrote in an Instagram post in January. “Dani and I have been working and communicating together to the best of our ability. This is imperative [to work out] for the sake of our daughter as she needs both parents in her life.”

Sometimes words just come a little too late, Jean-Luc. And Dani and her former castmates apparently agree.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dani Soares (@iamdanisoares)

Current Below Deck Down Under star and former Below Deck Sailing Yacht stew Alli Dore told Us Weekly at the time, “I feel like after all the back and forth that happened and all the things that were said about Dani, there should have been a public apology in there to her.”

Chief engineer Colin MacRae also had some choice words for his former co-star, saying, “It’s never too late to redeem yourself with actions, but this pathetic attempt at owning up to being a father just for the sake of social media, with a complete lack of any form of support in real life, gains no respect from me whatsoever. Which is a crying shame because every child deserves to have a father.”

According to Captain Glenn, Dani and Jean-Luc appear to be making some headway in the line of co-parenting. Here’s hoping it continues.

Screen Rant

What dani soares is up to after below deck sailing yacht season 2.

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

90 Day Fiancé: Liz Woods Shares New Relationship Update With Boyfriend Jayson After He Raised Major Red Flags

I'm convinced devin strader isn't the right match for the bachelorette's jenn tran, the bachelor producers scramble to fix their mistakes in jenn tran's season by announcing grant ellis as the lead early (did it work).

Dani Soares is one of the most memorable crew members to appear on the Below Deck franchise, so it's no surprise that fans are looking to catch up on what she's been doing since Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 2. Joining Captain Glenn Shepard on the charter yacht Parsifal III as a second stew, Dani's memories of living in Brazil helped her forge connections with co-stars like Sydney Zaruba and Alli Dore. Dealing with the loss of a close friend months before joining the yacht crew, Dani's open and honest attitude established her positive reputation with viewers.

While Dani's backstory is interesting enough, her short-lived romance with Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux was the breakout storyline of BDSY season 2. Dani and Jean-Luc quickly became interested in one another while working on the sailing yacht and were frequently seen spending time together. Although Dani wasted no time bringing up the potential of marriage and babies, 26-year-old Jean-Luc's clear hesitancy (and, at one point, potential STD) towards settling down created some awkward situations. Nonetheless, Dani and Jean-Luc ended BDSY season 2, confessing their love for each other and leaving Parsifal III as a couple.

Related: Below Deck: Dani Soares Hints Jean-Luc Still Isn’t Stepping Up As Father

After BDSY season 2 ended, it was revealed that Dani was expecting a baby girl . While the father wasn't named at the start, all eyes pointed towards Jean-Luc. Dani gave birth to Lilly Rose in May 2021, and after going back-and-forth with his former BDSY co-stars on Instagram, Jean-Luc confirmed that Lilly was his daughter this past January. Besides becoming a mother, Dani, who has sported a new short-haired look since November, has settled down in Sydney, Australia. In addition to raising Lily, Dani has been working as a beauty therapist while studying to become a nurse, previously telling Bravo Insider , "I just want to do something that I can be like, I'm actually helping, I'm actually changing people's lives, you know?"

Although Dani isn't planning to return to yachting anytime soon, the 34-year-old still has a foot in the Below Deck franchise. After BDSY season 2 wrapped last summer, Dani , Alli, and chief stew Daisy Kelliher started an Instagram Live series called Pita Party . The three stews upload weekly episodes that focus on the currently-airing BDSY season 3, as well as individual and collective experiences as women in their 30s. Dani, Alli, and Daisy are frequently joined by Below Deck special guests like Ashley Marti, Colin MacRae, and Tom Pearson. Since establishing Pity Party , Dani, Alli, and Daisy have expanded the show to a podcast that can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Between working, studying, and caring for Lily, it's clear that Dani has a lot on her plate, especially since she's hinted that Jean-Luc isn't as involved with their daughter as he should be. Nevertheless, fans of BDSY are happy to see that Dani is not only still invested in the charter yacht world but continues to have the support of Alli, Daisy, and other Below Deck stars. Dani has undergone one of the biggest transformations since appearing on BDSY season 2, emotionally and physically, yet it's clear that she is focused on carving a wide path of opportunities for her and Lilly.

Next: Below Deck Sailing Yacht: The Worst Charter Guests So Far

Below Deck Sailing Yacht airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on Bravo.

Sources: Bravo Insider , Dani Soares /Instagram

Below Deck (2016)
Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Below Deck Sailing Yacht 's Dani Soares Gives Birth to Her First Baby

Below deck sailing yacht 's dani soares announced the arrival of her baby girl see the bravo star's first photo of her little one below..

Making a splash!

Below Deck Sailing Yacht 's Dani Soares announced the sweet and special news that she welcomed her first child, a baby girl . Taking to Instagram on Saturday, May 29, the Bravo star captioned her post , "She is here. She is perfect."

"And we trying to figure this thing out," her message continued. "We both healthy and happy. Thank you for all the support. Will post more once mummy had some rest."

Although Dani is keeping details of her newborn daughter to herself—like her name and official birth date—she shared a behind-the-scenes photo of herself holding up her baby girl's hand. In the image, the little one was also dressed in a pink onesie.

Naturally, the reality TV personality's co-stars expressed their excitement in the comments section.

"OMG Congratulations Dani, I'm so proud of you," Captain Glenn Shephard replied, with Alli Dore responding, "Super mum!!!!"

Izzy Wouters added, "Can't wait to meet her! So proud of you."

Just two weeks ago, Dani revealed that she was expecting a baby girl.

"I've always been a girlie girl, even when I used to spend hours everyday playing RPG," she began her Instagram post on May 12. "When I found out I was pregnant, all I really wanted was a healthy baby and didn't really care about anything else. But now, I'm looking forward to having my little girl and developing that mother and daughter relationship."

Back in April, the Bravolebrity surprised Below Deck fans after announcing she was going to be a mom. At the time, Dani debuted her growing baby bump on Instagram, writing , "It's just you and I little baby."

She later added, "I just wanna say thank you all so much for all the support. It warms my heart to read so many beautiful messages!"

(E! and Bravo are part of the NBCUniversal family.)

'Below Deck Sailing Yacht' Star Dani Soares Gives Birth to First Child

The new mom shared the exciting news on her Instagram on Saturday.

Dani Soares is officially a mom! The Below Deck Sailing Yacht star welcomed her first child, a baby girl. The new mom shared the happy news on her Instagram on Saturday, also posting a sweet photo of her little one's tiny hand.

"She is here. She is perfect. And we trying to figure this thing out," Soares captioned the photo. "We both healthy and happy. Thank you for all the support ❤❤❤."

She added, "Will post more once mummy had some rest 😂."

A handful of her Below Deck Sailing Yacht co-stars congratulated her on her bundle of joy, with lCaptain Glenn Shephard writing, "OMG Congratulations Dani, I’m so proud of you. 🎉🍾🎊." Alli Dore wrote, "Super mum!!!! 😍😍😍," while Sydney Zaruba added, "Congrats mama!!!"

Soares revealed that she was pregnant with her first child in late April. She showed off her baby bump, writing, "It's just you and I little baby."

Earlier this month, she penned a message to her baby girl, expressing how she was "already so loved."

"From the moment I knew you were here, I've been making sure I'm doing everything I can to help you grow healthy inside of me and to make sure you'll have what you need when you out," she wrote, adding that while "this is not how I dreamed, not how I planned, but you [are] not unwanted."

"Bringing a life to this world is a blessing and you are here to show me I have a reason to keep going and a purpose in this life. You already so loved ❤," she concluded.

ET spoke with Daisy Kelliher, the Below Deck Sailing Yacht chief stewardess, about Soares surprise pregnancy , where she shared that she didn't know who the father was. After Soares and deckhand Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux (AKA "JL") started hooking up on the show, fans jumped to conclusions thinking he was the father. "Dani's the only one who knows that. Whether she in time decides to come out with that, I honestly have no idea," Kelliher admitted. “I'm sure she's sick of explaining to people or doing whatever she's doing. So, for me, I just ask her if she's OK, and that's about as far as my interrogation goes."

"I don't know. I suppose just them being healthy is the main thing, and whether it's JL's baby, I don't know," she added.

See more in the video below.

Updates on Celebrity News, TV, Fashion and More!

'Below Deck Sailing Yacht' Star Dani Soares Is Expecting Her 1st Child

'Below Deck Sailing': Erica Rose Catches Alli Gossiping About Her Mom

'Below Deck Sailing's Daisy on Gary Drama & Dani's Surprise Pregnancy

Below Deck Sailing Yacht
Babies & Kids

Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, sweepstakes, and more!

Dani Soares Reveals the Future of Her Yachting Career After Welcoming Her First Child

The stew has some major updates to share on her new job and new home following Season 2 of Below Deck Sailing Yacht .

Spotlight Dani Soares Career Update Post Baby

Dani Soares joined the Parsifal III crew in Season 2 of Below Deck Sailing Yacht unsure of what her next move would be. She had lost her best friend and soul mate a few months before the charter season began, someone Dani thought would be "the person I was gonna live forever with," she said on the show . After several years in the yachting industry, Dani also expressed a desire to begin her next chapter, including settling down and starting a family .

How to Watch

Watch Below Deck Sailing Yacht on Peacock and the Bravo app .

So, after the charter season ended, Dani took a big leap and set out on a new adventure, moving to Sydney, Australia. "It's amazing," Dani said of her new home during an exclusive interview with Bravo Insider in early May. "Honestly, this is such an amazing country, and I'm so, so happy that I'm lucky enough to live here now."

Dani, who is originally from Brazil, previously spent some time in Australia before moving there permanently. "So I had an ex-boyfriend. We were together for like five years, and he was Australian. So I've been here in the past, you know, few years on-and-off, spending [months] in Australia," she said. "And I just fell in love with the country. And I was like, well, I think I should try and live there, because, you know, it's honestly the best country."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dani Soares (@iamdanisoares)

Dani has also decided to pursue a new land-based career in Australia. In addition to currently working as a beauty therapist , she is also studying to become a nurse after enrolling in school earlier this year. "A few boats that I worked on, I was a medical officer, which means that I had to have a first aid course. I had to take care of medical equipment and stuff like that," she said. "So I always enjoyed this side of things, but I just felt like I had no time to do a degree, you know? I just felt like, oh, it's such a long time. It's such a mission. And I just want to do something that I can be like, I'm actually helping, I'm actually changing people's lives, you know? And I was like, this is the time now, I'll just go for it."

Of course, Dani has also notably added a new title to her resume since this season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht : Mom. After announcing that she was expecting her first child , a baby girl , earlier this spring, Dani welcomed daughter Lilly on May 27 .

When Dani spoke to Bravo Insider, it was a few weeks before she gave birth, and at the time, she said that juggling her work as a beauty therapist with nursing school, all while getting ready to welcome her first child was going well — although she acknowledged that could all change once her daughter arrived. "It's a lot of work. I have to have my schedule all organized to study and everything. But it's fine. But once the baby's here I'm not sure [laughs]. Because, obviously, I have to come back to work quite soon, so it would be work, baby, and school full-time," Dani explained. "So, yeah. We'll see. I want to try and make it work. And I hope I can. Nothing's very planned at the moment, just kind of going with it."

However, Dani said that now that she's a mom, she probably won't be returning to yachting anytime soon. "I would never say never. But it would be quite hard staying away from the baby for a long period of time, you know, especially because I have nobody to leave the baby with in Australia, for example. So that would be really weird. So maybe not for now. But you never know, maybe one day," she said. "Maybe I can come back as a nurse on a bigger boat or something like that. You never know."

Dani said that she is still figuring out where she wants to take her career in healthcare once she earns her nursing degree. "Yeah, I definitely need something fast-paced," she said. "I was a flight attendant before and then seven years in yachting. Now doing this [working as a beauty therapist], standing on my feet all day. So I don't know, maybe [I'll] work in an ER, being like the first contact for patients. Or maybe even midwifery. That would be really cool, helping bring babies into the world. It'd be so amazing. So I guess I'm just gonna wait for my placement and see how I feel about it."

Though she is now settling into a very different kind of life in Australia, Dani said that she has taken a lot from this season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht with her, from appreciating chief stew Daisy Kelliher 's leadership style to all of the friends she made among the Parsifal III crew. "The girls, you know, like the whole crew, we were very close. And it doesn't matter if people are so different from you, you can still find things to relate to and to get to know each other," Dani reflected on some of her biggest lessons from the charter season. "If you open yourself to different experiences, things can turn out [laughs] in a very unexpected way, you know? So, yeah, just be open. Just be open for different people, be open for different experiences, and you never know what's [going to happen]."

But as you can see, now with her baby girl in tow, Dani has been making plans for the future, sharing that she "100 percent" hopes to stay put in Australia. "But I have said I've settled many times, so I will never say never [laughs]," she said. "We'll see what happens. But so far, the plan is to settle here and live here forever."

After experiencing the excitement of a transient yachtie lifestyle for so many years, Dani said that she is now happy to be taking things at a different pace. "[I'm] just looking forward to having a normal life. I haven't lived [in one place] for so many years. And I'm looking forward to doing that now and having my hairdresser, my local restaurant, and those little things," she said. "So yeah, just looking forward to having a normal life."

Want more Below Deck Sailing Yacht ? New episodes air every Monday at 9/8c or catch up on the Bravo app .

Daisy Kelliher
Dani Soares