Earning the most votes on nearly any other reality-competition series would be a surefire way to win, but it had the opposite effect on Peacock’s The Traitors, all 10 episodes of which are now streaming. Just ask Kate Chastain, who after six seasons as chief stewardess (and undeniable standout) on Bravo’s Below Deck, brought her no-holds-barred energy to a show where she was met with nothing but suspicion and served up a unique brand of chaos.

Paranoia is the name of the game, which invites a mix of reality stars (Big Brother, Survivor, and The Bachelor alums) and “civilians” to a 19th-century Scottish castle where they’ll compete for $250,000. The only catch: Three of the contestants are chosen by tartan-wearing host Alan Cumming to be “traitors” who try to eliminate “faithfuls” in pursuit of the prize pot. Each episode features a double elimination—the group votes to banish who they suspect of being traitorous; then, after midnight, the traitors convene to strategically “murder” one of the faithfuls. It’s a juiced-up reality TV take on classic party games like Mafia, with added high camp playing into the Scottish murder-castle aesthetic, complete with a silent bearded groundskeeper named Fergus (played by John Ritchie). 

Thanks to her blunt delivery and alliances with early castoffs, Chastain was often the target of attempted banishments by fellow faithfuls—and a sacrificial lamb for the traitors. Instead of fighting against the controversy, she embraced it by not-so-quietly quitting—practically pleading with contestants to banish her until she was nearly the last woman standing. “I had trust issues going in, which I think everybody should have,” Chastain tells Vanity Fair of her (nearly) winning strategy. “I don’t trust anybody that has a French bulldog. I don’t trust anybody who’s a vegan. I don’t trust anybody who backs into a parking spot. I do not trust people for all sorts of reasons. So I didn’t trust anybody in the castle. Because, PS, the name of the show is Traitors.”

The show’s breakout, who is expecting her first child, talks to VF about throwing challenges (“I certainly don’t love doing physical exertion to earn other people money who are lying to my face”), bonding with Brandi Glanville (“She would solve 90% of the cold cases in America”), and finding out Cirie Fields was a winning traitor (“Every single player, to be honest in their gut, knew”). 

Vanity Fair: People are finding the show, but many wish Peacock had dropped in weekly batches, as opposed to all at once, so there was time to really experience and discuss the twists. Thoughts?

Kate Chastain: I’m sure there are people with much higher pay grades than me sitting in a corner office in Manhattan that made the decision to drop all 10 at once, and I’m sure they are correct. But my simple little brain was confused by it because the discourse and conversation between each banishment and murder is really exciting and something to talk about, like, who do you think it’s going to be next week? And it’s hard to know what episode other people are watching and what you’re on. You don’t want to spoil it for them. So, that’s what makes it strange.

Did you watch any previous season of The Traitors before joining the US version?

Now, Savannah, does it seem like I went into that show knowing what I was signing up for? I tried, Savannah. It had been a Dutch show [De Verraders], and a Peacock executive, one of my favorite executives that I worked with on Below Deck, called me. He was like, “I’ve got a new show—it’s perfect for you, Kate.” I was considering it and I tried getting a VPN to download the Dutch version and asked him, “Hey, can I get some clips from the Dutch version?” And I think it’s not a coincidence that he was like, “Yeah, let me see if I can find those for you…” And I never got them.

He wanted you to go in cold.

Right. 

Did you know who else was going to be there before showing up to the castle?

Pretty much everything was a surprise. I knew that there would be some fellow reality people. I thought it was going to be all from the Bravo universe—I was going to be going up against Caroline Manzo and Dolores [Catania, both from Real Housewives of New Jersey]. So I was surprised when there was such a varied mix. And then for the civilian cast members, I just knew that they were very big competition show fans. That’s one of the qualities they all shared.

Anyone initially leave you either starstruck or with a sour impression?

You know what’s so funny? I thought Arie [Luyendyk, from The Bachelor] was a realtor. Well, he’s a realtor in real life, but I thought he was from one of the listing shows or Selling Sunset. Ryan Lochte I was a little starstruck by because he’s not just on reality TV, he’s an Olympic athlete. He actually has a very established talent and he is also very handsome. And then Brandi, she could be intimidating, but we got on so quickly that it was just super fun. Alan was intimidating.

Did you feel at a disadvantage coming from a Bravo show about your life and job as opposed to contestants who had been on more blatantly competitive shows like Big Brother or Survivor?

At first, I thought perhaps the competition show people would have an advantage. But actually, once I started playing with them, I felt like it was a disadvantage because they were so set in their ways of how they played that game, but we’re not playing your game right now, you’re playing with 10 civilians who have also never played your way and we’ve never played your way. It was interesting to see them adapt.

The first night in the castle, as traitors are being picked, are you thinking: “What did I get myself into, waiting in this room for Alan Cumming to tap me on the shoulder and declare me traitorous”? 

The first night, it’s all very overwhelming. You’re the new people, and you ride on the train and there’s a castle and there’s Alan Cumming and there’s peacocks. And then they take you to this room, which I think had at one time been the chapel of the castle. And I went to Catholic school, so I was like, “What’s going on here?” They have the loudest speaker system you've ever heard in your life. And they played the most spooky song at top volume for the whole entirety. It was the Hunger Games song, “Hanging Tree.” And they blared it to where it hurt your ears for three minutes, and you would think that was done just to psych us out. It was intense. 

Were you hoping to be a traitor or ambivalent about it?

They asked us in our interviews going into the show, “Would you like to be a traitor?” And I said, “Not really.” But had I known how much of an advantage the traitors had, I probably should have guessed that from the name of the show. I probably would’ve said yes if I had known, but I’m just not a great liar.

You connected with Brandi immediately, and you both had such spot-on gut instincts about who the traitors might be. 

Well, Brandi Glanville should join the CIA recreationally on the weekends as a hobby. She would solve 90% of the cold cases in America just for fun. She’s so intuitive and so smart. But early on, before Brandi left, we definitely thought Christian [de la Torre], and we brought up Cirie as a name.

One of the only people to do that.

And I think, in hindsight, watching the show back, it’s probably for the best that, once Brandi left, I didn’t hammer that home because that makes you a target for the traitors. If I was like, “You’re a traitor. You’re a traitor. You’re a traitor,” they would be like, “Oh, she’s onto us.” I just think Brandi is a genius. And I was so disappointed she got sent home early. I will say I’m not sure she would’ve made it to the end because she can tell people are lying, but she’s not good at biting her tongue.

Many have said you two should have your own Simple Life–esque spin-off or appear on a season of Ultimate Girls Trip. Would you be down?

Absolutely. I mean, it has been discussed. The idea’s been thrown around and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if some iteration of that happened. I would absolutely love to start getting on that Girls Trip train because it’s a little vacation, a little drama, go home.

It’s very fast and dirty.

Fast and dirty, exactly. I like that. And also, I’ve got some opinions about some of the Housewives that I would love to share with them.

And what a joy to see you share those with them. You’re a master at the confessional chair—how did you approach filming those on Traitors?

Yes, I do love a confessional. It feels like therapy. You get to sit down, which I love, and just talk a little smack about the people that are annoying you. It’s therapeutic. I would’ve done all confessionals in Scotland if that option had been presented.

People were suspicious of you almost immediately and never really let up in their convictions. Did that surprise you?

I was so surprised, I was disappointed because…I know I’m not a traitor, and the way you guys are just latched onto this idea is only showing me that you are really bad at this game. So, I don’t really feel encouraged, one, because you’re accusing me. Two, you won’t look elsewhere. And three, I don’t think the faithfuls are going to win, y’all. I wasn’t surprised at first because, of course, they’re going to go for the louder personalities, but when it just kept happening, it was confusing.

How long were roundtable discussions and banishments filmed for? And what were they like?

I would say roundtables were two hours. At first, they were very intimidating. If you speak, all eyes are on you; you could be on the chopping block. But then I remember they would line us up, and every night, everybody’s like, “Who’s it going to be?” Nervous. And I would just be like, “Let’s get ready to rumble.” To try and remind people this is a game. We’re not actually killing people. They were intense.

I was surprised by how no one could spell on the blackboards. 

[The name] Geraldine [Moreno]. Watching back, because it was so early in the season, we were all overwhelmed. I didn’t notice it at the time, but watching it for the first time when all the guys were like [writing], “G,” I’m like, “You never called her that nickname. Don’t try to make your lack of grammar look like a cute nickname that you have for the girl you’re voting out.” It was so funny. 

As you were continuously being nearly banished, your interest in participating in the challenges plummeted. At one point, you even dumped barrels worth thousands in prize money, mostly to prove a point. When was your peak moment of frustration in the process?

It was clear that I was never going to see that prize money most likely. I don’t love physical exertion, and I certainly don’t love doing physical exertion to earn other people money who are lying to my face. It was hard for me to get around that. And I think my peak frustration happened around the barrels on the mountainside because I was tired of being made into the bad guy but also expected to do work.

That was the best day of my time in Scotland. It was liberating. It felt amazing. And I don’t regret it because you know what? All the people that got so mad at me, they all went home with $0 and they were really struggling with that challenge. They all said it was so difficult, but I wouldn’t know.

One thing we don’t get to see a ton of are the accommodations—where you’re sleeping, what exactly you’re eating. What was the domestic aspect like for you?

That was another reason. Once it was clear that I was not getting the big bucks at the end, I was ready to go home because they ran a very tight ship. There were security guards making sure you never left your room. And we had long days, from breakfast to challenge to banishment. By the time you got to your bed, you just wanted to go to sleep and sleep for eight hours because I knew it would be the big day the next day. The food in the highlands of Scotland is nothing to write home about, but it was good enough. I really missed martinis. I really missed a little bit of freedom after a while.

Yeah, it felt like the bar scene wasn’t all it could be for a castle.

It turned out to be BYOB, but they forgot to tell us. There weren’t a lot of options there.

Your strategy was interesting because by openly begging for people to vote you off, it took some of the heat away from you because traitors liked the air of suspicion that brought. But later, when it seemed like you might stay until the end, your strategy shifted. You did start participating and playing well with others. 

It’s so funny—Kyle Cooke, a couple days ago, he texted me: “Whenever you have free time, I’d like to talk to you about what your mindset was because I still don’t understand it.” And I said, “Kyle, your first mistake was thinking I had a strategy.” I was just going in hoping for the best. And if you want to make an omelet, you gotta break some eggs, let’s just get into it. But once that money was actually possibly within my grasp, I mean, the fact that I had made it this far at all while actively trying not to, I just figured anything’s possible. I did start saying, “Okay, what will be my first purchase?”

When you were banished just before the end, what was the first thing you did to detox?

I had a nice cold martini. I turned my phone on for the first time in four weeks and I just got overwhelmed and reacclimated to the outside world.

How did you find out Cirie had won?

We had to wait and watch it with the audience, really. I mean, I think every single player, to be honest, in their gut, knew Cirie was a traitor, but we liked her so much that we were just subconsciously ignoring it. When you are married, you know your husband’s probably cheating on you, but you just don’t want to deal with it, so you’re just in voluntary denial. We love Cirie, we’ll just focus on the other two, and we’ll cross that bridge. So, Cirie was no surprise, but just to see their logic behind who they murdered every night was fascinating.

If you had been a traitor, what would your strategy have been?

I feel like I would’ve done some different murders, which is not a sentence I ever thought I would hear myself saying. That felt really wrong. But I mean, I think you can tell if you’ve watched the show that I’m a little bit more bold in my gameplay. I’m a little less careful. So, I probably would’ve been the same way as a traitor.

Did you talk to anyone after the show? I’m assuming not Big Brother’s Rachel Reilly, whom you said dresses like she’s in “community theater.”

In the castle, I didn’t love Rachel and Stephenie [LaGrossa], but they’re very sweet girls in real life. And they come from a competition show background, so they understand what happens in the competition castle stays in the competition castle. But I still talk to Brandi daily, weekly, all the time—my biggest takeaway from this experience is my friendship with Brandi, it’s priceless. I talked to Cirie, I talked to Andie [Vanacore], I talked to Kyle, I talked to Quentin [Jiles]. The longer you’re in the castle, the stronger your friendships are.

Speaking of fashion, it was wonderful to see you outside of your Below Deck uniform in everything from the Princess Diana–inspired black sheep sweater to the plaid skirts. Was that element fun?

Well, a lot of people don’t know this, but I’m a huge royalist. I love the royal family. I think it’s because they’re my Real Housewives. They’re my reality glamour because I’m in the Bravo world, so Real Housewives is a little too close to home, but I just love the royal family and seeing what they’re going to wear and all that drama. So, I really leaned into what would Kate Middleton, Princess Diana, even Meghan Markle, wear at a Scottish castle.

Have you read Spare, Harry’s book?

Bless his heart. I hear it’s number-one selling in nonfiction…and I just wish that he would stop talking. We get it. We understand you’re upset. They were mean to you. It has been noted. 

Personally, did you leave the show with more trust issues?

I had trust issues going in, which I think everybody should have. I don’t trust anybody that has a French bulldog. I don’t trust anybody who’s a vegan. I don’t trust anybody who backs into a parking spot. I do not trust people for all sorts of reasons. So, I didn’t trust anybody in the castle. Because, PS, the name of the show is Traitors. But I feel like some of the contestants, maybe Andie, had to reevaluate trust guidelines. I think it’s a very valuable lesson for them.

What would it take to lure you back for a reunion or even future all-stars season?

Oh, I think a reunion should definitely happen because I want to see all these people that were actually into the game. I trusted no one, so I’m going to be there laughing, eating popcorn. And also, I want a whole segment, an entire segment where they all go around—everyone that voted for me, which is everyone—and apologize. I would love to see that. And as far as doing another Traitors goes, I would love to do a competition show that is all psychological, [not challenges]. I’m not a big endorphins, elevated-heart-rate kind of girl. 

Who do you think would be perfect for The Traitors season two?

I think justice for Brandi. Brandi was gone too soon and the world deserved to see Brandi use her sleuth skills at optimal potential. Meghan King Edmonds from [The Real Housewives of] OC, she would be great. Let’s see, from [Real Housewives of] New York, I would love to see Sonja Morgan on anything and everything. I don’t care what the show is, just add Sonja Morgan for me.

Do you have one piece of advice for future cast members?

Trust no one, and go big or go home.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.