Chelsea Meissner Reveals the Real Reason She Left Southern Charm

Chelsea Meissner was once a fiery fixture on “Southern Charm.” But she exited the Bravo hit after season six in 2019, and she’s been living a low-key life ever since. Now a single mom to a toddler daughter, the South Carolina native recently appeared in her first-ever Instagram Q&A, and she revealed why she stepped away from the Charleston spotlight. Here’s the scoop on why she left and what she’s up to now.

The New Zealand Dream That Changed Everything for Chelsea Meissner

During the Q&A via an Instagram Story, Meissner dropped a bombshell about her “Southern Charm” departure. She explained that it wasn’t burnout, it was wanderlust. 

“I had plans to move to New Zealand for a year, so I chose that opportunity over the show,” she said, while keeping the details of those plans mysteriously vague. 

The Kiwi adventure ended up falling apart, but the break from filming turned into an unexpected gift.

“Those plans fell through, but the time off the show made me realize how much I enjoyed my peace and privacy,” she added. “It was fun while it lasted.” 

After three seasons of stirring the pot (and a “Survivor” runner-up stint in 2014), Meissner found her bliss off-screen. She decided to swap Charleston chaos for a quieter coastal vibe.

The ‘Southern Charm’ Star Chooses Motherhood Over the TV spotlight

Since welcoming her daughter in 2023, Meissner’s focus has shifted hard to mom life. This is the main reason why she’s kept the cameras at bay. She has made privacy and safety such a priority that she won’t even post pics of her 18-month-old, much less share any details about her. 

She gushed about the joys and jolts of solo parenting, saying, “I feel physical pain when I’m away from my girl. She’s ALL I need in life.” Meissner added that her mom was living with her, and described her as a “Godsend” co-parent. Now, her days are a whirlwind of toddler duties, which leaves little room for the reality TV grind. 

“My day-to-day life is boring as hell,” she claimed.

The former Bravolebrity also made it clear that she was single, then jokingly claimed she had an “imaginary” boyfriend before waving off dating questions with a laugh.

“I’m a 40-year-old single mother. If it were me, I’d cancel and find a good movie,” she said.

Chelsea Meissner Is Still Tight With Her ‘Southern Charm’ Pals

Meissner may have ditched “Southern Charm,” but not her Charleston crew. She’s still close with alums Cameran Eubanks Wimberly and Naomi Olindo, and she shared a snap from an April 2024 reunion while teasing a girl’s trip that is taking place this month.

“Cam is my daughter’s godmother,” she noted.

As for TV, she’s not ruling it out completely, but there will be no more “Southern Charm” for Meissner. Her home renovation show pitch fizzled, and the toll that “Survivor” took on her health (think colon scares and hair loss) left her wary. 

But Peacock’s “The Traitors” or “Deal or No Deal Island?” Those shows are more up her alley. 

“Now that’s a show I would consider… but they would probably eat me alive,” she mused. 

Tell us! Do you want to see Chelsea Meissner back on reality TV? Let us know in the comments below.