Captain Sandy Yawn Responds to Fans Questioning Malia White's Qualifications as Bosun

Below Deck Mediterranean Season 5 is about to make Below Deck history — or "herstory," as Captain Sandy Yawn put it on Twitter. For the first time ever, the captain, chief stew, and bosun will all be female.

That is thanks to the return of Malia White, who will be serving as bosun when Below Deck Med returns for Season 5 on Monday, June 1 at 9/8c. When we first met Malia back in Season 2, she worked as a deckhand, so now she will be "challenged with more responsibilities" in her new role this season, according to her bio on BravoTV.com.

However, some fans on Twitter are questioning Malia's qualifications for the job given that the last time we saw her on Below Deck Med she was in a more junior role. Luckily, Captain Sandy has her bosun's back, and she was ready to step in to confirm that Malia was beyond ready for the position this season. "After [Season 2], Malia continued in her maritime career and got her [captain's] license and worked many charter seasons," the Below Deck Med boss tweeted on April 27.

Indeed, Malia has gained a lot of experience on super yachts since the last time she was on Below Deck Med, working her way up the ranks. "Known for being involved in a heartbreaking love triangle in the past, her triumphant return is marked with more experience as she continues to climb the ranks," Malia's bio on BravoTV.com reads. "Malia is more ready than ever to jump in and assert herself in her new leadership role. Comfortable in warm waters, she is blunt, outspoken, and quick to speak her mind."

It looks like Malia's own deck team will question her authority this season, even calling her "sweetheart" instead of boss at one point. But you best believe this bosun is ready to lay down the law. "You've got a female bosun, a female captain, a female chief stew," Malia says in the above trailer for the new season of Below Deck Med. "Respect that."

Malia has also gotten two big thumbs up from Below Deck Med Season 4 bosun João Franco. "Badass of the sea is back in action!! @CaptSandyYawn! I’m so happy Malia is the bosun too!! I’m sure she will rock it!!" João recently tweeted. "All the best!!"

João, who also knows Season 5 deckhands Alex Radcliffe and Robert Westergaard from the yachting industry, said in another tweet that fans should be excited to see how much Malia has advanced in her career since we last saw her on Below Deck Med. "I am very sure many people said a similar thing about me before I came back and I was grateful to have been given a chance to show my growth as a person who learnt a few things along my journey," he recently tweeted to a fan. "I hope you can give her a chance too."

Want more Below Deck Med? Catch up the first four seasons through the Bravo app.

Take a tour of Season 5's also-history-making new yacht, The Wellington, below.

Tour Below Deck Mediterranean Season 5's Yacht, The Wellington