Austen Kroll

Austen Kroll
Birthplace	Washington, D.C., United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Television personality, entrepreneur
Known for	Southern Charm (Bravo)

Austen Kroll is an American television personality and entrepreneur best known for his role as a cast member on the Bravo reality television series Southern Charm, which chronicles the personal and professional lives of socialites residing in Charleston, South Carolina. Kroll joined the series during its fourth season in 2017 and has remained a prominent figure on the show through its eleventh season. Over the course of his tenure on the program, Kroll has become one of the series' most recognizable cast members, frequently appearing alongside fellow cast members Craig Conover and Shep Rose. Outside of television, Kroll has pursued entrepreneurial ventures in the craft beer industry, drawing on his background and interest in brewing. His on-screen romantic relationships and friendships have been central storylines across multiple seasons, contributing to his visibility in the Bravo television universe and in entertainment media more broadly.

Early Life

Austen Kroll was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. He later relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, where he became embedded in the city's social scene. Details regarding his family background and upbringing have been discussed in various episodes of Southern Charm, though comprehensive biographical information from his early years prior to his television career remains limited in published sources. Kroll's move to Charleston placed him within the cultural milieu that serves as the backdrop for the Bravo series, which focuses on Southern culture, the political history of the area, and the social dynamics of Charleston's elite.

Career

Southern Charm

Southern Charm premiered on Bravo on March 3, 2014, and was created to follow the personal and professional lives of several socialites in Charleston, South Carolina. The series highlights Southern culture and the political history of the region, featuring local historical landmarks such as Lewisfield Plantation and Mikell House. The show was part of a broader expansion of Bravo's reality programming slate, with the network announcing premiere dates for several new and returning series throughout 2014 and 2015.

Kroll joined the cast of Southern Charm during the show's fourth season, which aired in 2017. His arrival coincided with a period of expansion for the franchise, as Bravo was developing spinoff series including Southern Charm Savannah and a show featuring Shep Rose titled RelationShep. Variety reported on the broader Southern Charm franchise developments during this period, noting the greenlight for spinoff projects.

By the fifth season of Southern Charm, which premiered in 2018, Kroll had become an established member of the ensemble cast. The season marked a transitional period for the series, as original cast member Thomas Ravenel departed the show. The fifth season was reviewed by outlets including Vulture, which covered the premiere episode in detail. The show continued to be renewed alongside other Bravo programming such as Shahs of Sunset and Million Dollar Listing.

Throughout his time on the series, Kroll has maintained close on-screen friendships with fellow cast members Craig Conover and Shep Rose, and the three have frequently appeared together in promotional events and social gatherings tied to the Bravo network. In early 2025, Kroll, Conover, Rose, and members of the Southern Hospitality cast gathered for a premiere party celebrating the launch of Top Chef Season 23, illustrating the interconnected nature of Bravo's programming ecosystem and the social bonds among its reality television personalities.

Over the years, the cast composition of Southern Charm has shifted, with some members departing and new personalities joining. Cast members Naomie Olindo and Chelsea Meissner were reported to not be returning at various points, and Eliza Limehouse also departed the series. Amid these changes, Kroll remained a consistent presence, evolving from a newer addition to a central figure in the show's narrative.

Season 11 and Recent Developments

The eleventh season of Southern Charm aired in 2025 and featured Kroll prominently. A significant storyline during the season involved Kroll's relationship with Salley Carson, a fellow cast member. The nature of their connection became a topic of discussion both on the show and in associated media coverage. During the Season 11 reunion, hosted by Andy Cohen, Cohen directly addressed Kroll and Carson about their relationship status, putting them "in the hot seat" with pointed questions about the nature of their involvement.

In an exclusive interview on the Southern Charm After Show, Kroll and Carson provided a post-filming relationship update, revealing details about where they stood after the cameras stopped rolling. Carson herself spoke about the relationship in an interview with Elite Daily, stating that she believed if she and Kroll were dating, "it could be endgame," while also addressing other topics related to her experience on the show, including how she felt about being labeled "not a girl's girl."

The Season 11 reunion also addressed other cast dynamics, including the split between Craig Conover and Charley Manley, who clashed over differing accounts of why their romance ended. Conover stated, "I do not have the same explanation," underscoring tensions within the cast that played out alongside Kroll's own storylines.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Outside of his reality television career, Kroll has been involved in the craft beer industry. Based in Charleston, he has pursued brewing-related business ventures, which have occasionally been featured or referenced on Southern Charm. His entrepreneurial interests have been part of his on-screen persona, complementing the show's broader focus on the professional lives of its cast members alongside their social activities.

Broader Bravo Presence

Kroll's visibility has extended beyond Southern Charm into the broader Bravo television network. He has appeared at network events and has been part of the cross-promotional ecosystem that links various Bravo series. The franchise itself expanded to include Southern Charm New Orleans, which premiered with its own distinct cast and setting while drawing on the brand recognition of the original series. Kroll's participation in franchise-adjacent events, such as the Top Chef Season 23 premiere party alongside other Bravo cast members, reflects his position within the network's roster of recurring television personalities.

Personal Life

Kroll resides in Charleston, South Carolina. His romantic relationships have been a recurring subject on Southern Charm, with his involvement with various cast members and other individuals forming significant plotlines across multiple seasons. During Season 11, his relationship with Salley Carson drew particular media attention. Carson stated in an interview with Elite Daily that she believed a romantic relationship with Kroll could potentially be "endgame," indicating the seriousness with which both parties approached the connection. At the Season 11 reunion, Andy Cohen questioned Kroll and Carson directly about the status of their relationship, and the two later provided an update on the Southern Charm After Show.

Kroll maintains friendships with several of his co-stars, particularly Craig Conover and Shep Rose, with whom he frequently socializes both on and off camera. These relationships have been documented through the show as well as through their joint appearances at Bravo-affiliated events.

Recognition

As a long-running cast member of Southern Charm, Kroll has accumulated a significant media profile within the reality television landscape. The series itself has been covered by major entertainment outlets including People, Variety, Deadline Hollywood, Vulture, Us Magazine, and Elite Daily, among others. Kroll's storylines and personal developments have been the subject of numerous articles, interviews, and recap features across these publications.

The Southern Charm franchise, of which Kroll is a central part, has been a commercial success for Bravo, leading to multiple spinoff series including Southern Charm Savannah, Southern Charm New Orleans, and Southern Hospitality, as well as the related series RelationShep featuring Kroll's co-star Shep Rose. The show has been renewed consistently since its 2014 debut, with Bravo investing in its continuation alongside other flagship reality series.

Kroll's sustained presence on the show from Season 4 through Season 11 places him among the longest-serving cast members in the series' history, contributing to the franchise's continuity during a period that saw significant cast turnover.