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 appearing on the Bravo reality series Southern Charm, which follows the personal and professional lives of socialites in Charleston, South Carolina. He joined the cast during Season 4 in 2017 and has remained with the show through Season 11. Alongside fellow cast members Craig Conover and Shep Rose, Kroll has become one of the show's most recognizable and longest-tenured faces. Beyond television, he has pursued entrepreneurial work in craft beer through his Charleston-based brand Kings Calling Brewing Co. His on-screen romances — including relationships with Madison LeCroy and Olivia Flowers, and more recently a connection with Salley Carson — have driven major storylines across multiple seasons.

Early Life

Austen Kroll was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area before relocating to Charleston, South Carolina, where he became embedded in the city's social scene. While episodes of Southern Charm have touched on his upbringing and family, detailed published biographical information from his years prior to television remains limited. His mother, Wendy Kroll, has appeared in the context of the series; in one notable Season 11 moment, Kroll opened up to her about doubts regarding his romantic future, asking aloud, "What if I'm not destined to have a family?" His relocation to Charleston placed him squarely in the cultural milieu that serves as the backdrop for the Bravo series, which explores Southern culture, the region's political history, and the social dynamics of Charleston's elite.

Career

Southern Charm

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

Kroll joined Southern Charm during Season 4, which aired in 2017. His arrival came as Bravo was simultaneously developing spinoff series including Southern Charm Savannah and RelationShep, the latter featuring Shep Rose. Variety covered the broader Southern Charm franchise developments during this period, noting the greenlight for spinoff projects.

By Season 5, which premiered in 2018, Kroll had firmly established himself within the ensemble cast. That season marked a significant transition for the series, as original cast member Thomas Ravenel departed the show following off-screen controversy. Vulture reviewed the premiere episode in detail, covering the changes the cast was navigating. The show continued to be renewed alongside other Bravo programming such as Shahs of Sunset and Million Dollar Listing.

A major recurring storyline across several seasons involved Kroll's on-again, off-again relationship with cast member Madison LeCroy. Their dynamic — marked by repeated breakups and reconciliations played out largely on screen — was among the show's most discussed plotlines during Seasons 6 and 7. Later, Kroll's relationship with cast member Olivia Flowers became a central arc in Seasons 9 and 10. His most recent on-screen romantic storyline, with Salley Carson, emerged in Season 11. In a separate development during Season 11, Kroll also addressed the end of his relationship with Audrey Pratt, shedding new light on the circumstances of their split during the Southern Charm after show.

Throughout his tenure, Kroll has maintained close friendships with Craig Conover and Shep Rose, the three of whom frequently appear together at promotional events and social gatherings tied to Bravo. In early 2025, Kroll, Conover, Rose, and members of the Southern Hospitality cast gathered for a premiere party celebrating Top Chef Season 23, illustrating the interconnected nature of Bravo's programming ecosystem and the social bonds among its recurring personalities. The three also appeared together on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, where Kroll and Conover weighed in on which of their co-stars they felt was most ready for a serious relationship.

Cast composition shifted considerably across the show's run. Naomie Olindo and Chelsea Meissner departed at various points, as did Eliza Limehouse. Through these changes, Kroll remained a constant presence, evolving from a newer addition into one of the show's central figures.

Season 11 and Recent Developments

Season 11, which aired in 2025, featured Kroll prominently. A significant storyline involved his developing connection with fellow cast member Salley Carson. Both on screen and in media coverage, their relationship became a focal topic throughout the season. At the Season 11 reunion, host Andy Cohen placed Kroll and Carson "in the hot seat," pressing them with pointed questions about the nature of their involvement.

The two provided a post-filming update exclusively on the Southern Charm After Show, revealing where things stood once cameras stopped rolling. Carson also spoke to Elite Daily about the relationship, saying that if she and Kroll were dating, "it could be endgame," while addressing criticism she received during the season, including pushback against being labeled "not a girl's girl." Us Weekly also covered the pair as they discussed the season's developments and addressed ongoing speculation about the status of their relationship.

Following Season 11's conclusion, Kroll shared updates on his life off camera, discussing his cats, his family relationships, and his outlook on friendships in an interview with Bravo's The Daily Dish.

The reunion also addressed other cast drama. Craig Conover and Charley Manley clashed over conflicting accounts of why their romance ended, with Conover stating, "I do not have the same explanation," underscoring tensions within the cast that played out alongside Kroll's own storylines.

Kings Calling Brewing Co.

Beyond reality television, Kroll founded Kings Calling Brewing Co., a craft beer brand based in Charleston, South Carolina. The venture grew out of his longstanding interest in brewing and has become a recognized part of his public identity. The brand and Kroll's involvement in the craft beer industry have been referenced and featured across multiple seasons of Southern Charm, weaving his entrepreneurial pursuits into his on-screen narrative. His work with Kings Calling reflects a broader pattern among Southern Charm cast members of building businesses that intersect with and are amplified by their television visibility.

Broader Bravo Presence

Kroll's visibility extends beyond Southern Charm into the wider Bravo network. He participates in the cross-promotional ecosystem linking various Bravo series and appears at network events alongside cast members from other franchises. The Southern Charm brand itself expanded to include Southern Charm New Orleans, which premiered with its own distinct cast and setting while leveraging the recognition of the original series. His participation in franchise-adjacent events, such as the Top Chef Season 23 premiere party alongside other Bravo cast members, reflects his established position within the network's recurring roster of television personalities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shep, Austen, Craig & Southern Hospitality