Byron Baes: Sisters Jessica and Lauren Johansen-Bell vow to ignore haters

Sisters Jessica and Lauren Johansen-Bell, who star in the controversial new Netflix series Byron Baes, think the reality TV show will surprise viewers — in a good way.

The show has been shrouded in controversy since it was announced, protested by locals who slammed ‘influencers’ misrespresnting the region they hold so near. But Byron Baes stars Jessica and Lauren Johansen-Bell say the reality series is … well, just that.

The sisters — Jess, the owner of fashion label Johansen and Lauren a 28-year-old model — haven’t seen the final product which will be released on Netflix on Wednesday but say they don’t listen to the haters anyway.

“We had already made the decision to do the show — we were just trying to work out for ourselves if we wanted to jump into having this international recognition, which was kind of scary to us,” Jess, 26, says.

“That was more our concern.

“My partner said to me multiple times, ‘the town’s going to lose it over this’, but they often protest a lot of things so I wasn’t too concerned about that because I felt like the town would move on from it.

“It wasn’t going to be a life-threatening situation — people might be angry about it and then see it, and maybe not be angry.”

Jessica and Lauren Johansen-Bell star in Byron Baes. Picture: Danielle Smith

The sisters grew up in Byron Bay. Picture: Danielle Smith

Joining the Bell sisters is influencer Jade Kevin Foster, who has 1.2 million Instagram followers, spiritualistic therapist Simba Ali, Bachelorette contestant Nathan Favro and model Elias Chigros.

Then there’s philanthropist Elle Watson, influencer Hannah Brauer, Gold Coast singer Sarah Tangye, couple Dave Frim and Saskia Wotton, as well as Kyle Sandilands’ former assistant, Alex Reid.

It was a Netflix post labelling the show’s stars influencers that further attracted hate, as local businesses boycotted filming and thousands petitioned to stop the show.

“They are trying to reach an international audience, and the word ‘influencer’ is kind of a negative thing in this town but internationally, it’s not,” says Jess, whose fashion label shot to fame after being worn by Kylie Jenner.

“So I think that that was the reason it became a bit controversial here and everyone was really upset about it. Personally, Lauren and I haven’t received any backlash or hate on our socials, everyone we’ve spoken to is so excited. Whereas you look on social media and people are so aggressive … but we are literally on the ground and no one’s saying anything to us.”

From left: Jessica Johansen-Bell, Lauren Johansen-Bell and Jade Kevin Foster in one of the Byron Baes episodes. Picture: Paul A. Broben/Netflix

Lauren says despite the push and pull between Byron ‘old and new’, it was important having job opportunities in Byron Bay, seeing people flock to the region which has experienced such significant growth over the past 10 years.

“There’s a lot of work around here now, and obviously the Netflix show was an amazing opportunity — and to be able to live in the most beautiful spot in the world and be able to work full time in this industry, we’re just so lucky,” she says.

“Byron is a town of healing. People used to come here to heal, there is a special energy about Byron … there are a lot of spiritual journeys happening here.”

Lauren Johansen-Bell is a model. Picture: Danielle Smith

Jess agrees it is a different place to the beach town they were raised in but interestingly, they love it just as much.

“The traffic is a bit annoying, but Byron has always been crowded in summer. I remember being 14 years old and Schoolies was like a really hated thing in Byron because they’d come in, trash the town and all the locals would be cleaning it up,” she says.

“And of course, Byron has changed a lot … growing up, we were on the beach on boogie boards every day and now you have major celebrities living here and these $20 million houses — it’s crazy.

“I personally love the changes because it’s like we got the best of both worlds in our life.

“And I guess that’s maybe a little bit selfish to say, but we grew up with it not being as crazy as it is now, we got to live out the childhood dream of living in Byron.

“Like no shoes. Growing up in Bryon, it was always no shoes … we were just like little beach kids.”

Jessica Johansen-Bell believes viewers will like the new reality show. Picture: Danielle Smith

While Byron Baes paints the town as one big Instagrammable moment filled with yoga on the beach, crystals and sound healing sessions at parties by the pool, the sisters say there is a big difference between real life and what people perceive as ‘the real Byron’.

Sound healing sessions and all, Lauren says the show is “so real it’s crazy”.

At the time of speaking to Insider though, Byron is far from the picture perfect beach town it’s loved for. A sobering time for the famed coastline, floods have ravaged the area, with locals evacuated, power turned off and the community coming together to help whoever they can.

“The weather is so full on. Our dad lives on a catamaran and it’s sinking,” Lauren explains.

“We had to get a dingy and go pick him up and deliver him fresh clothes. It’s so sad.

“He lost his car and another boat — they’re just gone.”

The floods have put life in perspective and any negativity attracted by the controversial show will be set aside. They’re even crossing their fingers for a second season.

“I think people will love the show — but a lot of people also love to hate,” Jess says.

“People don’t like change in this town. You just can’t let the hate ruin your vision and that’s what I’ve said to the cast when they’ve been feeling a bit uneasy. Do what makes you happy. It’s not going to make everyone else happy and that’s okay.”

Byron Baes will premiere on Netflix on March 9.

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