Inside the cocktail of chaos for stars of Beauty and the Geek – as show pin-up Tamika Chesser is accused of killing and beheading her boyfriend

Tamika Chesser’s fall from reality TV favourite to accused killer has shocked the nation, but those behind the scenes say hit series Beauty and the Geek left many young stars struggling.

Chesser, 34, is accused of killing and decapitating her boyfriend Julian Story on June 17 before carrying his head in a bag to an unknown location and dumping it.

She has been charged with murder and is being held in James Nash House, a forensic mental health care facility.

Chesser, a former cocktail waitress, was thrust into the spotlight at the age of 19 when she appeared on series two of the Seven Network show in 2010. 

Hailed as a standout star, she was promised a chance at finding true love on the feel-good TV show as the Australian public cheered her on.

But when the cameras stopped rolling on the quirky challenges and scripted smiles, few were prepared for what came next.

Jordan Finlayson, another star on Beauty and the Geek, claims fellow contestants were gagged from speaking out for years, and left to deal with the crash from fame without fortune while rebuilding their lives as the spotlight moved on. 

It was after her stint on series three in 2011, that Finlayson, then 20, began her descent into toxic relationships and drugs.

Chesser, 34, is accused of killing and decapitating her boyfriend Julian Story in June before carrying his head in a bag to an unknown location and dumping it

At age 19, Chesser, a former cocktail waitress, was thrust into the spotlight in 2010 on series two of the Seven Network show

Julian Story was in a relationship with Chesser before his death 

Jordan Finlayson, another star on Beauty and the Geek, claims contestants were gagged from speaking out for years, left to deal with the crash from fame without fortune, and forced to rebuild their lives as the spotlight moved on

In 2020, she spent time in jail for drug supply, and in 2023 she was arrested for driving with ice in her system.

Finlayson has 11 convictions related to drug use on her record.

‘After the show, I had some incredible years dancing and cheerleading, modelling, travelling, and working in Ibiza,’ Finlayson told Daily Mail Australia.

‘But eventually, I spiralled and I made some really bad decisions.

‘I’m not blaming the show for my actions, but I do believe the experience contributed massively to my mental health struggles, which eventually led me to self-medicate.’

Finlayson said she tried to seek help when her life began to unravel, but had slid too far into paranoia.

‘There’s definitely a grieving period not just for the attention, but for the version of yourself you thought you’d get to keep being,’ Finlayson said.

‘I remember seeing a counsellor, and the first thing she said to me was, “You’re that girl from Beauty and the Geek.”

Finlayson has 11 convictions related to drug use on her record

It was after her stint on series three in 2011, Finlayson, then 20, began her descent into toxic relationships and drugs

‘I didn’t feel comfortable opening up after that. I didn’t believe she’d understand what I was going through, or that I could trust her not to tell people.’

The former NRL cheerleader also highlighted the restrictive nature of draconian post-show contracts that silenced contestants for years.

She said the wild side of recognition without reward left many contestants spiralling in private while maintaining a picture-perfect facade.

‘You’re in a contract where you can’t talk about the show and what goes on behind the scenes for 10 years, so you’re left with no choice but to deal with it alone,’ she said.

‘Adjusting back to a normal life isn’t just hard, it can feel crushing. The jobs feel smaller, your inbox is emptier, and your mental health quietly takes a hit.

‘If you say you’re struggling, people think you’re being dramatic or ungrateful and tell you, “you were lucky to be on TV.”

‘But they don’t see the emotional comedown, the loneliness, or the pressure to keep up appearances when you’re not okay inside.’

While Finlayson had never met Chesser in person, she says the pair did talk now and again after the show. 

The former NRL cheerleader also highlighted the restrictive nature of post-show draconian contracts that silenced them contestants for years

Police allege Chesser murdered Julian Story and later set fire to his body before placing his head in a bag and carrying it down the street as she walked dogs

Finlayson said she was horrified as the grisly details of Chesser’s alleged crime were made public.

Emergency services discovered the body of 39-year-old Story in a unit on the Flinders Highway in Port Lincoln on June 19.

Police allege Chesser murdered him and later set fire to his body before placing his head in a bag and carrying it down the street as she walked her dog.

His head is still missing.