Rachel Kolisi’s bio: Age, maiden name, children, husband, wedding
Rachel Kolisi is a South African fitness instructor and social media influencer. She is also a former marketing executive and event manager. To most people, Rachel is known as the wife of Siyamthanda ‘Siya’ Kolisi, one of the most prolific rugby players in South Africa and the current national rugby team captain.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Rachel rose to prominence following her hugely publicized dating and eventual marriage to Siya. Here is a glance at her life’s details.
Profile summary
| Full name | Rachel Smith Kolisi |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 2 June 1990 |
| Rachel Kolisi's age | 34 years (as of 2024) |
| Zodiac | Gemini |
| Place of birth | Grahamstown, South Africa |
| Current residence | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Religion | Christian |
| Orientation | Straight |
| Height | 5'5" (167 cm) |
| Weight | 121 lbs (55 kgs) |
| Body measurements | 35-24-36 inches (88-60-91 cm) |
| Eye colour | Blue |
| Hair colour | Blonde |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Ex-husband | Siyamthanda ‘Siya’ Kolisi |
| Children | 4 (2 biological and 2 adopted) |
| Net worth | $250k-$350k |
| @rachelkolisi | |
| TikTok | @rachelkolisi |
| Rachel Kolisi |
Rachel Kolisi’s bio
The renowned fitness trainer was born on June 2, 1990. Rachel Kolisi's age is 34 years as of 2024. She was born and raised in Grahamstown, a small town in South Africa.
Rachel Kolisi's brother, Joel Smith, is a sports agent married to retired swimmer Tatjana Smith. She also has three sisters who resemble her. One of her sisters, Hannah Tagicakibau, is a human resources executive married to New Zealand-born rugby player Sailosi Tagicakibua.
Her other sisters are Tabitha Parkin, an interior designer in Cape Town, and Sarah Kispert, who resides in the United States.
Who are Rachel Kolisi's parents?
Rachel’s parents are Deborah Jamieson and Clive Smith. They divorced when she was a teenager. While Clive stayed in South Africa, her mother moved to New Zealand. In a 2021 interview on the Mpoomy Ledwaba podcast, Rachel opened up about the challenges of her parents' separation, sharing:
I know everyone in their teenage years has their own struggles. Mine were because of my parents’ divorce, and we were all involved in that process and dragged in the middle of it a lot. My parents’ divorce was really challenging; I lost my way so much and found myself in unhealthy friendship circles.
They would be like, ‘If you’re having a bad day, let’s have a drink or a smoke,’ and that’s the environment I found myself in, and it just spirals. Depression does that. I was in a hole, and I just wished that someone would drop down a ladder or a rope. At 15, I tried to take my own life. I spent two to three years cutting myself and crying for help but not finding it.
Education
After completing her primary school education at a local institution, Rachel and her family relocated to Cape Town. He finished secondary school and joined a university to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Event Management.
In January 2022, Rachel returned to school to fulfil her lifelong dreams and find the perfect life balance.
Source: Original
Career
Rachel started her career as a marketing executive at a firm based in Cape Town. Later, she switched careers and worked as a professional events manager. She resigned from her event management role when she married Siya Kolisi.
A short while after her marriage to Siya in 2016, Rachel co-founded the Rise program alongside her friend Tammy Rawstro. Rise is a five-week fitness program designed to challenge and transform women in their weight reduction journeys. Rachel said this about the program.
Just before I met Tam, I had posted a picture of myself at about four months post-partum after my second child. My body was looking terrible and I was trying really hard to go to the gym and get healthy again, but at the same time was so conscious of what I looked like that I would cover myself in baggy gym clothes or not perform exercises correctly because I was worried that my arms would look flabby or my stomach would stick out.
I started noticing that my friends were experiencing the same thing in the gym, and I decided that I no longer wanted to be a part of this idea that you’re not good enough because your body is not perfect enough or that you’re not acceptable to society because you don’t look a certain way.
Who sets that standard? Who decides those things? I think it comes from a place of what we are fed on social media and what a problem that actually is and what we’re exposing ourselves to.
Why did Rachel Kolisi leave Rise?
While there had been rumours that the renowned fitness instructor had left the program, an interview by the Wellness Fingerprint showed otherwise.
Rachel stated that the program had grown so big that it was trickier to fit it into her schedule. She pointed out one of the biggest issues as having to leave her kids behind when she and Siya were away.
Who is Rachel Kolisi married to?
Rachel was the wife of Siyamthanda ‘Siya’ Kolisi, one of the most popular rugby players in South Africa. Rachel first met the renowned rugby player in Stellenbosch via a mutual friend. Soon after the meeting, the two fell in love and started dating. The couple’s wedding was held in 2016.
Why are the Kolisis divorcing?
On 22 October 2024, Siya and Rachel Kolisi announced their decision to divorce. The couple shared a joint statement on social media, emphasizing that their decision came after careful thought and mutual respect.
They expressed gratitude for the love and support from their followers and requested privacy as they navigate this transition. The statement read:
We wanted to share some important news with you. After much reflection and open conversations, we have mutually decided to end our marriage. The decision comes from a place of love, respect and understanding that this is the best path forward for both of us.
While our relationship as a couple is changing, we remain great friends and committed partners in raising our children with the same love and care they've always known. We will also continue working together on the Foundation that means so much to us.
We are grateful for the love, understanding and support you've shown us, and we kindly ask you to respect as we navigate this transition. With gratitude and love, Siya and Rachel.
As news of Siya and Rachel Kolisi’s divorce trends on social media, Rachel’s remarks from her recent appearance on The African CEO podcast have resurfaced.
In the episode, titled Rachel Kolisi: How To Lead Your Own Life, listeners noted that her comments seemed to touch on relationship challenges. She spoke about the struggles of Siya's busy rugby schedule. She said on the podcast:
From the beginning, you know, we have always had situations of him being away for one, two, three, four months at a time and you learn to kind of live with that. I have friends whose husband will travel for three days and then (they say to me) I don't know how the heck you do this, this is insane.
You just get so used to it and so yeah, you kind of just get on with life and I mean, there’s so much access over the phone that's been made a lot easier now to stay connected.
She also mentioned that Siya often seemed distracted when he was with her and his family.
It’s like a pet peeve for me, it's like when people are with one another like at a dinner or something and someone’s on their phone, like it's just an absolute no-no for me. It's just something that I cannot stand.
I'm like, if you are going to take the time, then be there, you know, be there, be present and there. There's so much nonsense … I think that that is just the most inappropriate and the most disrespectful thing people can do is just to be on their phone.
She added, stating how important it is to make time for people and be fully present when they need you.
It's different if you, you know, there's something really important that’s coming or an emergency with the kids or you trying to sort something out, that's a completely different situation but to sit and be like on Instagram when you’re with people and that like just works on my nerves.
I just think the time that you do make for people, make sure that you’re fully present because that goes a long way with people, just making them feel like they've got your full attention, your mind is nowhere else, your eyes are nowhere else, they've just got you, that can last you a good few months.
How many kids does Rachel Kolisi have?
Rachel and ex her husband have two biological children and two adopted kids. The two adopted children are Siya’s siblings, Liphelo and Liyema, who were adopted after her mother's death.
Rachel and ex her husband have two biological children and two adopted children. The two adopted children are Siya’s siblings, Liphelo and Liyema, who were adopted after her mother's death.
The ex-couple has two biological children. Their first child, Nicholas Siyamthanda, was born in 2015, and their second child, Keziah Kolisi, was born in 2018.
Rachel Kolisi's height and weight
Rachel is 5 feet 5 inches (167 centimetres) tall and weighs 121 pounds (55 kilograms). She has blonde hair and blue eyes. Her body measures 35-24-36 inches (88-60-91 cm) at the bust, waist, and hips.
Why has Rachel Kolisi moved to France?
The Kolisi family relocated to Paris when Siya Kolisi joined the French rugby club Racing 92. Rachel shared a video of herself packing and wrote:
And thats a wrap in Paris ❤️🇫🇷. Gave myself 3 days to pack up our home here - very wild. But it’s done. This is my 4th move in 18 months - so I’ve gotten good at it 😅. Incredibly grateful for the small but very solid group of friends made here. This week has been a roller coaster of emotions but grateful for every call and message of encouragement and support! Excited for the next chapter and whatever my good God has in store for me.
The Kolisi family’s move back to South Africa coincides with Siya Kolisi’s return to The Sharks. The Durban-based rugby team confirmed on 9 September that Kolisi would rejoin them, ending his time with Racing 92.
In a statement, The Sharks’ Director of Rugby, Neil Powell, commended Siya’s leadership and impact, saying:
Siya is an influential player, whose leadership and passion is known and celebrated across the globe. We are glad that he has chosen to return to Durban and don the black and white jersey once again.
Siya also shared his thoughts on the decision to return home, saying:
My family and I have enjoyed a wonderful year abroad that has given us cherished memories. We have missed South Africa though, and it is time to come home. I would like to thank Racing 92 for accommodating my request to return home and for the exciting opportunity they gave me to play abroad.
Fast facts
- She is one year older than her husband, who was born on 16 June 1991.
- She enjoys working out and does so almost daily.
- She has attended numerous talk shows related to her fitness program, Rise.
FAQs
- Who is Rachel Kolisi? She is a South African businesswoman and philanthropist, best known as the ex-wife of Siya Kolisi. She co-founded the Kolisi Foundation with Siya.
- How old is Rachel Kolisi? The South African fitness instructor was born on January 2, 1990, making her 34 years old as of 2024.
- What is Rachel Kolisi's maiden name? Rachel Kolisi's maiden name is Rachel Smith.
- What is Rachel Kolisi's nationality? She is a South African national.
- What is Rachel Kolisi's net worth? Her net worth is not publicly detailed. However, she and Siya have a combined substantial income from their various endeavors, including sports, endorsements, and the Kolisi Foundation.
- Was Rachel Kolisi married before? No, Rachel Kolisi was not married before Siya Kolisi.
- Does Siya Kolisi have adopted children? Siya Kolisi adopted his younger siblings, Liyema and Liphelo, after they lost their mother when he was young.
Rachel Kolisi is best known for her relationship with Siyamthanda ‘Siya’ Kolisi. Still, she has quite a lot going on for her besides her high-profile marriage, including a hugely successful fitness program.
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Source: Briefly News
Peris Walubengo (Lifestyle writer) Peris Walubengo is a content creator with 5 years of experience writing articles, researching, editing, and proofreading. She has a Bachelor of Commerce & IT from the University of Nairobi and joined Briefly.co.za in November 2019. The writer completed a Google News Initiate Course. She covers bios, marketing & finance, tech, fashion & beauty, recipes, movies & gaming reviews, culture & travel. You can email her at perisrodah254@gmail.com.
Jackline Wangare (Lifestyle writer) Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Briefly.co.za, where she has worked since mid-2021. She tackles diverse topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University. She has more than five years in writing. Jackline graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (2019) and a Diploma in Marketing (2015) from Kenyatta University. In 2023, Jackline finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and Google News Initiative course in 2024. Email: simwajackie2022@gmail.com.
