Rachel Kolisi - The Powerhouse Ex-WAG Who Didn't Get a Happy Ending
- Siya Kolisi and Rachel announced their mutual decision to end their marriage after eight years
- The couple tied the knot in 2016 and have raised their two children and Siya's two siblings together
- Briefly News takes a look at their relationship and who Rachel is other than the Springboks rugby player's soon-to-be ex-wife
South Africans have been left heartbroken following news of the Kolisis' divorce on 22 October. The couple posted a joint statement announcing the end of their marriage and it sent shockwaves through social media.
While it was Siya who led the country into victory in the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups, his soon-to-be ex-wife has become a powerhouse in her own right.
Briefly News look at the 34-year-old mother's life, career and relationship.
Siya and Rachel’s love story
Mr and Mrs Kolisi serve up major relationship goals on a regular basis. But it was not love at first sight. Rachel revealed in a Q&A with her Instagram followers that she “friend-zoned” Siya after they first met at a dinner party in Stellenbosch in 2012.
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Siya knew he liked Rachel and apparently, he is a man who goes after what he wants. However, Rachel said things got “awkward” when the Springbok captain told her he liked her.
Source: Instagram
Writing on their wedding website, Siya said:
“I knew I liked her and had to tell her. It was scary. I asked her to lunch and that’s when I told her. She played hard to get in the beginning, but eventually admitted it as well. The rest is history. We have a beautiful family and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with her.”
Siya and Rachel are raising four children together: their biological children Nicolas and Keziah, as well as Siya’s siblings Liyema and Liphelo.
When did Siya Kolisi and Rachel get married?
The couple tied the knot in August 2016, after Kolisi popped the question during a romantic helicopter ride over the Mother City. It is safe to say the couple was high on love.
But their love story was not all sunshine and roses. Every fairy tale needs an evil witch or stepmother who tries to keep the prince and princess apart. In the Kolisis’ story the villain wasn’t a person per say, but an outdated mindset that rears its ugly head so very often. Racism. Even after 27 years of democracy, there are those who are yet to see past skin colour; and the Kolisis know firsthand how mean people can be towards interracial couples.
Source: Instagram
In 2016, the beautiful mother of four shut down racist who made nasty remarks about their marriage. In a report by News24, Rachel was quoted saying:
“When I see stuff like that, I feel sorry for them. If that is what ruins your day when you wake up, out of all the things going on in the world, I feel bad for you.”
Siya and Rachel do not let the haters get them down and if their social media posts are anything to go by, their relationship is stronger than ever.
The couple often shares videos and photos, giving South Africans a glimpse into their lives. From Siya teaching Rachel some dance moves to sharing unflattering photos of one another, they really know how to keep things fun in their relationship.
More than Mrs Kolisi
The country got to know Rachel as the wife of Siya Kolisi – the man who made history when he became the first black rugby captain to lead his team to victory in a World Cup.
However, Rachel is more than the wife of a rugby hero. And although we admire how she shamelessly throws hand signs at referees when she does not agree with their decisions (yup, we’re talking about that viral RWC moment), we have to admit that she is a champion in her own right.
Rachel is not a ‘Wag’ or a trophy wife and she had to work hard to survive from her very first breath. In an interview with Good Housekeeping South Africa in 2020, Rachel revealed she did not breathe when she was born and ended up struggling with her health throughout her childhood.
Add her parents divorce, a near fatal bus accident and struggling in school and it is easy to see that Rachel did not have everything handed to her.
Her poor grades saw Rachel not going to university and she told her followers that she worked four or five jobs at once to make ends meet.
Clearly the momma has come a long way since the days she could only afford the R50 Stormers tickets to support her hubby.
In the past couple of years, Rachel became a business owner, humanitarian, Co-Founder of the Kolisi Foundation and Co-Founder of Rise. She’s making boss moves and Mzansi is here for it.
Caring for the less privileged
For years Rachel spearheaded projects to help those in need in South Africa. Her work as a humanitarian has laid the foundation for the work she and her husband do with their organisation.
During the lockdown, the couple went the extra mile to help families survive the pandemic.
Source: Instagram
Advocating body positivity
In a world that promotes an unrealistic view of what the female body should look like, women like Rachel are becoming more important.
Her makeup-free selfies, sweaty gym videos and muffin-top photos have given women in South Africa hope.
The mom of four often motivates other ladies on social media with her body positivity posts. Although Rachel advocates a healthy lifestyle, she pushes women to accept the bodies they are in, no matter the shape or size.
In an Instagram post during lockdown, Rachel wrote:
“Some lock down honesty. This is where I am currently. I went into lock down feeling like I could keep up with the training and eating well, but obviously that wasn’t the case.
“Recently a lady told me she put on so much weight in lock down she’s not going to visit friends until she looses the weight - that shook me.
“There’s so much pressure on women to have it altogether all the time with the unrealistic demands society places on us that’s close to impossible.
“Important to know this is what some people’s normal looks like - and I’m not ashamed. I’m irritated I didn’t have more discipline and maintain a good thing instead of having to start again.”
Most recently, Rachel posted a fresh face selfie to call out a company that told her to wear more makeup.
She wrote: “I recently pulled myself off a campaign because the brand requested ‘I have a more professional look and wear make-up’. I think girls who get up and spend time putting make up on are beautiful! I think girls who wake up and don’t put make up on are beautiful too! In a world where, a lot of people are trying to be something they’re not, be you. We need more of that.”
With over 555 000 followers on Instagram alone, Rachel surely has a big enough platform to inspire other women.
However, even though she appears confident and in control online, Rachel admitted that she’s an introvert.
The mommy said she struggles being in a crowded room, especially when all eyes are on her.
Rachel Kolisi's clapbacks resurface amid divorce drama
Siya and Rachel Kolisi's divorce has sent shockwaves through South African social media. As fans grapple with the news, South Africans have revisited Rachel's famous clapbacks from 2018, when she fearlessly addressed women who were thirsting over her husband.
With Siya's rising fame as the Springboks' first black captain, he became a target for many women who sought his attention. Rachel, however, was not afraid to put them in their place. In response to one woman who described Siya as "a type," Rachel swiftly reminded her that he was a married man with four children.
She also publicly called out a female celebrity who encouraged her friend to pursue Siya. The identity of the celebrity was later revealed to be Lorna Maseko.
In another incident, Rachel reportedly confronted a model she suspected of sending inappropriate messages to her husband, only to discover that it was Siya who had initiated the contact. The embarrassing revelation added another layer of drama to their already tumultuous relationship.
Woman makes allegations against Siya Kolisi
Siya Kolisi's name popped up on a rather unflattering TikTok video days before his joint divorce announcement with Rachel.
A TikTok user, @shihundla, posted a video listing several local male celebrities who were allegedly unfaithful to their partners. Siya Kolisi was among the names mentioned. The video was uploaded just a week before the couple's divorce news became public.
In the comments section, @shihundla claimed that Siya was "allegedly in some girl's DMs."
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Source: Briefly News
