Who Is Rachel Hollis' Boyfriend Cez Darke?

Self-help author, motivational speaker, and podcaster Rachel Hollis has had a tumultuous career in recent years. After her (since deleted) online video triggered a huge backlash in April 2021 — in which she compared herself to Harriet Tubman — Hollis' scandals seemed to only snowball. Professional and personal woes co-mingled as her marriage to former Disney executive Dave Hollis fell through in June 2020. This came as a surprise to fans who had attended her 2018 couple's conference "Rise Together."

Though split, the former couple was co-parenting until tragedy struck. Dave died on February 11, 2023. Hollis' existing relationship with her ex-husband left her shocked and "devastated" at the news. "I have no words and my heart is too broken to find them," the "Girl, Wash Your Face" author posted on Instagram. After her ex-husband's passing, attention turned toward Rachel Hollis' boyfriend, Cez Darke, who surely comforted her during the trying time. It seems that Darke provided some respite from the professional and personal rollercoaster Hollis found herself on since rising to fame, and the couple is still going strong today.

More than a year after posting the news that she and Dave Hollis had split, Rachel Hollis soft-launched her boyfriend Cez Darke on Instagram in July 2021. Though his face was covered and he wasn't officially tagged, the heart emoji in the caption and signature curls seem to indicate that this is the first time Darke appeared on Hollis' page, according to Hollis' followers and social media snoops on Reddit.

"I am pretty sure it's Cez Darke," said one Reddit user who had done some investigation on social media pages. "He has big curly hair like that. A lot of people on her post seemed to think for some reason that it's her brother and there was some date significance but I don't think. On Cez's Instagram, he has a post from NY and there's one photo of him at the end. Once you see that photo, it's pretty clear that Rachel's photo was him (in my opinion anyway.)" In October 2021, Rachel posted a clearer photo of herself and Darke at a birthday celebration. Though she hadn't yet officially identified Darke as her boyfriend, the picture shows that the two had a natural chemistry (find someone who looks at you like Darke looks at Hollis in that pic).

The Austin-based writer found herself in love with a man from across the Atlantic. On May 23, 2022, Rachel Hollis posted a celebratory Instagram photo wishing Cez Darke a happy birthday, revealing that he is British. "Happy Birthday to my favorite Brit!" Hollis wrote. "Actually . . . I forgot about Maggie Smith. She's an icon," Hollis added. "Happy birthday to my second favorite Brit!" Clearly, the two know how to poke fun at one another.

Per his LinkedIn and Twitter, Darke is based out of the United Kingdom. However, his extensive experience in the music and touring industry has made him a keen traveler. A graduate of Hollyfield School, Darke studied English language and literature, geography, and politics. He broke into the music industry as a tour manager in 2006 and has since worked with stars like Robert Plant and Rita Ora. But Darke isn't just Hollis' second favorite Brit. After connecting some dots, many fans have suspected him of being the mystery beau she had hinted at as her "second first kiss" in a video posted to YouTube. Light-hearted and with a relationship full of jokes, the two appear to be each other's jesters.

A quick scroll through Cez Darke's Instagram will reveal that he and Canadian pop singer Shawn Mendes have been friends and co-workers for some time. As Mendes' tour manager, Darke accompanied the star from stadium to stadium. "I've made so many new friends this year, seen so many new places, had the insane fortune of working with the best bunch of people anyone could hope for and had a whole lot of fun. What a way to wrap up the decade" he wrote in 2019, reminiscing at the end of Shawn Mendes's The Tour.

Darke praised his friend and creative partner, writing, "Watching @shawnmendes walk off stage and look back in to the stadium with a look of sheer bewilderment will be forever burned into my memory. He belongs in that setting. He deserves to be there, and he's backed up by the most incredible team that will keep him there and take him further still," per Instagram. In addition to Shawn Mendes, Rita Ora, and Jessie J, Darke has an extensive portfolio working alongside musicians like The Saturdays, The Wanted, and Deep Purple. Like his girlfriend Rachel Hollis, he has an impressive and demanding career. Nonetheless, he seems dedicated to prioritizing his "love" as noted in a January 9 Instagram post for Hollis' birthday: "I can't wait to share so many more laughs and adventures with you."

In March 2024, Rachel Hollis and Cez Darke took their relationship to the next level. Darke posted a selfie of him next to Hollis who was showing off her ring to Instagram. "Wonderful things happen in the mountains," he captioned the photo, adding, "My love," with a heart emoji. Hollis shared the same photo and wrote, "Guys! The coolest thing happened on our ski trip." The pair was clearly over the moon to get engaged, and they didn't waste much time going from "Will you?" to "I do."

Hollis and Darke kicked off 2025 with lots of love. On January 2, less than a year after announcing their engagement, Darke took to Instagram to gush about his low-key winter wedding. "The happiest new year... Sending love to you all," he wrote alongside a carousel of photos of him and Hollis on their big day. Hollis also shared a carousel of photos from their nuptials with the caption, "Happy New Year." 

Darke also appeared on the January 2 episode of "The Rachel Hollis Podcast" for an episode aptly named "I'm Married!! An interview with Cez." The couple talked about becoming a blended family and the early stages of their relationship. Darke revealed to Hollis that not long into knowing her, "I knew that I liked hanging out with you for lots and lots of hours." Clearly, these two love birds are ready to enjoy a lifetime of happy new years together.