Rachel Kolisi is stepping into a new chapter – one marked by honesty, vulnerability and the quiet but determined work of rebuilding, according to her latest announcement.
On Wednesday, 10 December, Rachel released the official preview of her documentary Falling Forward, a deeply personal project tracing the themes that have shaped her life: identity, loss, motherhood, courage and the often unseen process of starting again.
Making it clear to all those who have been following her life’s journey, she clarified in her press release that the documentary is not about divorce.
‘This documentary is not about divorce, or public speculation. Instead, Falling Forward opens a window into Rachel’s inner world, revealing the moments that challenged her, the truths she had to confront, and the strength she discovered in moving forward even when standing still felt easier,’ the statement read.
The preview, shared across her social platforms, echoes that intention
‘I didn’t manage it… a part of me now feels like I failed’
The opening scenes of the documentary take viewers back to October 2024, the same month Rachel and Siya Kolisi publicly announced their separation after eight years of marriage.
In the Instagram preview shared across her social platforms, Rachel admits she often felt celebrated for holding everything together – marriage, motherhood, career, advocacy, wellness and more – but beneath the surface, she felt the opposite.
‘I didn’t manage it,’ she says in the preview. ‘And a part of me now feels like I failed. And what that’s led me to is a point that I’m broken’
The honesty of her raw, unfiltered confession resonated deeply with online users, with many praising her for ‘speaking openly about burnout, identity and the emotional toll of trying to meet expectations that often feel impossible.’
A story many women will see themselves in
According to the statement, at the heart of Falling Forward, Rachel hopes viewers recognise parts of themselves in her journey.
‘At its core, this documentary is Rachel’s story, honest, vulnerable and deeply human. Through sharing it, she hopes women will recognise pieces of themselves in the themes she explores, not because their circumstances are the same, but because the emotional terrain of falling and rising again is something almost every woman knows intimately,’ the statement read.
‘We all fall,’ says Rachel. ‘But the defining part of our lives is found in how we choose to move forward, even when we don’t feel ready.’
A national roadshow: Connection, community and quiet strength
Alongside the preview, Rachel announced the Falling Forward National Roadshow, travelling across South Africa in 2026. Each stop will mirror a theme from her personal journey, creating reflective, grounding and connective spaces.
The roadshow will include:
- A women-led marketplace supporting local female entrepreneurs
- Spaces for women to be heard and to hear one another
- Intentional programming designed for upliftment, strength and shared humanity.
The press release noted that the roadshow will be ‘a gathering where women can be seen, supported and celebrated, fostering both emotional uplift and economic empowerment’.
‘Falling Forward is not about the end of something; it is about what emerges after the fall’
Concluding the release, Rachel added that her hope for sharing this upcoming journey is ‘that women across South Africa will walk away feeling less alone, more connected, and more aware of the quiet strength they carry into every chapter of their lives’.
My hope is that women see themselves in the themes,’ she said. ‘Not because our stories are the same, but because we all fall, and yet we keep moving.’
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Picture: Rachel Kolisi / Facebook
