You remember the face. It was everywhere in 2018. Rachel Hollis was the "cool girl" of the self-help world, a pint-sized powerhouse telling you to wash your face and stop apologizing. She wasn't just an author; she was a movement. With a Disney-executive husband and a multi-million dollar business, she seemed to have cracked the code on how to "have it all" while still being relatable.
Then, the floor fell out.
If you’ve been out of the loop, you’re probably wondering what happened to Rachel Hollis. The short answer? A lot. Between a very public divorce, a massive PR disaster that the internet dubbed "Toiletgate," and the tragic, sudden death of her ex-husband, Dave Hollis, Rachel's life today looks almost nothing like the "Rise" conferences of five years ago.
The Pivot That Changed Everything
In 2020, at the height of a global pandemic, Rachel and Dave Hollis announced they were getting a divorce. For fans who had bought tickets to their marriage retreats and listened to their "Rise Together" podcast, this felt like a betrayal. They had built a brand on being the "perfect" couple who did the work.
Honestly, the backlash was just the beginning.
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While the divorce was messy for her brand, it was a 2021 TikTok that truly derailed her career. In the video, Rachel responded to a commenter who called her "unrelatable" for having a house cleaner. Rachel’s response—where she compared her "unrelatability" to that of Harriet Tubman and Malala Yousafzai—was widely seen as tone-deaf and elitist. She basically told her followers that she worked harder than them, which is why she could afford someone to "clean her toilets."
The internet didn't just disagree; it revolted. Sponsors bailed. Book deals cooled. The "Queen of Relatability" was suddenly the poster child for toxic hustle culture.
Navigating Tragedy and Grief
Just as the dust seemed to be settling on the PR front, the unthinkable happened. In February 2023, Dave Hollis died unexpectedly at his home in Austin, Texas. He was only 47.
The news sent shockwaves through the personal development community. Rachel, who was co-parenting their four children, had to navigate the deepest kind of private grief under a very public microscope. In her podcast episodes following the tragedy, she was candid about the "unthinkable" pain her family was enduring.
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She stopped the high-octane "hustle" talk for a while. She had to. You can't "Girl, Wash Your Face" your way out of your children losing their father.
Where is Rachel Hollis in 2026?
So, where is she now? If you check her latest updates from January 2026, Rachel has officially traded the Texas suburbs and the Los Angeles glitz for a ranch in the Hudson Valley, New York.
She’s lean. She’s focused. She’s different.
The New York Move
In a recent podcast episode titled "I MOVED to New York!!", Rachel detailed her relocation. She left California because she disliked the politics and felt a lack of community. Now, she's living out a long-held dream of owning a ranch. It’s a literal and metaphorical "reset."
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The Current Business Model
She hasn't disappeared. Far from it. Her business has pivoted from mass-market stadium events to a more intimate "Coaching Community" and a premium podcast subscription model.
- The Rachel Hollis Podcast: Still running strong, often ranking high in the self-improvement charts.
- Coaching: She now focuses heavily on a subscription-based coaching group where she teaches goal setting and "Future Self" visualization.
- Books: She continues to release new titles, though they focus more on resilience and "starting over" than the manic hustle of her early days.
What We Can Learn from the Rise and Fall (and Rise?)
The story of what happened to Rachel Hollis is a case study in the dangers of the "relatability" trap. When your brand is built on being "just like you," any sign of massive wealth or ego feels like a lie to your audience.
However, her ability to maintain a dedicated—if smaller—fanbase in 2026 shows the power of the "rebrand." She stopped trying to be the girl next door and started being the woman who survived a house on fire.
Actionable Insights for Your Own Growth:
- Audit Your Influences: If a "guru" makes you feel like you aren't working hard enough because you don't wake up at 4 AM, it might be time to hit unfollow.
- Embrace the Pivot: Rachel's move to New York proves that when your current environment (or brand) feels toxic, you are allowed to leave and start over.
- Resilience Over Hustle: The "new" Rachel focuses more on emotional intelligence and grit. These are more sustainable tools than simple motivation.
If you’re looking to find her today, she’s likely on her ranch, recording a podcast about "The Next Class" of goal setting for 2026. She’s still selling the dream; it’s just a much quieter, more expensive version of it.
Check out her latest podcast episodes or her coaching site if you want to see how the "new" Rachel handles the 2026 business landscape.