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Are Rachel and Siya Kolisi our Posh and Becks?

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Together since 1998, theirs is an ordinary love story that reached extraordinary heights. Due to their careers lived in the spotlight, Victoria and David Beckham have throughout the years become an almost alternative royalty. Not just for the UK who already has a firm monarchy in tact, but for us all. We are all, after all part of a larger global family. (Hence, our very own obsession with the royal wedding, the Kardashians, and the Obamas). 

The Beckhams have had their fair share of rumoured scandals but seem to have a solid marriage when they share their private lives on social media.

And, as a fashion gal at heart, what always stood out to me, and gave me great reassurance in their union, was their couple co-ordinated outfits.

Now that, that is true love. 

Then there's the case of our very own (see how we claim them!) Rachel and Siya Kolisi. Siya, who rose to captaincy this year for the Springboks rugby team, married Rachel in 2016. We were mesmerised by their very palpable love then, and continue to be now. 

But like the Beckhams, controversy and haters follow famous couples wherever they go. Rachel has experienced her fair share of online hate, and has been very open about it.

READ MORE: Rachel Kolisi vs 'black Twitter': no, “snacking” on Siya is not an option 

She just posted this, discussing the unrealistic expectations people place on women's post-pregnancy bodies. 

READ MORE: Candice Swanepoel fights back after being body shamed online

And that's just the thing, celeb couples are held to completely unrealistic standards. Their love, as claimed by us should be everlasting, forever untarnished, while it should still be real and natural. Celeb couples are an alternative royalty, as they sit firmly one rung below royalty on that ladder of perfect love. Like a Maslow pyramid, we see them self-actualise, wanting that for ourselves. Forgetting we are all human, flawed and, well, just ordinary people - some are just living extraordinary lives because of their circumstances. 

In her article, Nomzamo Mbatha and Maps Maponyane - why are we so invested in celebrity relationships?, Carmen Williams notes that "We’re all probably in parasocial relationships with these celebs. According to Find A Psychologist, parasocial relationships 'are one-sided relationships, where one person extends emotional energy, interest and time, and the other party, the persona, is completely unaware of the other’s existence.' They’re most common with celebrities or organisations like sports teams."

But back to the Kolisis... have they ever co-ordinated like the Beckhams?

Almost...

Haha yho hayi I’m punching ! @rachel_kolisi ??

A post shared by Siya Kolisi (@siya_kolisi_the_bear) on

YES!

A good day to celebrate his incredible life ???? #birthdayboy #youthday

A post shared by Rachel Kolisi (@rachel_kolisi) on

Fashion twinning aside if it was anything to go by (and it's probably not), the fame that Rachel and Siya have to deal with is comparable. Smaller scale of course.

Even though Rachel and Siya have been the victims of shaming, rumours and general commentary that, unfortunately, comes with the territory of being famous and a couple in the limelight, I would say that I am happy for them that they still have some privacy, some possibility to escape from scrutiny. Because in the end, they are but ordinary humans, living in extraordinary circumstances. 

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