Rachel Stevens is embracing a bold new chapter in her life, as she revealed she is ‘finally putting herself first’.

Known for her time in the iconic pop group S Club 7, the star, 47, has reflected on how key moments – like her 2022 divorce from Alex Bourne – have shaped her journey toward self-empowerment.

In a candid conversation, she revealed that these life changes have prompted a deep reassessment of her priorities.

‘With the divorce, moving, and selling our family home, my life really took a new direction,’ she told OK! ‘It’s been a huge change, but it’s been for the better.’ 

Despite the many changes in recent years, Rachel emphasised that being there for her two daughters, Amelie, 14, and Minnie, 11, remains her main priority.

However, she has now learned the importance of putting herself first.

Rachel Stevens is embracing a bold new chapter in her life, as she revealed she is ‘finally putting herself first’

Known for her time in the iconic pop group S Club 7 , the star, 47, has reflected on how key moments – like her 2022 divorce from Alex Bourne – have shaped her journey toward self-empowerment (pictured with ex Alex in 2017)

She continued: ‘So being organised and feeling in control, and making time to look after myself, are really important to me now. 

‘I think a lot of people, especially women and mums, can relate to the idea that we often feel we need to be everything for everyone else, and always be there for everyone else, but actually I need to fill my own cup so I can be the best mum, the best friend, whatever it is.’

Rachel announced her separation from her childhood sweetheart Alex in July 2022, just one month shy of their 13-year anniversary.

The S Club icon went on to find found love with Dancing On Ice skater Brendyn Hatfield. 

Their relationship went official in November 2023 after they were first paired together on the ITV show.

Rachel lifted the lid on their separation during an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, comparing it to ‘jumping off a cliff.’

She admitted: ‘It’s a lot of navigating, especially with the girls because they’ve always been at the forefront.’ 

‘I’m very lucky, their dad is a great dad and we’ve always been so aligned with keeping them really safe in it and being really honest.’

Despite the many changes in recent years, Rachel emphasised that being there for her two daughters, Amelie, 14, and Minnie, 11, remains her main priority

After splitting from Alex, Rachel went on to find found love with Dancing On Ice skater Brendyn Hatfield (both pictured together last year)

‘We’ve had great advice on how to age-appropriately speak to them and help them feel safe in it all because that was my biggest fear – how they are going to be in all of this.’

She continued: ‘You’re changing your life. It’s not only a marriage it’s a family around it, it’s your friendship groups, your home, your children.’

‘Changing your whole life, for me it felt like jumping off a cliff, like wow, it’s the unknown.’

‘But I’ve always believed that we have to be happy, we have to be true to ourselves and it’s not something you decide overnight, it’s something that takes so much thought and questioning.’

‘I haven’t talked about it a lot publicly because I’m so mindful of everyone involved.’

The former couple were childhood sweethearts and reconnected in the mid-2000s when Rachel was launching her solo career and Alex was still trying to make it as an actor in Los Angeles.

The S Club star announced she had separated from her childhood sweetheart in June 2022 (both pictured 2011)

They got engaged in June 2008 after 18 months of dating and tied the knot at Claridge’s in London the following year.

The pair walked down the aisle to S Club 7’s hit Never Had A Dream Come True and her bandmates – Bradley McIntosh, Hannah Spearritt, Jo O’Meara, Jon Lee, Paul Cattermole and Tina Barrett – were there to watch them say ‘I do’.

Discussing her new relationship with Brendyn at the time, Rachel said: ‘We’ve just been really mindful and thoughtful of everyone involved and it was a very slow process, but when you go through growth in your life, you change and your outlook on life changes.’

‘You realise this is what I need, this is what I want, this is what I deserve. And everything is new and it all just kind of happens.’

She added: ‘It all just evolves and it’s not black and white, it’s just an amazing growth experience.’