Christmas Day took on a whole new meaning for Steven Bartlett this year.
While most people were unwrapping presents at home, the Dragons’ Den investor and Diary of a CEO host was down on one knee in Marrakech.
Against the backdrop of the historic Moroccan city, the 33-year-old proposed to his long-time partner, wellness entrepreneur Melanie Lopes, surrounded not by paparazzi but by her closest family.
A Family Affair in Morocco
Photos shared online captured Steven and Melanie laughing together as they rode dune buggies through the desert, travelling in a convoy alongside her parents and siblings.
Between camel rides, scenic walks and spa days, the group also tucked into traditional Moroccan dishes and visited a non-profit supporting disadvantaged women through culinary training.
Whether Steven’s own family joined the trip remains unclear, though those close to him say he maintains strong ties with his parents and three older siblings.
The Ring That Sparked the Announcement
When Melanie finally confirmed the news, she did it simply.
A close-up photo of her hand clasped in Steven’s revealed an oval-cut diamond ring reportedly worth around £200,000. The caption read just two words: “Mon amour.”
It was the public’s first real glimpse into a relationship that, despite spanning almost a decade, has largely stayed out of the spotlight.
Love Without a Fixed Address
Their engagement has also drawn attention to how unconventional their life together really is.
Steven is based in Los Angeles, while Melanie splits her time between Bali and wherever her work takes her next.
Neither has said where they plan to settle after marrying, and that sense of freedom seems central to their bond.
Melanie’s career, after all, is built on movement.
She runs Bali Breathwork, a global wellness business offering high-end retreats focused on yoga, meditation and breathwork in destinations ranging from Greece and Portugal to South Africa.
Inside Melanie’s Wellness World
Melanie describes herself as a “student of the body and its infinite wisdom,” and her retreats reflect that philosophy.
Her upcoming event in Sri Lanka, aimed at “awakened women,” will bring together 20 participants for a week-long experience costing up to £1,750 each.
The programme promises reconnection with sensuality and feminine energy, drawing inspiration from Hindu goddesses.
Beyond retreats, she offers online breathwork sessions, guided meditations and a range of wellness practices including reiki, hypnosis and somatic therapy.
Past social media clips show everything from group meditation at festivals to women-only cuddle circles and expressive dance sessions.
A Creative and Entrepreneurial Past
Before breathwork became her focus, Melanie explored several creative paths.
She ran a beauty and wellbeing brand selling gemstones and skincare tools, published raw and vegan recipes, and produced a fitness and nutrition guide called Booty Academy.
She’s also dipped into the art world, helping create an immersive sound installation in London that blended sound and breath.
From Instagram DMs to Real Life
Steven and Melanie first crossed paths online in 2016.
Their initial relationship lasted about a year before they went their separate ways while Steven concentrated on building his business empire.
Melanie, meanwhile, travelled extensively, sharing images from Bali, India, Australia and beyond, and working with wellness and lifestyle brands.
For years, Steven’s private life fuelled speculation.
As a young, wealthy entrepreneur rarely seen with a partner, rumours swirled about his sexuality.
In 2021, he addressed them directly, stating publicly that he was straight and single.
The 22-Hour Flight That Changed Everything
Not long after, Steven experienced what he’s described as a defining moment.
Realising he wanted Melanie back, he boarded a 22-hour flight to Bali, where she was hosting a retreat.
At the time, she was in another relationship.
Four days later, those close to the couple say, she fell for him all over again.
By 2022, Steven confirmed on stage during his live podcast tour that he was in a long-term relationship.
Still, the couple kept things low-key, sharing only occasional glimpses of their life together.
Public Romance, Private Growth
When Steven does speak about Melanie, it’s often with warmth and humour.
On his podcast, he’s joked that her clean living will see her live to 150.
He’s also openly romantic, once arranging a limousine filled with red roses for Valentine’s Day before heading into an online therapy session together.
In 2022, he went even further, serenading her at the London Palladium with the help of a gospel choir and a shower of heart-shaped confetti.
Healing Old Wounds
Steven has credited Melanie with helping him rethink relationships altogether.
Growing up, he witnessed constant arguments between his parents and little physical affection.
He’s spoken candidly about how her approach to love showed him that relationships don’t have to feel restrictive or damaging.
That emotional growth ties closely to his own life story, which includes childhood poverty, school struggles, and eventually dropping out of university at 18 to pursue business.
From Struggle to Success
Raised in Plymouth after moving from Botswana as a toddler, Steven has talked openly about shoplifting food to get by and feeling ashamed of where he lived.
After clashing with school authorities and leaving university, he built The Social Chain, a social media marketing company later valued at hundreds of millions.
Despite early family tension, success allowed him to repair those relationships.
He’s since spoken about the pride he feels in supporting his parents and working alongside his brother Jason.
A Changed View on the Future
Marriage wasn’t always part of Steven’s plan.
In his 2021 memoir, he dismissed the idea altogether.
Yet now, he talks openly about wanting to be a great father, inspired by watching his brother raise three young children.
It’s a striking shift for someone who once rejected the very idea of settling down.
Controversy in the Wellness Space
Steven’s interest in wellness hasn’t been without criticism.
He’s faced backlash over investments and podcast episodes accused of promoting unproven health claims.
In one high-profile Dragons’ Den episode, a product he backed was later pulled from iPlayer following complaints from medical experts.
His podcast has also been scrutinised for allowing guests to discuss alternative health claims with limited challenge.
His production company has defended the format as open-minded and research-led.
Where They Go From Here
For now, Steven and Melanie seem content living between continents, careers and commitments.
With a wedding on the horizon and no fixed plans about where “home” will be, their engagement feels less like a destination and more like another step in a shared journey—one defined by movement, ambition and a very modern kind of love.
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