Orianne Cevey is a Swiss jewelry designer, entrepreneur and philanthropist whose public profile became closely connected with British musician Phil Collins. The couple met during Collins’ 1994 tour in Switzerland, married in 1999 and had two sons, Nicholas and Matthew. Their relationship later went through divorce, reconciliation and another highly publicized separation.
Beyond her connection to Collins, Cevey developed her own professional interests in business, jewelry design and charitable work. She became associated with OC Jewellery and helped establish the Little Dreams Foundation, an organization created to support talented young people in music, sports and the arts.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Orianne Cevey |
| Also Known As | Orianne Collins |
| Birth Date | March 24, 1974 |
| Age | 52 years old in 2026 |
| Birthplace | Nyon, Switzerland |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Heritage | Swiss and Thai |
| Profession | Jewelry designer, entrepreneur and philanthropist |
| Known For | Marriage to Phil Collins and jewelry career |
| Former Husband | Phil Collins |
| Other Former Husband | Charles Fouad Mejjati |
| Children | Nicholas, Matthew and Andrea |
| Jewelry Brand | OC Jewellery |
| Charity | Little Dreams Foundation |
| Social Media | Instagram account associated with @ocjewelryusa |
Early Life and Family Background
Orianne Cevey was born in Nyon, Switzerland, a town on Lake Geneva. Biographical accounts describe her as having a Swiss father and a Thai mother, giving her a multicultural family background. Her early interests reportedly included design as well as sports, while her later education and working life moved toward business and communications.
Before becoming widely recognized through her marriage to Phil Collins, Cevey developed experience in marketing, communications and business. Her professional path eventually brought her into translation work, which became an important turning point because it connected her with Collins when he was touring in Switzerland during the 1990s.
How Orianne Cevey Met Phil Collins
Cevey met Phil Collins in 1994 when she worked as an interpreter during his tour in Switzerland. Swissinfo records that Collins met the 35-year-old Cevey in Nyon in 1994, while other accounts describe her as being 22 when she began working with him. Their professional connection developed into a romantic relationship.
The couple married in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1999. During their marriage, they lived in Switzerland and raised their growing family. Their relationship attracted considerable media attention because Collins was already an internationally recognized musician, while Cevey was developing her own interests in business, philanthropy and design.
Orianne Cevey and Phil Collins’ Marriage
Orianne and Phil Collins became parents to two sons, Nicholas Collins and Matthew Collins. Nicholas later followed his father’s musical path and became a professional drummer, while Matthew developed an interest in football. Their sons became an important part of the couple’s relationship even after the marriage ended.
The marriage eventually broke down, and the couple separated in 2006 before their divorce was finalized in 2008. The divorce became notable because Collins paid Cevey a settlement reported at approximately £25 million, described by The Guardian as the largest British celebrity divorce settlement at that time.
Her Children and Family Life
Cevey has three sons. Her first two, Nicholas and Matthew, were born during her marriage to Phil Collins, while her third son, Andrea Mejjati, was born during her later marriage to investment banker Charles Fouad Mejjati.
Nicholas became particularly visible because of his musical career. He followed the family connection to drumming and later performed with his father, while Matthew pursued football. Cevey’s family life therefore connects music, sport and business across the careers of her children.
Orianne Cevey’s Business and Jewelry Career
Jewelry became one of the most recognizable parts of Cevey’s professional identity. She developed Orianne Collins Jewellery, with photographic records documenting the brand’s grand opening in Miami in May 2018. Getty Images also documents later appearances connected with her jewelry collections and showcases.
Her jewelry work gave Cevey a professional identity separate from her connection to Phil Collins. Her activities included jewelry presentations and appearances in Miami and other fashion-related settings, while her business interests also connected her with the city’s Design District and luxury retail environment.
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Little Dreams Foundation and Philanthropy
One of Cevey’s most important charitable projects was the Little Dreams Foundation, which she founded with Phil Collins in 2000. The foundation was designed to help talented young people who needed support to develop their abilities in areas such as music, sports and the arts.
The foundation’s archived material says it was officially launched in Geneva in September 2001 and focused on children between four and 16 with special talents. Florida corporate records from 2020 also list Orianne Collins as president and director of Little Dreams Foundation USA, showing her formal involvement in the organization.
Marriage to Charles Fouad Mejjati
After her first marriage ended, Cevey married Charles Fouad Mejjati, an investment banker. The couple had a son, Andrea, expanding Cevey’s family to three children. Their marriage later ended in divorce, with the separation becoming part of the complicated period between her first marriage and her eventual reconciliation with Phil Collins.
Cevey’s relationship with Collins eventually resumed after her divorce from Mejjati. In 2016, The Guardian reported that the former couple had reunited and were again living together in Miami. Collins described the reconciliation as something that developed after they realized they had missed each other, with their children remaining an important connection.
Orianne Cevey’s Health Struggle
Cevey experienced a serious health crisis in 2014 following surgery for a slipped disc in her neck. The Guardian reported that complications left her partially paralyzed and that she spent approximately four months in hospital during her recovery.
The experience also affected her family life. According to her account in the Guardian interview, Phil Collins helped care for their sons Nicholas and Matthew while she was in hospital. Her recovery became an important part of her personal story and later connected with charitable work involving spinal injuries.
The Second Split From Phil Collins
The reconciliation between Cevey and Collins did not last permanently. In 2020, the pair separated again after Cevey married musician Thomas Bates in Las Vegas. The breakup quickly developed into a major dispute involving Collins’ Miami Beach home, which Cevey had been occupying with Bates.
The property dispute became the subject of court proceedings. Cevey argued that she had an ownership interest based on an alleged verbal agreement, while Collins maintained that the property belonged to him. In 2022, a Florida judge dismissed Cevey’s $20 million claim after a series of court-order disputes.
Orianne Cevey and Thomas Bates
Cevey married Thomas Bates in August 2020. Bates is a musician, and their marriage attracted substantial media attention because it occurred shortly after Cevey’s renewed relationship with Collins ended. Getty Images documented the couple together at Bates’ music release event in Miami in November 2021.
Their marriage was short-lived. Biographical records identify 2020 as the year of their marriage and indicate that divorce proceedings followed. By the time of the later legal developments surrounding Cevey and Collins, Bates had become part of the highly publicized Miami property dispute.
Orianne Cevey’s Public Image and Lifestyle
Cevey’s public image has combined luxury jewelry, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and celebrity family connections. Her appearances at jewelry launches and charity events show a strong association with Miami’s fashion, design and philanthropic communities.
Her lifestyle has also been connected with high-value properties and luxury possessions, particularly during her years with Collins. In 2021, the Miami Herald reported that Cevey auctioned various possessions while moving to a smaller residence, with part of the proceeds from one sale going toward the Never Give Up Foundation, which supports people affected by spinal cord injuries.
Orianne Cevey on Social Media
Orianne Cevey has been associated online with the @ocjewelryusa Instagram account, reflecting the connection between her public profile and her jewelry business. Biographical social-media references have also linked her name with an account using the Orianne Collins identity.
Her online presence has historically focused on jewelry, lifestyle and personal appearances, rather than being centered entirely on her former marriage to Phil Collins. Her public identity has therefore included both her family connection and her independent work as a jewelry designer and businesswoman.
Interesting Facts About Orianne Cevey
- Orianne Cevey was born in Nyon, Switzerland, on March 24, 1974.
- She met Phil Collins while working as an interpreter during his 1994 Swiss tour.
- Cevey and Collins founded the Little Dreams Foundation in 2000.
- She developed a career in jewelry design and launched Orianne Collins Jewellery.
- She is the mother of three sons: Nicholas, Matthew and Andrea.
Conclusion
Orianne Cevey’s story extends far beyond her years with Phil Collins. She built a professional identity through business and jewelry design, became involved in philanthropy and helped establish a foundation dedicated to supporting young talent in music, sports and the arts.
Her life has also included three marriages, motherhood, a serious health challenge and several highly publicized relationship and property disputes. Her connection with Collins remains the most recognizable part of her biography, but her work in jewelry and charitable projects provides another important side of her public story.
FAQs
Who is Orianne Cevey?
Orianne Cevey is a Swiss jewelry designer, entrepreneur and philanthropist, best known for her marriage to Phil Collins.
How old is Orianne Cevey?
Orianne Cevey was born on March 24, 1974, making her 52 years old in 2026.
How many children does Orianne Cevey have?
Orianne Cevey has three sons, Nicholas and Matthew with Phil Collins and Andrea with Charles Mejjati.
When did Orianne Cevey marry Phil Collins?
Orianne Cevey and Phil Collins married in 1999 in Lausanne, Switzerland, after meeting during his 1994 tour.
What does Orianne Cevey do?
Orianne Cevey is associated with jewelry design, entrepreneurship and philanthropy, including her work with the Little Dreams Foundation.
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