Ella Wills is a British marketing professional, former reality television personality and digital creator who first became widely known through Made in Chelsea. She joined the E4 programme while studying at the University of Edinburgh and soon attracted attention for her confident personality and relationship with Julius Cowdrey. Her life after television has taken a very different direction, with a successful career in marketing, property, investment and corporate finance. Today, she combines senior business experience with the social media presence that first grew during her years on television.
Who Is Ella Wills?
Ella Wills became familiar to British television audiences when she joined Made in Chelsea in 2017. At the time, she was balancing university life with filming, social events and the pressure that came with becoming recognisable on television. Her involvement in the programme gave her an early platform, but reality television was only one stage of her professional journey. She later moved into business roles that show a strong interest in marketing, finance, technology and corporate strategy.
She is also known online through her verified Instagram account, @ellanicolawills. The account has remained part of her identity long after she stepped away from regular reality television. Her social media presence includes travel, friendships, major life moments and personal celebrations. It also connects her television past with the professional and personal life she has built since leaving the programme.
Ella Wills Age and Birthday
Ella Wills was born on 6 March 1998, making her 28 years old in 2026. Her birthday places her under the Pisces star sign. She also celebrates her birthday in early March, with Instagram posts shared on 7 March 2023 showing her birthday weekend and receiving birthday wishes from friends and followers.
Ella Wills Education and Academic Success
Ella Wills studied Business Management at the University of Edinburgh from 2015 to 2019. She graduated with a First Class degree, showing that her academic work remained strong despite the extra demands created by television and social media. Her studies covered areas such as economics, strategy, entrepreneurship, marketing and business management. These subjects later became highly relevant to the work she pursued after graduating.
One of the most interesting parts of her university work was her focus on influencer marketing. Her dissertation examined authenticity within influencer marketing, a subject she understood from both academic and personal experience. By that point, she had already experienced the creator economy through television and social media partnerships. That combination gave her a useful perspective on how brands, audiences and creators build trust.
Stanford University
Ella Wills and Her Stanford Studies
In 2019, Ella also completed a summer programme at Stanford University in the United States. Her studies focused mainly on economics, technology and entrepreneurship, and she achieved an A grade. The experience added an international dimension to her education and strengthened her understanding of business and technology. It also fitted naturally with the media and technology sectors that later became central to her corporate career.
Professional Marketing Qualification
Ella later developed her marketing credentials through the Chartered Institute of Marketing. She completed a Certificate in Professional Marketing between January 2023 and March 2024. She earned a Distinction, adding a recognised professional qualification to her university education and work experience. Her academic and professional training now supports a career that has moved far beyond entertainment.
Ella Wills on Made in Chelsea
Ella joined Made in Chelsea in 2017 while she was still a university student. Her arrival introduced a younger cast member who was already comfortable within the social world shown by the programme. She appeared across two seasons and also became part of the Made in Chelsea: Ibiza storylines. Her television experience quickly helped her develop a following outside the programme itself.
Her time on the show also helped launch her work as a digital creator. She began working with brands after joining the cast and managed commercial relationships connected to her growing audience. This gave her early experience in contracts, brand communication and the commercial side of social media. Those skills would later become useful when she entered professional marketing roles.
Ella Wills and Julius Cowdrey
One of Ella’s best-known Made in Chelsea storylines involved Julius Cowdrey. The pair dated during her period on the programme and their relationship became part of the drama shown on screen. They were also seen together during the Ibiza series, where their romance continued to attract attention. Their relationship eventually ended, and both moved forward with separate lives.
Julius remained part of the Made in Chelsea world after their romance finished. Ella, however, gradually moved her attention towards education, work and opportunities outside reality television. The relationship remains part of her television history rather than her present personal life. Her romantic life has since entered a far more significant chapter.
Ella Wills Partner: Engagement to Max Malins
Ella Wills is now engaged to professional rugby union player Max Malins. His full name is Maxim Hugo Malins, and he was born on 7 January 1997. He is an English rugby player who has competed at the highest level of the sport and represented England internationally. He has also played club rugby for Saracens and built a strong reputation within English rugby.
The couple confirmed a major step in their relationship during the summer of 2026. A social media post featuring both of them carried the caption “My forever” alongside a ring emoji and the date 06.07.26. The post clearly marked their engagement on 6 July 2026, with friends and fellow verified personalities congratulating them. Ella is therefore engaged to Max Malins as of September 2026.
Their relationship connects two very different professional worlds. Ella works mainly in marketing and corporate finance, while Max has built his career in elite sport. They have shared important personal moments online without turning their relationship into constant social media content. Their engagement has become one of the most important developments in Ella’s life since her reality television years.
Ella Wills Career After Television
Early Professional Experience
Ella began gaining business experience before she had completed university. Her early work included experience with The White Company, where she was involved in sales, market research and commercial tasks. She later worked with businesses connected to influencer marketing, venture investment and luxury design. These roles gave her experience across very different parts of the commercial world.
In 2018, she spent time with The Goat Agency, a company specialising in influencer marketing. Her work involved business development, influencer outreach, client proposals and international campaign activity. This role was especially relevant because she already understood influencer marketing from the creator side. She could therefore view the industry from both the commercial and talent perspectives.
She also gained experience at Earlymarket LLP, an investment business focused on early-stage technology companies. Her responsibilities included marketing and social media activity connected with the firm and its investments. She later worked with luxury interior designer Katharine Pooley, supporting creative and promotional activity. These placements helped her build a broader understanding of brands, investment and communications.
Ella Wills in Finance and Property
Cerno Capital
In late 2019, Ella completed an internship with Cerno Capital in London. Her responsibilities included work linked to investment materials, competitor analysis and business development tasks. The position marked a stronger move towards finance and investment-related work. It also helped prepare her for the corporate environment that would later define her career.
Greycoat Real Estate
In March 2020, she joined Greycoat Real Estate LLP as an analyst on a contract basis. She remained there until December 2020, gaining experience within a property investment and development business. Greycoat operates within commercial property, giving Ella exposure to another major part of the investment sector. The position added analytical experience to the marketing skills she had already developed.
Ella Wills at WY Partners
Ella joined WY Partners in March 2021 as a Marketing Executive. The London-based firm specialises in mergers and acquisitions within media and technology, placing her work at the meeting point of finance, communications and digital business. She quickly developed within the company and became Marketing Manager in December 2022. Her progression showed growing responsibility and confidence within a specialist corporate environment.
In January 2025, she was promoted to Head of Marketing. Her role covers the marketing and sales function for the specialist M&A firm, including communications, branding, content, events and support for commercial activity. She works within a sector where credibility, clear communication and strong market positioning are extremely important. Her move from Marketing Executive to department head in less than four years marks a significant professional achievement.
What Is Ella Wills Doing Now?
As of 2026, Ella is firmly established as Head of Marketing at WY Partners. Her main career is now centred on corporate finance, media, technology and professional marketing rather than reality television. She also retains her digital creator identity and a sizeable audience on Instagram. This gives her a rare combination of experience in entertainment, influencer culture and high-level business marketing.
Her personal life has also entered a new stage following her engagement to Max Malins. At 28, she has moved from university student and television newcomer to a senior marketing professional with strong academic and commercial credentials. Her journey shows a clear shift from television exposure towards a career built through education, specialist qualifications and steady promotion. The result is a professional identity that stands independently from the programme that first made her widely recognised.
Ella Wills’ Journey Beyond Reality Television
Ella Wills has built a career that is far broader than her early role on Made in Chelsea. Her First Class degree from Edinburgh, Stanford studies, professional marketing qualification and rise through WY Partners demonstrate a strong commitment to business. Her engagement to Max Malins has also brought a major personal milestone in 2026. Today, she is best described as a senior marketing professional, former television personality and experienced digital creator whose career continues to evolve.
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