Justin Hawkins has spent much of his adult life in front of enormous rock audiences as the flamboyant singer and guitarist of The Darkness. Away from the stage, however, the British musician has kept much of his family life remarkably quiet.
For years, searches for “Justin Hawkins wife” pointed to Sarah Hawkins, his former spouse. The couple were married and had a daughter together, but their marriage eventually ended privately. By 2023, reports confirmed that Justin and Sarah had divorced.
Today, Justin is not legally married. He is in a relationship with Belgian-born musician Désirée Mishoe, and Hawkins has spoken warmly about their life together.
Who Was Sarah Hawkins?
Sarah Hawkins was Justin Hawkins’ wife for more than a decade. The couple married in October 2012 and largely avoided the celebrity spotlight.
Unlike Justin, Sarah has maintained a very private profile. There is little verified public information about her career or personal background, and she has generally stayed away from interviews and entertainment coverage.
During their marriage, Justin and Sarah lived in rural Switzerland, where they raised their daughter away from the intense attention that followed his music career. Contemporary reporting described the couple as having a quiet family life.
When Did They Divorce?
Justin Hawkins and Sarah Hawkins ended their marriage privately.
In September 2023, reports emerged that the couple had already divorced “some time ago.” Justin’s management confirmed the split to MailOnline, while The Sun reported the news after the musician was photographed with Désirée Mishoe in London.
The exact date of the divorce has not been widely reported. That fits with the couple’s approach to their relationship throughout their marriage: major personal developments were generally kept away from the public.
Do Justin and Sarah Have Children?
Yes. Justin and Sarah have one daughter together.
Her identity and personal details have been kept private, something Justin has continued to respect even while discussing his own life publicly.
Reports from the period of the divorce said their daughter was nine years old at the time. More recent coverage continues to describe Hawkins as a father but does not provide unnecessary details about his child’s private life.
Who Is Désirée Mishoe?
Following his divorce, Justin Hawkins began a relationship with musician Désirée Mishoe, also known professionally as May the Muse.
The relationship became public in 2023 after the pair were photographed together in London. Since then, however, it has become much more than a brief celebrity romance.
Hawkins has spoken openly and affectionately about Mishoe in interviews. In a Rolling Stone interview, he called her his “darling partner” and credited her with teaching him how to snowboard.
Mishoe is also a musician, giving the couple a natural connection through music and songwriting.
Are They Married?
No. Despite Justin’s playful references to Mishoe as his wife, they are not legally married.
In a 2025 interview, Hawkins explained that he and Mishoe are life partners but have not legally married. He even joked that she is his wife “in every respect” while making clear that the government has not formally made them husband and wife.
That distinction is important because some online biographies continue to list Sarah Hawkins as Justin’s current wife or incorrectly describe Désirée as his wife.
As of 2026, the more accurate description is that Sarah is his ex-wife and Désirée is his partner.
A New Chapter
Justin’s relationship with Mishoe has coincided with a particularly productive period in his music career.
The Darkness continued recording and touring, while Hawkins also developed a large audience through his YouTube channel, Justin Hawkins Rides Again. His online work has allowed him to discuss music, performers and the industry in a more conversational setting than the traditional rock interview.
His personal outlook has also changed considerably over the years. In recent interviews, Hawkins has discussed a healthier lifestyle and described himself as sober and vegan.
His Life With The Darkness
Hawkins became internationally famous as the frontman of The Darkness, the British rock band formed with his younger brother Dan Hawkins.
The group exploded onto the mainstream scene with the 2003 album Permission to Land. Its combination of flamboyant stage performances, high-pitched vocals and tongue-in-cheek hard rock produced hits including “I Believe in a Thing Called Love.”
The Darkness later went through a difficult period and split before eventually returning. Hawkins has since spoken candidly about the band’s earlier problems and the lessons he took from that period.
His family life has followed a very different pattern. While he is comfortable discussing his music, Hawkins has generally avoided turning his daughter or former marriage into entertainment news.
Where Is Justin Now?
Justin Hawkins remains active with The Darkness and continues his work as a musician and online personality.
His relationship with Désirée Mishoe is now a visible part of his personal life, although the couple still maintain boundaries around what they share publicly. Rolling Stone’s recent interview with Hawkins described Mishoe as his partner, while other recent coverage has similarly identified her as the musician’s girlfriend.
For anyone searching for “Justin Hawkins wife,” the current picture is therefore straightforward: Sarah Hawkins was his wife, but they are divorced. Justin is now with Désirée Mishoe, and the couple are not legally married.
