Choosing Happiness

Lorraine Downes’ Life Has Been Filled With Incredible Highs And Devastating Lows. But Far From Letting It Keep Her Down, The Former Model, Businesswoman And Author Is Focused On Living Well And Finding Joy

- Sara Bunny

Perfectly poised under a tree full of rambunctious tuis, businesswoman, author and the country’s best-known beauty queen, Lorraine Downes, is wearing a sleek satin dress and trying not to tempt fate. “I know you are all thinking it, but I’m not even going to say it!” She laughs as our photographer snaps her portrait while feathers flutter directly above her head. Thankfully, she avoids being pelted with bird poo at the Good Health photo shoot, and after ditching the glamorous dress in favour of a relaxed white tee and baggy pants, she takes a seat in the afternoon sun for a chat.

With Lorraine, there’s a lot to talk about. She’s open about her life’s ups and downs, lessons she’s learned along the way, her dedication to wellness and nurturing her spiritual side, and the harrowing experience of losing her husband, cricket legend Martin Crowe. The past few years have been challenging, to say the least, but have strengthened her belief that every day is precious and a chance to live life to the fullest.

“Losing my soulmate has made me realise how vulnerable life can be, and how important it is to be present in the now, in the today,” she says. “Your thoughts are a choice – you get to choose them, so how do you want to feel? I choose to have joyful thoughts and to be present in every aspect of my life.”

A different universe