Life, Loss, Love A Memoir

As well as the Miss Universe fairy-tale and her busy career, Lorraine shares details of her first marriage to All Black Murray Mexted, her delight in her two children, her success in Dancing with the Stars and her blissful relationship with cricketing legend Martin Crowe.

Along the way Lorraine has faced many challenges including rebuilding her life after divorce and, the cruellest blow of all, Martin's devastating illness and death.

She shares what got her through the tough challenges she faced.

We can all identify with Lorraine's struggles and be inspired by the way she writes so honestly and wisely about her life.

Lorraine Downes rose to international prominence when she won Miss Universe in 1983, an extraordinary win for a 19-year-old New Zealander. She went on to run a successful modelling business in Wellington and worked with women as a style and image consultant while raising her two children with her former husband All Black Murray Mexted. She once again became the darling of the New Zealand public when she won Dancing with the Stars in 2006. Lorraine moved to Auckland and married her soulmate Martin Crowe in 2009 where they spent a number of happy years together. When Martin was diagnosed with lymphoma Lorraine became his primary caregiver, and after four years of illness he tragically died. Lorraine is now finding her way through her grief.