Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 50, 2022 i Woman's Day Magazine NZ

I still remember falling in love with gorgeous young Megan Cassie (as she was known then) on the ground-breaking local reality series Popstars, which put together Kiwi girl group TrueBliss in 1999, before going on to become a global TV phenomenon. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to interview her on several occasions – and each time, she’s only got more lovely. I now count Megan as a dear friend and, to be honest, I’ll find any excuse to get her beautiful face in Woman’s Day. But this week’s story packs a real emotional punch, with the singer and her former All Black hubby Pita Alatini revealing how they managed to rescue their marriage after taking a two-year break. There’s a lot of healing still to be done, but it’s…

HOT OFF THE PRESS While it was widely reported Taika Waititi met his popstar wife Rita Ora in Australia last year, the Kiwi director has revealed it was actually Robert Pattinson who introduced them more than three years ago! The couple, who began dating in 2021, met when The Batman star Robert, 36, invited Rita, 32, to a barbecue at Taika’s place. The 47-year-old Boy filmmaker told Louis Theroux, “You know who brought her to my house? Rob Pattinson. He brought her over. We just got chatting, we hit it off, became friends… Then for the next three and a half years, we were just good mates. We were in different relationships and every time we hung out, we would just catch up where we left off. It…

HOT OFF THE PRESS After a year hosting almost every reality TV show going – including Dancing With The Stars, The Masked Singer NZ and Heartbreak Island – Clint Randell is returning to his old radio stomping ground. Clint tells Woman’s Day he’s “excited” about being back on The Edge Breakfast next year with Meg Mansell and former drive producer/presenter Dan Webby, although he’s less enthusiastic about the early starts. “Now I know what it’s like to not get up at 4am every day, I’m apprehensive about the mornings!” He can’t wait to be back in the studio with Meg, though, saying, “We’ve worked together for about four years already, so we have that chemistry I love. We’re like best mates and we’ll have a lot of fun…

Cover story After a busy year of globetrotting, George Clooney was looking forward to keeping things close to home. After all, he recently dropped $1.6 million on extensive renovations to make his longtime LA bachelor pad more family-friendly for his wife Amal and their five-year-old twins Alex and Ella. Sources note George, 61, spent most of last year in Australia and then hit the promotional trail hard for Ticket To Paradise, and he’s now very much looking forward to accepting a little work in the States, but more importantly, he wants to put his feet up and watch his children grow. Unfortunately for George, his London-based wife has other ideas! Insiders reveal Amal, 44, has taken one look at the education system in the US and has run for the…

Celebrity news Having two gorgeous children, plus pet pigs, sheep and mini-horses running around an idyllic three-hectare farm is beautiful chaos to Shortland Street’s Jaxin Hall. It’s a dream that might have felt beyond reach as he and wife Natalie Hall battled the “rat race” of life in the US while facing a crushing miscarriage in 2015. But it’s just one example of how perseverance, drive and faith in things working out have carried Jaxin through as he defies odds and expectations. Growing up poor didn’t stop him from achieving gold-record success with his US-based band Of Mice and Men. The art he hawked at an Auckland bus stop after wrapping each day at a job he hated sparked a globally successful clothing brand. And now he’s starring as Shorty’s…

When The Voice Australia coach Keith Urban told Lane Pittman he’d be up against his friend and fellow Tamworth local Freddie Bailey for a spot in the semi-finals, it was a bitter-sweet discovery. “We went to school together and know each other well,” explains Lane, 16. “Being paired up for the battle rounds was comforting at first, but then we realised one of us would be going home.” Singing the Miley Cyrus and Stevie Nicks duet Edge Of Midnight, the two country singers performed brilliantly, but it was Lane who Keith chose to put through to this Friday’s semi-finals. “I was shocked,” he admits. “I didn’t know if I had what it takes, but I’m extremely grateful Keith chose to send me straight through to the semis.” Lane’s excitement at…

Drawing inspiration from nature is nothing new, but in Marie and Matt Weavers’ case, taking their design cues from native fauna and flora to inform their oceanic blue colour scheme proved irresistible. Their Upper Hutt 1940s build was slowly being renovated in between busy days with the family of six and the question of colour was a major one. “Surrounded by bush, we filled the garden with flowering natives and chose a cool colour scheme to allow the colours to pop,” says Marie. Matt trialled exterior colours in digital images before the pair landed on Resene Gull Grey for the house, with accents of deep Resene Grey Friars on the front door and fences. “This creates a perfect backdrop to showcase the long-flowering ka- ka- beak and ko-whai trees that…

Psychics I loved listening to Mum’s music AMANDA SAYS Rani tells me she has now passed over. She’s like the Queen Mother, fussing over everyone. Rani often sees another little dog in spirit, who she did not know, who comes through with Jennifer’s mum and dad. The little dog tells me her name is Lucy. Lucy knew Jennifer’s mum and dad in this life. Rani says to Jennifer, “Look who I’ve got here, Mum, it’s Lucy.” Lucy says she came to the family as a very young puppy and a stray, and passed at 16 years old. Rani tells Jennifer how much she used to love to sit at her feet and listen to the music when she played the piano. Jennifer’s dad comes through and tells me he and…

HOT OFF THE PRESS Nearly two years after the shock announcement of their split, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have finally reached a settlement in their billion-dollar divorce. The deal will see Kim, 42, receive $315,000 each month in child support from Kanye, 45, and despite numerous attempts on each side to gain full custody, the pair will continue to share joint custody of their four children, North, nine, Saint, six, Chicago, four, and Psalm, three. The seemingly amicable agreement and their decision to avoid a trial – which had been set for January – follows months of slanging matches between them. Earlier this year, Kanye took to social media to accuse his ex-wife of keeping their children from him and sent a series of threats to her…

HOT OFF THE PRESS Superstar diva Jennifer Lopez has confided she wasn’t sure she would survive after ending her engagement to Ben Affleck two decades ago. “It was so painful after we broke up,” the 53-year-old singer/actress shares. “Once we called off that wedding 20 years ago, it was the biggest heartbreak of my life. I honestly felt like I was going to die.” The couple started dating in mid-2002 after meeting on the set of flop film Gigli, then got engaged a few months later. However, they broke up in September 2003, just days before they were due to marry, due to “excessive media attention”. Of the split, J.Lo – who finally married Ben, 50, in Las Vegas in September – added, “It sent me on a…

Cover story Throughout 2022, Julia Roberts and George Clooney couldn’t get enough of each other. The Ocean’s 11 co-stars, who had reunited to star in rom-com Ticket To Paradise, were determined to show just how close they were, cuddling at red-carpet premieres, boasting about their friendship in interviews and, sources say, having endless phone and text conversations – to the point where it was driving their spouses up the wall! “It was very over the top, even Julia and George would have to agree,” says a Hollywood insider. “Weirdly, Amal started looking like the third wheel in her own marriage and, by the end of it, she looked very upset.” In a telling sign, 55-year-old Julia’s husband, cameraman Danny Moder, 53, opted out of making any promotional appearances with his…

LifeBe well with Women's DayYOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BEING THE BEST YOU Christmas is often seen as a time for festive cheer, but for some, it can also bring stress, disappointment and loneliness. “For those that have had shifts in relationships, employment, experienced losses or perhaps haven’t seen the changes they would have liked to over the year, this can be an incredibly jarring and distressing time,” says Jana Firestone, therapist and host of The Curious Life podcast. Here are some techniques for navigating this often tricky time of year. AFTER A BEREAVEMENT “The first holiday without a loved one is especially difficult,” Jana explains. “Their absence is so keenly felt and it’s one of many very challenging firsts. Spend that first Christmas telling stories about the person who is…

VEGAN GLUTEN-FREE NO-BAKE RASPBERRY & LEMON CHEESECAKE SERVES 8 PREP 45 MINS + CHILLING • 3 cups (450g) cashews • 1 cup Medjool dates • 1 cup macadamia nuts • ¼ cup raspberry jam, plus extra to serve • 1 cup coconut cream, water drained • ¼ cup maple syrup • 1 large lemon, zest and juice • ¼ cup coconut oil, melted • 1/2 x 125g punnet raspberries, plus extra to serve • small mint leaves, icing sugar, to serve 1 Soak cashews in boiling water for 20 mins. Line base and sides of a 20cm springform cake tin with baking paper. 2 Place dates and macadamias in a food processor, blending to a thick paste. Spoon into base of prepared pan, pressing evenly. Chill for 15 mins to…

Sagittarius 23 NOV – 22 DEC As the celestial tide begins to turn, many Archers should feel a fresh surge of optimism. If you’ve been mulling over a creative project or clever business idea, start making plans. With Mercury shifting into your money zone, it might just work. STAR TIP Carry a small citrine or amethyst crystal for luck and protection. JUDI DENCH The beloved actress turns 88 on 9 December. We hope her long-time “chap” David Mills has something special planned! Capricorn DEC 23 – JAN 20 It’s not just your enthusiasm on the up and up, but your social life as well. By Friday, you should be in fine form, and as Venus spins into the spotlight, romantic sparks might fly. At the very least, plan a lunch…

She’s appeared on 1 News, Breakfast, Dancing With The Stars and The Crowd Goes Wild, not to mention her stints as a snowboarder and Green Party politician. Now, after more than 20 years in the spotlight, TVNZ sports presenter Hayley Holt is lifting the lid on her life in the spotlight in a tell-all autobiography. “It was quite a tough, confronting process and I’m very nervous,” Hayley , 42, tells Woman’s Day of writing her book Second Chances: Facing My Demons And Finding A Better Me, which will be published by HarperCollins New Zealand in April. “I felt like everyone wanted to know what was going on behind the scenes when I lost Frankie [her first child] and the stories from when I was still deep in my alcoholism. I…

HOT OFF THE PRESS By the time December rolls around, most of us have Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey’s Christmas songs stuck firmly in our heads. But despite their pockets being full of more royalties than Santa could fit into his sleigh, insiders reveal the duo have long-simmering tensions over who is number one when it comes to being silly-season royalty. It was recently revealed that Mariah, 52, came dashing through the courts in a bid to become the official “Queen of Christmas”, but her lawyers failed to make her Yuletide dreams come true. While the hitmaker is synonymous with the festive season, with her holiday hit All I Want For Christmas Is You a chart-topping staple since 1994, her bid to trademark the royal nickname so no one else…

HOT OFF THE PRESS Anita Wigl’it was the third queen eliminated from Canada’s Drag Race: Canada Vs The World, but the Kiwi star insists she doesn’t have any regrets over the TVNZ+ series. “I was myself the whole time and had a whole lot of fun being me,” she tells Woman’s Day. “Even though the Canadian judges didn’t really get me or my drag, it doesn’t mean I’m a lesser queen.” Currently on a six-week tour of the UK, the proud Auckland performer says, “New Zealand drag is quirky, ridiculous and, let’s face it, extremely sexually attractive. Kiwis are very laid-back, and I think I showed the world that life isn’t all about arguing with people and creating drama. Being nice and fun can also be entertaining.”…

Celebrity news The festive season is David Beckham’s favourite time of year. “I have always loved Christmas,” the former soccer star says. “It’s always been an incredibly special time for me and the family.” But the Beckham clan’s happy holidays are under threat this year thanks to the ongoing feud between Victoria and her daughter-in-law Nicola Peltz. David says it’s always been a family rule that the couple and their kids, Brooklyn, 23, Romeo, 20, Cruz, 17, and Harper, 11, spend Christmas in their homeland of England. “Even when we were in LA or Madrid, we’d always come back to the UK to spend Christmas here,” tells David, 47. “This country comes alive during this time and this period’s about sharing with loved ones.” But sources say Brooklyn’s 27-year-old wife…

Reality bites Growing up, Faith Sosene was always told she had an incredible voice. Whenever her family gathered around the television to watch talent shows like The Voice Australia, her mother and siblings would urge her to try out. Even as a little girl, she knew she wanted to be a singer. But when her mum Susana became ill, the then-19-year-old put her dreams on hold to become her carer. It’s a big decision for any teenager to make, but it was an easy one for Faith. “My mum is my everything,” the 25-year-old tells. “She’s a single mum, and has been since me and my siblings were little babies. It’s just been her. She’s my best friend, my confidante and my counsellor.” For Faith, it felt only natural to…

Beauty How skincare masks work Compared to, say, a night cream, a face mask is only on your skin for a relatively short period of time. So how is it they actually do anything? Masks, in general, have a much higher concentration of active ingredients, which work their magic in a matter of minutes. Sheet masks To give you an idea of just how popular sheet masks are in K-beauty, there are stores in South Korea that sell them exclusively. You can usually count on this type of mask to treat any skin problem you might have, but it’s the material the sheet is made from that sets them apart. Cotton is the most common sheet-mask material, drenched in serum or essence, which transfers to the skin during application. Like…

LENTILS, WATERCRESS & ORANGE SALAD SERVES 4-6 PREP 20 MINS • 2 oranges • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 3 tsp apple cider vinegar • 2 tbsp cranberry sauce, warmed • 1 bunch watercress, trimmed • 100g feta, crumbed • 400g can lentils, drained, rinsed • 1/3 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped 1 Place a medium strainer over a jug. Using a small, sharp knife, cut away peel and pith of the oranges. Working over the jug, cut oranges into segments, allowing juice to strain into jug. Chop segments and add them to strainer. Set aside to allow the juice to drip into the jug. You should have 1/4 cup juice. 2 Add oil, vinegar and cranberry to the jug. Using a fork, whisk well. Season. 3 In a large…

Psychics Q I still have feelings for my ex-partner and the father of my children. We are friends and neither of us has moved on. Can you see us reuniting? Also, will I ever have the security of owning my own home? Jo MITCHELL SAYS I feel you will always remain friends, but I don’t feel you will rekindle your relationship together. I’m picking up on the reason why you’ve both found it hard to move on is because you shared a past life. You were drawn back together to complete unfinished soul lessons – but now your karma is complete and it’s time for you both to move on. There is a lovely older man in Spirit from your mother’s side. He is watching over you and says you…

Spot the difference MILA KUNIS It was a case of her real-life wardrobe imitating art for bespectacled Mila, who voices the character of Meg Griffin on TV’s Family Guy, when she stepped out in LA. BIG APPLE ENERGY ALICIA KEYS The Empire State Of Mind songbird rocked a collection of coats as she performed tracks from her Christmas album Santa Baby in New York City. Full-length trench, silver puffer... Alicia looked cool while staying toasty warm! PUFFED UP! ALYSSA MILANO The Charmed star embraced the oversized fashion trend with gusto as she left a taping of The View in New York. She certainly looks spellbinding! HANDS OFF! LIZZO The About Damn Time singer strutted her stuff in a fab blue bikini on Insta. Not one to waste words, she simply…

The LOW DOWN Delta Goodrem’s making a list (and checking it twice!) of people she wants to catch up with over the festive season – and at the top of it is her good friend Keith Urban. According to an insider, the 38-year-old singer is thrilled her former The Voice co-star, 55, is back in Australia after kicking off his Down Under tour last week. “Keith and Delta really bonded on the set of The Voice, and they’ve stayed in touch over the years,” an insider tells Woman’s Day. “He was so happy for her when she scored a coveted gig supporting the Backstreet Boys on their US tour this past year – his tour even briefly crossed paths with hers in Florida and they were able to have a…