Woman’s Weekly New Zealand – July 29, 2019

KERRE McIVOR

PICTURE

KERRE REALISES JUST HOW MUCH HER

DEFINITION OF ‘MAKING IT’ HAS CHANGED

The big

I

can still remember the thrill

of being on my first Weekly

cover. I had just had Kate,

so it was 30 years ago.

I was working for Television

New Zealand as a journalist

and presenter on Fair Go, and

had continued to appear on

TV while pregnant. I was also

unmarried and my producer

received a number of letters

complaining that a shameless,

unwed hussy shouldn’t be on

prime-time TV.

I imagine that the editor of

the Weekly probably received

a few letters along those lines

too when I appeared on the

cover, looking exhausted and

exhilarated, but beaming with

pride as I held a sleeping Kate.

The naysayers didn’t matter.

I was a shameless, unwed hussy

and I was absolutely fine with

it. My beautiful baby girl had

arrived safely and her dad and

I, though unmarried, were

utterly besotted with her

and caring of each other.

On that first cover, I was

wearing a floral suit that my

mum had rescued from a bag

of cast-off clothes. Mum had

the skirt shortened and wore it

to the races, and when I found

out the Weekly wanted a photo,

I asked Mum if I could borrow

the suit because I had nothing

Weekly-worthy to wear.

Nothing says the Weekly

in 1989 like a matching floral

blouse and skirt accessorised

with huge sparkly earrings!

Over the years, more covers

followed. I was slim in some,

extolling the virtues of an

alcohol-free lifestyle and the

liver cleansing diet. I was fat in

others – never more so than

when I married my Irishman.

When our wedding was on

the cover, I was the fattest I’d

ever been and I didn’t give

two hoots. It was one of the

happiest days of my life and

I was delighted to share it

with the magazine’s readers.

And then there was last

week’s cover. I was a bit wary

of doing this one. I’ve piled

on the weight again and just

begun the process of taking

it all off. It’s made harder by

the fact that I’ve been on this

pendulum many times before

and know how long, slow and

painstaking it is.

I would have preferred a

cover at the end of my hard

work, not at the start when I’m

lumpy, bumpy and frumpy.

But then I reminded myself

how lucky I am to even be

asked. How wonderful it is to

spend an afternoon trying

on beautiful clothes –

even if they are in bigger

sizes than I would prefer;

how luxurious it is to have

your hair and make-up

done and to feel beautiful;

and how fun to work with

a team I’ve known forever.

So, on a cold afternoon

at a beautiful house that

is sadly not my own, I was

primped, dressed and

photographed. The team

and I laughed and caught

up on each other’s lives

before going our separate

ways a few hours later.

I should have gone

out for dinner with Tom

because I looked and

felt fantastic, but it was

a Monday. Tom told

me that I looked lovely

and I said, “Thank

you”, and then washed

the make-up off, put

on some comfy clothes

and set about making

dinner − because that’s

what’s important.

I used to think, when I

was young and starting my

career and surrounded by

women far more talented and

beautiful than me, that being

a cover girl was the be-all and

end-all. It meant I’d made it.

But really, being a cover girl

means you get to play dress-

ups, pretend for a few hours

and have fun. Then, if you’re

a lucky cover girl, you get to

go home and be real. And

look forward to the following

week when another cover

girl takes your place.

Life, love and

Leighton’s legacy

HARRY’S SWEET

TRIBUTE TO DIA

Inside Archie’s

christening

LYN OF TAWA!LONG LIVE

Ginette

McDonald’s next act

AMBITION BLONDE

THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE

WOOLWORTH HEIRESS

Sweet and solo! Poor little rich girl

DESSERTS DREAMY

FOR ONE

TRIBUTE TO DIANA

next act

REESE’S

POW ER PL AY

Ker re’s

INCREDIBLE

COMEBACK

l$July 22, 2019$4.70 ((incl GST))

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