Suzanne's queen of Kiwi dance
A woman who left Wolverhampton and became a national celebrity in New Zealand has won the Kiwi version of Strictly Come Dancing. A woman who left Wolverhampton and became a national celebrity in New Zealand has won the Kiwi version of Strictly Come Dancing. Suzanne Paul, aged 50, won Dancing With The Stars and is now in talks with a TV firm about presenting a new series and is writing a motivational book. She started life as Susan Barnes living in a Whitmore Reans house without an inside toilet. She became a self- made millionaire in New Zealand by selling her own beauty products but then lost her fortune in an ill-conceived holiday venture. She said winning the competition, and being scrutinised by Craig Revell Horwood was the hardest thing she had ever had to do. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Suzanne Paul, aged 50, won Dancing With The Stars and is now in talks with a TV firm about presenting a new series and is writing a motivational book. She started life as Susan Barnes living in a Whitmore Reans house without an inside toilet.
She became a self- made millionaire in New Zealand by selling her own beauty products but then lost her fortune in an ill-conceived holiday venture.
She said winning the competition, and being scrutinised by Craig Revell Horwood was the hardest thing she had ever had to do.
She said: "It's been a whirlwind of publicity. I feel like I've been through the mangle." Suzanne trained for seven hours a day while in the competition and danced in the final with a fractured rib.
"I knew it would be worth all the pain if I won, and it was," she said. In the final she was against former girl band star Megan Alatini, 20 years her junior, but her Cha Cha and Tango wowed the audience before a final freestyle dance scored one nine and three tens, including one from harsh UK judge Craig Revell Horwood.
She said: "I'm getting lots of requests to dance at corporate functions and fundraisers, but I need lots of rest first as I still feel completely exhausted and drained."
After moving to New Zealand in 1991 and being a sales demonstrator she travelled selling her own products. Five years later she sold her Prestige Marketing firm for £14.5 million and became a popular television personality.
