Suzanne Paul

Paul was born in Wolverhampton and grew up in the working class area of Whitmore Reans.[https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2007/06/08/suzannes-queen-of-kiwi-dance/ Suzanne's queen of Kiwi dance], Express & Star, 8 June 2007. Accessed 15 April 2009.{{Cite web |date=2018-06-26 |title=Suzanne Paul Talks About Why Life Is Finally Going To Be All About Her |url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/lifestyle/career/suzanne-paul-name-change-38277/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Now to Love - New Zealand |language=en-AU}} She described her childhood as "very low-working class", saying her family home lacked an indoor toilet and hot water.{{Cite web |last=Dann |first=Liam |date=5 September 2024 |title=Suzanne Paul on escaping poverty: ‘I made up my mind...I’m not having this life’ |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/suzanne-paul-talks-escaping-poverty-her-bold-move-to-nz-and-how-she-built-up-her-career-money-talks/4VH3XBBZBNHMRFHYMJGXUSYTDA/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}} Paul's mother left their family, and she was raised by her father, who worked long hours at a factory. As an older child, Paul earned pocket money helping clean tables in a local pub.

Paul has said she struggled at school due to dyscalculia and was expelled at age 15. She worked as a sales demonstrator for almost two decades in the United Kingdom.Jo Bailey, [http://www.herbusinessmagazine.com/Articles/March+08.html#her%20inspiration her inspiration], Her Magazine, March 2008. Accessed 15 April 2009. She came to New Zealand in 1991.

In her early career, Paul became known for selling products such as Natural Glow makeup (known for the catchphrase "thousands of luminous spheres"), the Massage Pillow and the Suzanne Clip.{{cite news |last1=Gleason |first1=Emma |title=Suzanne Paul, Timeline of a Media Maven |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/viva/culture/suzanne-paul-timeline-of-a-media-maven/TDZZQLMJ4FGWHMQSBFSYPNIJCU/ |access-date=1 October 2024 |work=Viva magazine |date=21 March 2024}}

In April 2004, she opened Rawaka Māori Village, a tourist centre in Auckland, which she described as "cabaret meets kapa haka".{{cite news |last1=Waiwiri-Smith |first1=Lyric |title=Remembering Suzanne Paul’s ‘cursed’ Māori Village |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/10-07-2024/remembering-suzanne-pauls-cursed-maori-village |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=The Spinoff |date=10 July 2024}} The Rotorua Daily Post said the venture was shunned by some Māori who described it as "tiki tacky and culturally questionable".{{cite news |title='Tiki tacky' tourist attraction annoys Maori |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/tiki-tacky-tourist-attraction-annoys-maori/GZ3MCZOGUM35VB4D7MXFQ3M6OM/ |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=Rotorua Daily Post |date=12 January 2004}} The venture closed in July 2004 and was put into voluntary liquidation, owning more than $1 million. A year later, Paul was declared bankrupt. She vowed to pay back her debts and sought early discharge from bankruptcy.{{cite news |last1=Gregory |first1=Angela |title=Bankrupt Suzanne Paul ready to pay back $1m debts |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/bankrupt-suzanne-paul-ready-to-pay-back-1m-debts/YO6V77GSF7SXIJTOUMQMBPRSB4/ |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=New Zealand Herald |date=12 May 2006}}

In 2007, Paul won Dancing with the Stars with dance partner Stefano Olivier,{{cite news |title=Suzanne Paul wins Dancing With the Stars |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/suzanne-paul-wins-dancing-with-the-stars/K2KBIAFNMNSPERNOQP6TFIQ254/ |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=New Zealand Herald |date=29 May 2007}} despite breaking a rib in the final. {{cite web |title=Suzanne Paul |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/suzanne-paul |website=NZ on Screen |access-date=28 September 2024}}

Paul had her own television series, Second Honeymoon, Garage Sale and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, which screened on TVNZ, as well as appearing in many other top-rating New Zealand television programs like City Celebrity Country Nobody, Celebrity Treasure Island (2003 and 2024), How's Life, Outrageous Fortune, Intrepid Journeys, Pulp Sport, Best Bits, What Now, and Good Morning.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In 1994, she released a dance music single, "Blue Monkey".{{cite web |title=Blue Monkey |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/blue-monkey-1994 |website=NZ on Screen |access-date=28 September 2024}} In 2010, under the name Suzy P, she featured in a duet called "Stranger Danger" with rapper Scribe.{{cite web |title=Stranger Danger - Suzanne Paul and Scribe |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMnnlC-wQaQ |website=YouTube |access-date=28 September 2024}}

In September 2008, Paul published a memoir titled But Wait, There's More.[http://www.penguin.com.au/lookinside/spotlight.cfm?SBN=9780143010050 But Wait There's More, by Suzanne Paul], Penguin Books Australia. Accessed 15 April 2009. In August 2009, she launched her own clothing range, Suzanne Paul Petites sizes 8 to 16, for women 5 ft 4 inches and under, and the Short & Sweet range in sizes 6 to 18.

From July to August 2010, Paul had a starring role in the stage show, Stepping Out, by Richard Harris.{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/play/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502915&objectid=10651673|title=Review: Stepping Out at SkyCity Theatre|publisher=New Zealand Herald|date=13 June 2010|first=Paul|last=Simei-Barton}} In 2011, Suzanne appeared in the stage show Dirty Dusting.{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/lifestyle-entertainment/entertainment/5091454/Suzanne-Paul-tries-phone-sex|title=Suzanne Paul tries phone sex|publisher=Nelson Mail|date=2 June 2011}}

In 2021, Paul appeared as a guest in episode 5 of the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under.{{cite news |last1=Brooks |first1=Sam |title=Drag Race Down Under power rankings: RuPaul meets Suzanne Paul |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/29-05-2021/drag-race-down-under-power-rankings-rupaul-meets-suzanne-paul |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=The Spinoff |date=29 May 2021}}

In 2022, online news website The Spinoff described her as "New Zealand's undisputed infomercial queen" who "has a knack for reinventing herself and popping up where we least expect her to".{{cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Tara |title=But wait, there’s more: Suzanne Paul is a YouTuber now |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/27-06-2022/but-wait-theres-more-suzanne-paul-is-a-youtuber-now |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=The Spinoff |date=27 June 2022}}

Paul has been married three times. Her first marriage was to Dean Kilworth, whom she met when she was 40. Their marriage failed in part due to the stress of unsuccessful IVF treatments.{{cite web |url=http://nz.lifestyle.yahoo.com/b/newideanz/92/suzanne-paul-reveals-im-a-mum-at-last/ |title=Suzanne Paul reveals: "I'm a mum at last" |work=New Idea |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216124523/https://nz.lifestyle.yahoo.com/new-idea/star-watch/article/-/5982769/suzanne-paul-reveals-im-a-mum-at-last/|archive-date=2015-02-16 |date=10 December 2007}} In 2005, she married Duncan Wilson. They divorced in 2016 due to Wilson's struggle with Asperger syndrome.{{cite web |url=https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/celebrity/celeb-news/the-sad-truth-behind-suzanne-pauls-marriage-split-1732 |title=The sad truth behind Suzanne Paul's marriage split |date=13 September 2016 |work=Woman's Weekly |first=Nicky |last=Pellegrino}} In March 2020, she became engaged to drummer Patrick Kuhtze. He had also been married twice before.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/suzanne-paul-engagement-joy-and-why-women-should-never-give-up-on-love/3GE3EMBMOO67CJUCAJAWECC5SU/ |title=Suzanne Paul: Engagement joy and why women should never give up on love |date=1 May 2020 |work=New Zealand Herald |first=Rebecca |last=Blithe}} The wedding was planned for October 2021,{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/suzanne-paul-reveals-the-lessons-shes-learned-at-64-i-now-know-i-can-survive-anything/UWT2GAHSXKMQJ6BAYZGLZ4HTJE/ |title=Suzanne Paul reveals the lessons she's learned at 64: 'I now know I can survive anything' |date=5 June 2021 |work=New Zealand Herald |first=Fleur |last=Guthrie}} but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2021/09/suzanne-paul-hospitalised-after-collapsing-during-zoom-call.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922042449/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2021/09/suzanne-paul-hospitalised-after-collapsing-during-zoom-call.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 September 2021 |title=Suzanne Paul hospitalised after collapsing during Zoom call |date=22 September 2021 |work=Newshub |first=Dan |last=Lake}} They got married on 30 October 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/suzanne-pauls-romantic-runaway-wedding-it-feels-different/7BKBMFDXURD6XJCJ4QUZ7BBCUA/|newspaper=The New Zealand Women's Weekly|date=17 December 2022|title=Suzanne Paul's 'romantic runaway wedding': 'It feels different'|first=Wendyl|last=Nissen}}

• List of New Zealand television personalities

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Category:1956 births

Category:Living people

Category:New Zealand television presenters

Category:New Zealand women television presenters

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand TV series) winners

Category:English emigrants to New Zealand

Category:People from Wolverhampton