Jane McDonald on life, love and coping

Singer Jane McDonald has had her fair share of ups and downs in life. At 45 she tells us why she is happier now than she has ever been, and shares her advice for coping with life’s setbacks.

Hearing the stories of others can often provide the inspiration we need to make changes in our own lives. And Jane McDonald is one woman with an inspiring story to tell. From achieving fame and adulation on 'The Cruise' in the ‘90s, to losing it all and hitting rock bottom, her great comeback shows that our lives are not shaped by events, but by our attitudes to them. And no matter how low we go, with determination and perseverance it is possible to turn it all around. But she is also very much aware how difficult this can be in practical terms.

 

‘If somebody told me 10 years ago that this is where I would be today, I wouldn't have been able to believe it,' says Jane. ‘Mind you,' she adds with a rueful laugh. ‘If they had told me what I would have to go through to get it, I would have just got my coat and left!'

 

Now a regular on ITV's ‘Loose Women', Jane has just released a new album ‘Jane' and is currently on a nationwide tour to promote it. In the past 10 years she has sold hundreds of thousands of albums, sold out venues worldwide, including the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and entered the Guinness Book of Records for being the first artist to top the album charts without a prior release.

 

Coping with divorce

 

But in that time she also suffered the breakdown of her marriage to Henrik Brixen, after a very public wedding, celebrated on TV and watched by millions. After an equally public split, she hit rock bottom she admits. But she turned a negative experience into a positive one when she was asked to join the panel of ‘Loose Women'.

 

‘Loose Women happened five years ago when Henrik had left and I was starting to come out of my cocoon. I had to take a good look at my life, and ask myself, who was going to pay the bills? I come from working class roots and I just had to get back out there, get myself back to work.

 

I look back on that time now and think, thank God all that happened. Because of everything that went wrong, I had to learn to take control. I also learned that nobody makes you happy except yourself. Don't ever depend on others to make your life complete.'

 

Beating self pity

 

She explains that for a long time she could only think about what she had lost. ‘I was thinking "poor me" for ages. Then one day I realised that I had done perfectly well in life before I met Henrik - it's easy to forget what a great person you are, and to overlook all your own achievements.'

 

Now riding on the crest of the wave, she says she is hugely grateful to her fans who have stuck with her through the years.

 

‘With this album I had to make a big decision - a life-changing decision. There were record deals on offer but they weren't offering what I knew I needed - everybody wanted to just push the ‘cruise singer' angle. So I decided to take the risk and fund the album myself and it has really paid off. I'm in a great place right now and I'm absolutely loving it - but I'll never take it for granted.'

 

Jane's advice: On life

 

We are given choices every day. Don't waste energy coming up with reasons why you can't do something. Take the opportunities you are given.

 

Don't dwell on loss. Look at what you've got right now.

 

Never overlook your achievements. It's easy to forget sometimes what a great person you are - but you should always keep this in mind.

 

Jane's advice: On looks

 

Try everything. I'm lucky enough to have stylists and make up artists to work with, but I use their expertise to find out what works for me. And I let them try new things all the time. Sometimes I end up looking like a drag queen, but sometimes it works and I think ‘that looks great'.

 

Visit the makeup counters at big department stores and have a free makeover. Keep trying things and you will find new looks that really work for you.

 

Jane's beauty secrets

 

For my skincare routine I use the Dermalogica range, it works for me. And my beauty must-haves are mascara and lip gloss - two absolute essentials!

 

Album and tour dates

 

Jane is touring throughout the UK until the end of the year, for venues and dates visit her website at www.jane-mcdonald.com

Her new album 'Jane' is on sale now - to buy, click here. 

 

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Looking for more inspiration? Read:

 

Gok Wan's top tips on looking good at any age 

 

Anti-ageing advice from the A-listers 

 

Your relationships: How to solve the five most common problems