After more than 20 years fighting the debilitating autoimmune disease systemic lupus, Michelle Peake associates being the centre of attention with hospital visits and excruciating pain. The very idea of a makeover or a pampering day is completely foreign to the 32-year-old Aucklander, who has almost lost her life several times as a result of the disease that attacks healthy tissue.
She lives each day tolerating agonising severe arthritis and swelling in her joints. On bad days she is unable to walk.
Despite her condition, the bubbly kindergarten teacher prefers to dedicate her life to others, caring for her students, her husband John and their miracle baby Sienna, who turned one last week.
When Michelle discovered that her mother Ginetta Mager had entered her into radio station The Breeze’s “Win a Wish” competition and she’d won an $800 Westfield voucher and makeover with the Weekly, she was shocked.
“I’m excited but nervous,” said Michelle before the makeover. “My medication has made me put on weight and I’m self-conscious. I’m not someone who makes a fuss over the way I look. I’m too busy looking after my baby or the kids at work.”
The busy mum wanted a cut she could easily maintain and that worked with straight and curly hair.
Michelle was given six months to live when she was diagnosed with lupus at age 11. But her mother Ginetta never gave up hope, seeking specialists in every field from rheumatology to homeopathy. Despite the odds, Michelle survived, but has endured severe health problems, including cirrhosis of the liver at age 17, followed by life-threatening chickenpox that resulted in her being isolated in an infectious diseases unit at Auckland Hospital.
“It was terrifying. I could feel my body shutting down and every time I moved I was in pain. I didn’t even have enough energy to open my eyes. I was so isolated and lonely. My family had to ‘gown up’ if they wanted to see me and hold my hand.
“I was cut off from the world by my condition. My dream was always just to get married and have a baby. I thought it wasn’t possible and I was told I probably wouldn’t be able to have kids,” says Michelle, who takes 15 different medications a day to manage her illness.
Michelle met husband John (39), a quantity surveyor, in 2010 and it took her a couple of months to sum up the courage to tell him of her condition. The couple married in December 2012 and were ecstatic when Michelle became pregnant.
“I’m so happy Sienna is in my world,” says Michelle, who adds that her little girl has not inherited her condition.
On the day of the makeover, Michelle comes armed with lots of ideas and photos on her phone to show award-winning Ryder Salon hairstylist Caleb Alex. She is absolutely delighted with the results.
“I really like the cut, it looks sophisticated. As a mum it was important to me that I could maintain my hairstyle, and they really listened.”
Michelle rarely wears make-up for work, but loves the self-assurance it gives her. After she had Sienna, Michelle developed a red pigmentation on her face, and Bobbi Brown make-up artist Sarahlee Russell teaches her tricks to cover up discolouration. She also shows her how to make the most of her eyes.
“The make-up is stunning, I just keep looking in the mirror, my eyes are amazing!” she says.
Michelle is going to use some of the voucher money to buy a pair of stylish, yet comfortable orthopaedic shoes to help with the arthritis in her feet, but admits she is daunted by the idea of buying clothes.
Before her lupus, Michelle was very athletic, but steroid medication has meant she has put on weight in her stomach area. Finding clothes to fit her shape is challenging.
“I am really self-conscious about my size and I have low self-esteem, so having photos taken is really challenging for me,” says Michelle.
Stylist Claudia Renford gives Michelle tips for how to dress for her body shape. A patterned empire line dress from City Chic helps give her definition and a bolero jacket covers up her arms – an area Michelle dislikes.
“The trick with boleros is to make sure they end on the thinnest part of your arm,” says Claudia.
Bobbi Brown make-up artist Sarahlee made the most of Michelle’s eyes with a matt smoky colour on the lid, as well as brushing cocoa eyeshadow under her lower lashes to give soft definition. Stylist Claudia used a blue top to bring out the colour in Michelle’s skin and added a bold necklace to draw the eye upward.
While her transformation has been “full on” it has made Michelle realise it’s okay to take a little time out for herself.
“Getting this done and getting my photo taken has been really good for my confidence. It’s so much easier for me to give to others, but you do need to learn how to receive sometimes.
“I’ve been through a lot, and the tough times are tough but the good times are good, and you’ve just got to be thankful for what you’ve got. If anything, I want people to learn from my story that you can’t give up, you’ve got to fight and you can achieve your dreams.”
