13 things about Miss Universe 1983 Lorraine Downes

Lorraine Elizabeth Downes is the first Miss Universe from New Zealand. She represented the country in the 32nd edition of the international beauty pageant.

BIOGRAPHY

Downes is a Kiwi style and wellness consultant, dancer and beauty queen from Pakuranga, Auckland, New Zealand. Born in Auckland to Lloyd Downes and Glad Downes, Lorraine has three sisters namely Sue Downes, Jenny Downes and Carolyn Downes.

Lorraine has two children. Here are 13 more things about her:

1. She won Miss Mount Maunganui 1983.
2. She won Miss Universe 1983.
3. In 1986, she married Murray Mexted.
4. In 1987, her father died.
5. In 1995, she gave birth to Hilton Mexted.
6. In 1999, she gave birth to Jasmine Mexted
7. In 2001, she and Murray divorced.
8. In 2005, she started dating Russell Crowe‘s cousin Martin Crowe.
9. In 2006, she won “Dancing with the Stars New Zealand” Season 2.
10. In 2008, she and Martin started trying for a baby.
11. In 2009, she married Martin.
12. In 2012, she became the primary caregiver of Martin after his diagnosis with lymphoma.
13. On June 12, 2025, she turned 61.

TIMELINE

Downes is 5’8¹⁄₂” tall. While she and Martin were trying for a baby, she became pregnant but miscarried.

1980s

• On July 11, 1983, she represented New Zealand at Miss Universe 1983 and competed against 79 other candidates at the Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. She won the title.
• On July 9, 1984, she crowned her successor Miss Universe 1984 Yvonne Ryding at the James L. Knight Convention Center in Miami, Florida, USA.

2000s

• She and her partner Aaron Gilmore won “Dancing with the Stars New Zealand” Season 2, which aired on TV One from May 7, 2006 to June 25, 2006.
• On February 14, 2009, she and Martin got married.

2010s

• She took care of Martin until his death on March 3, 2016 in Auckland at age 53.
• On August 1, 2018, A&U New Zealand published her book “Life, Loss, Love: A Memoir”.

2020s

• On July 12, 2023, “The Rise and Fall of Miss New Zealand”, a documentary about her and other Kiwi beauty queens, premiered on Sky TV’s Rialto Channel.
• On March 3, 2024, she took to Facebook to share photos of her and Martin with a caption, “Today eight years ago you left us. Forever missed my darling and forever loved.”