It’s a long way from the competitive courts of Wimbledon and cut-throat catwalks of Miss World pageants to the serene bliss of Bali. But after years of globetrotting, former number one Kiwi tennis pro Dan King-Turner and pageant queen-turned-life coach Anna Trubuhovich couldn’t resist the pull of the Indonesian paradise.
“We kept going, ‘We’re not going to live here,’ and leaving,” says Anna. “We’d go live in London again, then say, ‘But we miss Bali!’”
As they chat to Woman’s Day from the dream villa they’ve built in Canggu, in the background lie the rice fields their daughters Mykonos, six, and Ela, four, trot across to go to school and the sprawling patio where they host barbecues – a staple of their Kiwi upbringings.
Anna grew up in Auckland, juggling a love for athletics – which saw her representing New Zealand – with beauty pageants. Her mum Rosemary first entered her in a baby show at four months old. Then, she went on to place second in Miss World NZ 1998, then represent Aotearoa abroad.
“It was great going to places like Germany and Australia,” reflects Anna, 45. “But people judge you on how you look and present yourself. I don’t know if I’d encourage my daughters to go into it. They would need a strong sense of self and to not look for validation from winning titles.”
Dan, 40, meanwhile, sought different titles while growing up playing tennis in Nelson, before moving to Christchurch and turning pro. He fondly recalls the career highlight of playing all four Grand Slams in 2010. While constantly being away from home was gruelling, his biggest hurdle was an ankle injury.
Yet it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, allowing him time to get to know Anna after they met at the Parnell Lawn Tennis Club.
“I happened to sit next to her, we started chatting and the rest is history!” says Dan. “She had an interest in tennis and had an athletic background, so it was easy conversation.”
Anna – who studied sports management, then worked in events and marketing while travelling the world – adds, “I enjoyed tennis and was always into sports psychology, so athletes fascinated me.”
Weeks later, Dan suffered an ankle injury and remained in Auckland rehabbing as the couple continued dating. He eventually returned to tennis, with Anna joining him abroad. While there, she took the opportunity to observe the top athletes.
“It was interesting seeing how everyone’s so talented on the tennis circuit. But the mental side, how they think or their beliefs, is what gave players the edge,” she says.
Meanwhile, Dan retired from professional tennis in 2013 before transitioning into e-commerce, then investments. “I got my ranking to 200, got injured, then got back to 200 again,” he recalls. “I’d given it everything I had.”
Anna became a life coach and was offered an internship in Ubud, Bali, the same year Dan finished with tennis. The couple had been living in Vancouver, then London and Dan was hesitant at first, but he found his feet in Bali’s surfing and CrossFit communities. They continued visiting yearly, but Bali’s pull became stronger after they became pregnant with Mykonos – on the Greek island of Mykonos, of course!
“Once she got older and we had Ela, travelling became more difficult and we needed a place to settle,” says Dan. “We’d tried Byron Bay, Melbourne and London, but Bali seemed like a cool place. We bought some land and began designing our dream home.”
Five years on, healthcare and communication struggles have been the biggest obstacles, but the lifestyle has enriched the family.
“We have our team who love children, so all the things that normally take you away from your kids are taken care of – cooking, cleaning and admin,” says Anna. “And the schooling’s amazing!”
The one thing that’s missing? A strong sports community, which the couple – who had a commitment ceremony while Anna was pregnant with Mykonos – both miss. However, Dan plays golf and Mykonos has taken up paddle tennis.
Dan also keeps busy with local investment projects, including building family-friendly villas. Meanwhile, Anna runs The Freebird Studio, a sanctuary at their home precinct, The Freebird Project.
“I wanted to create a space where people could let go of anger, resentment, sadness and grief,” she explains. “My passion lies in bringing people to a space where they can feel freedom and develop the self-responsibility of being your own healer.”
Anna encourages clients to be “your greatest hero” by following their dreams, rather than doing what society dictates or expects, and says Dan has been one of her biggest inspirations.
“Dan left school at 16, but he’s figured everything out along the way,” she explains. “Watching how he tries things without fear of getting it wrong is inspiring.”
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