Entertainer Megan Alatini is warming up her vocal cords just in case she’s asked to sing the national anthem at any of the FIFA Women’s World Cup games this month.
For the international event, she’s been selected as a “Beyond Greatness Champion”, one of the inspirational women from New Zealand and Australia chosen to help promote the World Cup. She joins other impressive women such as Air New Zealand chair Dame Therese Walsh, Olympic gold medal snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and former Football Ferns captain Maia Jackman.
The TrueBliss singer, who was born in South Africa and raised in New Zealand, has already hosted many social events to promote the World Cup, but says she’d be honoured if she was asked to sing as well.
“I will stand up on the podium and sing our national anthem with pride,” the 46-year-old says with a smile.
Megan was married to former All Black Pita Alatini and admits rugby is the main sport of choice in her home. But she says being a football ambassador means she is learning more about the game.
“I’ve been able to take the skills that I’ve used to help lift the game of rugby to promote football and make sure that our wāhine are taking centre stage,” she explains. “I’m grateful that even now, after many years out of the media spotlight, I am invited to uphold such invaluable roles.
“It’s a job I do not take lightly. The event has such an extensive global reach and it will help Aotearoa be showcased on a bigger platform. It’s something I do with pride.”
Megan took another leap of faith earlier this year when she quit her jobs as a performance trainer at Air New Zealand and at an Auckland accountancy firm to become a freelancer and be her own boss.
“This is me!” Megan has started her own business venture.
She started work at Air New Zealand when she returned to Auckland after eight years living in Japan for Pita’s professional rugby career. Starting at the national airline as a flight attendant, she quickly moved up the ranks to performance coach. Now she’s taking the corporate skills she’s learned to make it on her own as a contractor.
“I help companies with coaching, mentoring and recruitment,” she tells. “I get to work alongside small and large companies, and with a variety of different industries. For me, it’s taken all I have done over the years to create my own brand.
“It’s about being brave enough to step outside a particular office-bound space and say, ‘This is me and this is what I can do to serve you.'”
There have been big changes in her personal life as well. Her three kids, Tonica, 29, Tiara, 28, and Trey, 18, have left home, and after two decades of marriage, Megan and Pita have mutually parted.
“We have had personal and transformational changes as a couple and a family,” she says. “Pita and I will remain best friends for the rest of our lives.”
Kids (from left) Tiara, Tonica and Trey are supportive of Pita and Megan’s decision.
Last year, the high-school sweethearts publicly spoke about a trial separation before reuniting again. Since then, they have discovered it is best if they remain as best friends and not a couple.
“We still have such love and respect for each other, but we are at different phases of life. We can have a clear conscience because our children are also supportive of our decision.”
Their children have grown to be independent and are forging their own futures. Tonica works as a sales and marketing manager in Auckland, Tiara is one of New Zealand’s young up-and-coming DJs, and Trey is set to move to Japan to attend university on a rugby scholarship.
During Megan’s revelation to the Weekly, she receives a text from Pita, with the content proving how close the couple remains. She reads out the text, which says, “Always proud of your work. Love you!”
She adds, “There’s no animosity, no ugliness or any messiness. That’s the place we’re at.”
Megan is optimistic about finding that special love again. She’s even becoming a marriage celebrant and already has three weddings booked.
She acknowledges that everyone goes through different phases in life and she’s ready to embrace new challenges.
“As women, we go through a lot of changes,” she reflects. “We go through hormonal changes, we go through money blues. The last two years have been tumultuous. Not only with Covid and lockdowns, but also with career and life changes.
“I’m in a transitional stage. I feel like I’m coming into my own and I’m starting to find my own voice outside of Megan, the wife of Pita Alatini, or Megan, the mum of three, or Megan from TrueBliss.
“I’m proud and grateful for all of these experiences. But now, I’m able to say that this is who I am and this is what I represent. It’s allowing me to carve out my own brand and my own identity.”
