Photography: Babiche Martens.
When Toni Street blows out the candles on her 43rd birthday cake next month, there’ll be no complaints about another trip around the sun. The broadcaster is embracing her forties with open arms, feeling more confident, energetic and comfortable in her own skin than ever before.
It’s a hard-earned outlook that comes from facing some of life’s toughest challenges – and one in particular that’s left her deeply grateful for every birthday she gets to celebrate.
“You can either fight ageing or not and I’ve made a conscious decision to embrace growing older because it’s a privilege,” Toni tells Woman’s Day.
“I’ve never been someone who has fought against my age. Why would I? It would be exhausting. I’m really happy with where I am in life. Would I go back? No way!”
It’s a sunny winter afternoon when Toni welcomes us into the Auckland home she shares with husband Matt France and their kids, Juliette, 13, Mackenzie, 11, and Lachie, eight. By now, she’s already hosted Coast’s Breakfast show after a 4am start, fitted in a workout and coached her youngest daughter’s netball team.
A decade of change
Throw in a dash of jetlag after a whirlwind trip to France with skincare brand Vichy Laboratoires and she admits she’s more than ready for a relaxing chat before the children get home from school.
Coffee in hand, Toni laughs that she can’t quite believe it’s possible to fit so much into one day. Yet instead of feeling overwhelmed, she has more energy than she can remember. And that’s something she never takes for granted because it hasn’t always been this way.
A decade ago, life looked very different. Struck down by the rare autoimmune disease Churg-Strauss syndrome, Toni spent months desperately ill, undergoing daily steroid infusions and blood tests as doctors fought to bring the condition under control. There were times when she wondered if she’d ever feel well again.
“I distinctly remember being at home, waiting for a phone call from the liver specialist, completely yellow and wondering if I would ever get better. That was the lowest I’ve ever felt in my life.”
Feeling like herself again
Today, though, she’s thriving. After spending 10 years on daily steroid medication, Toni has finally been able to come off it thanks to a new biological drug – delivered by injection every three months. Combined with healthy eating and regular exercise, the change has been life-altering. Not only is her autoimmune condition under control, but she also feels better than she has in years.
“I feel amazing,” she says.
“When I was on the steroids, I felt more out of control over my weight. One day, I’d think, ‘My face looks alright today,’ and then the next day, I’d feel really swollen and puffy. A lot of that was the inflammation from the autoimmune disease.”
The improvement has also seen Toni lose around 12kg over the past 18 months, but she insists the biggest win isn’t what she sees in the mirror.
“I do care what I look like and I like looking nice, but it’s not the be-all and end-all of my life. It’s definitely not my highest priority and I think that’s a healthy way to be.”
It’s a message Toni’s passing on to her daughters.
She explains, “I don’t look at someone else and think, ‘I wish I looked like that.’ We’re all different and I like that. I tell my girls to focus on being the best version of themselves.”
A perspective shaped by loss
It’s not just her own health battle that’s shaped Toni’s outlook. The heartbreaking loss of three siblings has also left an indelible mark. Her twin brother Lance died from cancer at just 18 months old, her newborn sister Tracey passed away after only a few days and when Toni was 18, her 14-year-old brother Stephen was killed in a farm bike accident.
Asked whether those experiences make her more grateful for growing older, Toni doesn’t hesitate.
“All the time. It makes me see the world totally differently. I know how fortunate I am to be here, and to have this amazing family and all these opportunities to enjoy life. I’ll never take that for granted.”
Life isn’t completely drama-free, of course. Toni continues to manage a prolapsed disc in her neck with cortisone injections and physiotherapy, and like many women in their forties, she’s navigating perimenopause.
Severe knee pain, fatigue and subtle mood changes, which started in her late thirties, eventually led her to hormone replacement therapy two years ago.
She smiles, “The joint pain disappeared almost immediately.”
Reinventing herself
Another source of renewed energy has been the runaway success of her Confident Communication business. Launched just over a year ago, the online course has opened an exciting new chapter in Toni’s career, proving to herself that women can continue reinventing themselves well into their forties and beyond. While launching her own business has been challenging at times, it’s given her a new lease on life.
“I feel like I’ve had quite a transformation over the past year,” she says.
“I’ve proved to myself that I could start a business and that the course is valuable to people. It’s given me a new sense of excitement and it feels like it’s what I’m meant to be doing.”
The former TVNZ presenter says years spent in television, radio, podcasting, hosting and public speaking have all led to this point.
“I remember thinking, ‘Why didn’t I do this earlier?’ But then I realised things happen at the right time. I don’t think I would’ve been ready to share everything I’ve learnt as well as I can now. I genuinely feel this is only the start of the journey.”
Unexpected opportunities
This new chapter is already opening unexpected doors, with keynote speaking engagements and MCing opportunities coming along every week, plus the opportunity to become an ambassador to Vichy Laboratoires.
On her trip to France with the skincare brand, she struck up a close friendship with former Home And Away actress Jodi Gordon, with the pair spending a day at the Louvre together.
Toni grins, “I still have to pinch myself sometimes at the amazing opportunities that come along.”
Her greatest role
But for all her career success, Toni – who is the first Kiwi to represent Vichy – says nothing compares to being mum to Juliette, Mackenzie and Lachie. While waking at 4am isn’t always easy, there are plenty of upsides. She gets to be home for school pick-up, spend afternoons on the netball sideline and enjoy family time. She loves nothing more than being part of her children’s lives. All three are deeply involved in sport, theatre and school life.
“I love that I get those afternoons with my kids. I could be working a nine-to-five, which would be much harder on family life. That’s the first place my brain goes whenever I feel a bit sorry for myself when the alarm goes off.”
A gift beyond words
Toni’s eyes fill with tears as she talks about youngest son, who was born via surrogacy thanks to the generosity of close friend Sophie Braggins. Not a day goes by when the star doesn’t stop to think about his miraculous start in life.
“I’ve been feeling it a lot lately,” she admits.
“With my third child, I realise every stage is the last time I’ll experience it. He’s still so squidgy and cuddly, and I just love him so much. We all do.”
As Toni prepares to celebrate another birthday, she’ll be sure to take a moment to reflect on all she has.
“I just feel incredibly grateful. I know I’m lucky to be here and have this life, so I’m going to make sure I fit a lot in and make every day count.”
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