She’s proudly loyal and trustworthy, so lying and deceiving her way through The Traitors NZ couldn’t have been more uncomfortable for Dancing With The Stars winner Loryn Reynolds.
In fact, playing a “traitor” on Three’s new reality series was so out of character, Loryn came home to longtime love Blair Smith and collapsed on the floor, bawling and “slightly broken”.
“I cried my eyes out and was unable to talk for two hours because the show was so emotionally overwhelming,” Loryn, 28, tells Woman’s Day. “Blair was a great support, picking me up and bringing me McDonald’s!”
While personal trainer Blair, 29, laughs about bringing her beloved fast food, she adores that he knew exactly what would bring her comfort. It’s why the couple are a perfect match and have since cemented their love with a romantic engagement in Italy.
The magical moment Loryn says “Yes” in Rome.
The globe-trotting adventure was a contrast to the early days of their relationship, spent confined at home during lockdowns. The two met at the Auckland gym Blair worked at in 2020 and quickly bonded over fitness, but he was wary of coming across as “the creepy trainer”, so it was Loryn who finally asked him out.
“I’m bold that way,” she laughs. “We had a strong connection. Then three weeks into dating, it was lockdown, so Blair moved in and never moved out! It just felt right.”
As they continued getting to know each other over hikes, workouts and morning coffees at Takapuna Beach, they also helped each other through the pandemic. Christchurch bloke Blair’s business took a hit, while Loryn – who won the 2019 series of DWTS with Manu Vatuvei – was devastated when the 2020 season was canned due to COVID.
“That was hard because it was my job and life, but Blair helped me through it,” she says. “Everything was easy when he moved in. We baked, worked on the deck and got familiar with our routines, which solidified how our lives could work together during a stressful time. We figured if we could get through that, we could get through anything.
I thought, ‘This guy’s special – hold onto him!'”
“I’m getting my pose on and suddenly Blair turns to me really emotional. I thought, ‘Oh, my God, this is it!’ It was like a fairytale”, said Loryn.
After Loryn filmed Traitors, the couple put their relationship to the test once again with a fun-filled European getaway.
Blair smiles, “They say if you can travel with your partner, you can do anything! It was both exciting and scary.”
Following a rough start as they both caught COVID in Paris, the couple arrived in Rome feeling better. Blair had consulted Loryn’s jeweller father Peter about making an engagement ring, but he wanted Loryn to have input, so he packed a dummy ring.
While taking sunset photos at the Colosseum, Blair snuck on to one knee as Loryn readjusted herself between shots. She laughs, “I look like a Muppet on the video because I’m getting my pose on and suddenly Blair turns to me really emotional. I thought, ‘Oh, my God, this is it!’ It was like a fairytale. I was in shock, then I said yes. It was perfect.” Onlookers clapped, before the couple celebrated with pizza and pasta.
The dreamy evening was magical following the emotional rollercoaster of Traitors. Having been forced to pull out of DWTS last year after her partner Eric Murray caught COVID, Loryn felt her career had lost some spark, so when Traitors came along, she stepped out of her comfort zone and signed up to “get the push I needed in life”.
Loryn hated lying to her mentor Colin.
She explains, “It was an opportunity to see how strong I am because the next step in our life is getting married and having a family, which will be another massive challenge.”
Loryn arrived at filming relieved to have mates Sam Smith, Brodie Kane and Colin Mathura-Jeffree among her co-stars. However, being one of the show’s traitors meant she had to put friendships aside.
Deceiving Colin proved one of her toughest moments – one she’s still guilt-ridden over. A close friend of her mum Julie, Colin’s known Loryn since she was 10 and supported the Miss Universe NZ finalist through her pageant journey.
Loryn recalls, “Colin asked, ‘You’re one of them, aren’t you?’ I said, ‘No, I couldn’t do that! I’d feel sick knowing I was a traitor.’ Colin’s been a mentor to me, so lying to his face was unnatural. I had to deceive people I care about. My heart sank and I felt such guilt.”
Loryn was distraught when she realised people were talking behind her back and even more so when Dan Sing, who she had an alliance with, betrayed her. But being eliminated felt like a weight being lifted from her shoulders – and Blair was thrilled to have her home.
They’re now excitedly planning their 2025 wedding and choreographing their first dance. Loryn smiles, “Marriage solidifies the love we have for each other and how we want to spend whatever time we have together.”
The Traitors NZ screens 7.30pm Mondays & Tuesdays on Three.
