Anita Rani, 47, revealed that she was a “people-pleaser” and was looking forward to enjoying her independence after her split from her husband
Anita explores the Chatsworth Estate in Derbyshire for Countryfile this weekend(Image: BBC)
Countryfile presenter Anita Rani, who revealed her romance with Alex Lavery at London Fashion Week last month, says her life has transformed “dramatically” following the conclusion of her 14-year marriage last year.
During an appearance on Loose Women, Anita explained she is now prioritising her own needs after spending years as a “people-pleaser.”
“As you get older, you become more empowered,” she said. “My life has changed dramatically, so I’ve got a choice about what I do next, and I’d quite like to pay attention to growing myself as a woman and doing things that I’ve never done before.”
Among the new experiences she’s embracing is participating in Celebrity Race Across the World alongside her father, Bal. The third series of the show is scheduled to broadcast at 8pm on Thursday, November 6, on BBC One — directly preceding the finale of The Celebrity Traitors.
Anita says she’s feeling empowered in ‘chapter two’ of her life(Image: Channel 4)
Anita revealed that when she initially separated from her husband, navigating single life in her forties felt like “uncharted territory,” and she was eager to embrace her newfound freedom.
“I think I’m definitely a people-pleaser,” she says. “I think I’ve been brought up to be one. I think I’ve been conditioned to make sure that — while I can be independent and free-spirited — [I must] make sure nobody’s upset.”
The 47-year-old told The Sunday Times: “Becoming single in my mid-forties has made me re-evaluate everything. It has made me see how much I have been conditioned to be a dutiful woman, rather than a free woman.
“I was raised to be a high achiever,” she added, “to make my parents and family proud, but I was also raised never to bring shame. This is where it gets kind of problematic, especially if you are born with a vagina. So I guess I’ve lived in extreme conflict.”
Anita, seen here with with Gleb Savchenko, reached the Strictly semi-final(Image: Birmingham Mail)
The Bradford-born presenter explains that while Asian women are often viewed as “quite square and clever,” the reality is far more nuanced.
“I’ve hated being put into boxes my whole life,” she said.
In an interview with Good Housekeeping following the separation, Anita disclosed that she had returned to a flat purchased three decades earlier and was determined to transform it into her ideal sanctuary. “I feel like I’ve stepped into a place that I never, ever expected myself to be in.
“I’m in uncharted territory — I’m a single, Asian woman with no children, and do you know what? I love it!”
Anita expressed her enthusiasm for her fresh start and her anticipation for “chapter two.”
