Denise Lewis, 53, breaks her silence on her divorce from husband of 17 years as she insists she’s ‘stronger’ and ‘more prepared to speak my mind’

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As someone who always emphasizes self-care and finding inner happiness, I can really relate to Denise Lewis’ recent announcement. She’s shared that she feels ‘at peace’ with herself following her divorce from Steve Finan, and honestly, that’s the most important thing. It’s so inspiring to hear her prioritize her own well-being during this transition. It just goes to show, finding peace within is possible, even during challenging times.

For the first time, the 53-year-old athlete has publicly discussed the end of her 17-year marriage. She recently confirmed the split in an Instagram post, revealing that she and her husband had quietly separated two years prior.

Last year, The Mail on Sunday reported that Steve, who managed Liam Payne for seven years before his passing, left the family home in Buckinghamshire where he lived with his wife and their three sons.

Denise now acknowledges that poor communication was a major issue in her past relationship, but she’s feeling positive and focused on a new chapter in her life.

I feel like I’ve grown as a person and found inner peace. I still have goals, but more importantly, I’m confident and secure in who I am.

I deserve to prioritize my own happiness and well-being. That doesn’t mean I’m selfish – I simply recognize my own value and believe I deserve to be a priority in my life, more so than constantly putting others first.

In a recent interview on HELLO!’s Second Act podcast, Denise discussed what’s most important to her in a marriage. She emphasized that open ‘communication is key,’ and that partners need to share similar ‘values.’

She explained that regular communication is really important, especially in long-term relationships or when people are going through big changes in their lives.

She explained that problems often arise in a marriage when one person starts to change without communicating those changes and checking in with their partner about how they are also evolving.

Successful relationships, in my opinion, depend on accepting your partner’s flaws, understanding your own boundaries, and clearly expressing what you need.

From where I stand, seeing couples thrive really comes down to prioritizing the relationship itself. If you don’t actively carve out time and make it the central focus, things get tough – honestly, really tough. It’s something I see time and time again with my clients; consistent effort and dedicated time are key.

It’s important to value people for everything that makes them unique – their personality, beliefs, and how they grow and change. If you forget that, you’ve lost the connection, haven’t you?

After being separated for two years, Denise – who has three sons, Ryan (19), Kane (16), and Troy (7), as well as a 22-year-old daughter, Lauryn, from a previous relationship with Patrick Stevens – says she feels more energetic than she has in ten years.

She feels much more comfortable expressing her thoughts and opinions now, which she sees as a positive change. She’s still learning and figuring things out in life, but feels a renewed sense of energy – more than she has in the past ten years.

I need give-and-take in my relationships. I’m definitely more open and honest, and I’m comfortable expressing what I think.

A big part of her personal transformation was gaining the confidence to do her first lingerie photoshoot, resulting in a beautiful series of images for Coco de Mer.

I was so inspired when I first saw Denise wearing those suspenders! She shared that it was a deliberate choice – a way to redefine what it means to be over 50. It was all about showing the world that sensuality doesn’t fade with age, and that we absolutely should celebrate feeling good in our own skin, no matter how old we are. It really resonated with me, and I think it’s a powerful message for all women.

You still feel attractive and in control of your own sexuality, and that’s really important to who I am as a person right now.

Feeling empowered by a positive life change, she recently wrote a self-help book called Seven Lessons to Thrive In A World Of Competing Demands. She says the last ten years have been a period of significant personal growth, explaining, ‘I’ve become much stronger and more confident, and I’m now in a really good place in my life.’

Denise won gold for Team GB in the heptathlon at the Olympic Games in Sydney, 2000.

After retiring from competition, she worked as a commentator for the BBC for ten years, but recently left the position following the Olympic Games in Paris last summer.

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2025-12-15 18:04