Model and entrepreneur Lottie Tomlinson has spoken candidly about the devastating impact of grief on her life, revealing how she navigated the traumatic losses of her mother and sister within just a few years.
Facing Unimaginable Loss
At just 27 years old, Lottie has experienced more tragedy than many face in a lifetime. Her life changed forever when her mother, Johannah Deakin, died in December 2016 at only 43 years old following a leukaemia diagnosis. The family's world was shattered again in March 2019 when Lottie's 18-year-old sister Félicité, an aspiring fashion designer, died from a tragic overdose.
Lottie believes her sister's death was a direct result of unresolved grief. "When we lost my mum, my sister struggled a lot," she explained. "We were just a normal family living in the North, and therapy wasn't a thing. Once my mum died, we were never offered any kind of professional help."
The Path to Healing
After Félicité's death, Lottie recognised she needed professional support to process her despair. She contrasts her two experiences with grief: "The first time round, I didn't talk about it enough. I did a lot of bottling up, and it left me in some pretty dark places, whereas with my sister, I did get the help, and I did talk, and I found it's so much more manageable."
This journey through heartbreak to healing became the foundation for her Sunday Times bestselling memoir Lucky Girl, which has resonated deeply with readers facing similar losses.
Building a New Life Amidst Grief
Despite her profound anguish, Lottie has carved out happiness with former tennis player Lewis Burton and their two young children: three-year-old Lucky and 10-month-old Flossie. The couple's life together has been touched by grief too - Lewis lost his former girlfriend, television presenter Caroline Flack, to suicide in August 2019.
Lewis recently addressed Caroline's passing amid a new Disney+ documentary made by her mother, Christine. Although he declined to appear in the programme, he released a statement via Instagram saying: "Out of respect, I've chosen to remain silent. However, the false accusations and online abuse directed toward me and my family has gone too far. I had hoped it would never come to this, but now I have no choice but to clarify the situation and share the truth."
Breaking Taboos Around Death
Lottie is now determined to break the silence surrounding grief and end-of-life planning. She takes a "matter-of-fact" approach when discussing death with her children, believing simplicity helps them understand.
"My son is three now, and he's getting to an age where I can start talking about his nanny in heaven and his auntie in heaven," she shared. "It just makes me feel like, at least they're still a part of their life even though they're not physically here."
New research reveals that one in three Brits (34%) have never discussed their end-of-life wishes with loved ones, while over 40% avoid the topic entirely. This silence can create additional distress for families, with an estimated £80 billion lost when relatives cannot locate important documents.
Drawing from her personal experiences, Lottie has partnered with Legacy Hub, a digital vault and end-of-life planning service that helps people store key documents and express funeral wishes. She's encouraging those facing bereavement to open up about their feelings and seek the support needed to navigate those initial dark periods.
