Rachel Hunter - Rachel Hunter Details Devastation Over Pre-wedding Split

Rod Stewart's ex-wife was due to marry Canadian ice hockey star Jarret Stoll in California, but he decided to call off their big day six weeks before they walked down the aisle.

Hunter returned to her native New Zealand to help her get over the heartache and she has kept a low profile ever since.

Now the blonde beauty has spoken out about her devastation at the split, but admits she was foolish to plan to marry someone 13 years her junior.

Hunter tells Britain's Hello! magazine, "When Jarret made the decision... for us to split up the engagement and stuff, that set off a rollercoaster of emotions for me... And it's very hard: your self-esteem, your pride. I actually didn't realise at the time that it affected me as much as it did.

"I think there are always two sides to a story. And he was very much younger than me. I should have known better... But honestly, what was I thinking? He's so much younger. And it happened for the right reasons. As much as it's hard for you at that time, you realise there's a bigger picture, a bigger plan."

Hunter reveals her ego was badly damaged by the breakup, insisting it was Stoll who was desperate to get married.

She adds, "It was just so public. And having to sign a letter saying we're not going through with this marriage any more? That was awful. It's just such a stupid ego thing. And the funny thing is I wasn't the one who was pushing getting married, either. I didn't really mind either way. He was the one that wanted to get that rolling."