RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
At left Sandra Foster, former Miss Universe, speaks about family, friends, being a beauty queen and her decision to become a Christian. At right is a FILE PHOTO, Miss World Caribbean Queen of Beauty and Miss Jamaica World 1991, Sandra Foster, glows in a Gottex swimsuit from Harrods. Here, she poses on the Chelsea Harbour, North End Road, London.
Kavelle Anglin-Christie, Staff Reporter
She is regarded as one of the country's most beautiful former pageant queens, but withdrew from the limelight for what she says is her true calling.
Sandra Foster-Mahfood has no regrets of becoming a Christian and leaving the glamour behind.
Jamaica was introduced to Sandra in the 1989 Miss Jamaica Universe competition when she was only 19 years old. That year she went on to become a semi-finalist in the international version of the competition by placing in the top ten.
Then in 1991 she made another mark in the Miss World Competition, where she placed fourth and earned the title 'Miss World Caribbean Queen of Beauty.' She was the first to hold both the Miss Jamaica World and Universe crowns, until Christine Straw repeated her feat in 1998 and 2004, respectively.
"I didn't necessarily want to enter but I was encouraged by some friends and family at the time, but it wasn't something that I wanted to do. I was more into modelling and that sort of thing," she said during her interview with The Sunday Gleaner at a St. Andrew cafe.
Even today, age hasn't diminished Sandra's beauty.
Dressed simply, in a red tee-shirt and a pair of jeans, and drinking what looked like a cappuccino, Sandra is still a beauty. She hasn't bothered with any makeup, but her skin is flawless and there is not a strand of hair out of place.
But, still, it's not her beauty that defines her. It's because she decided to give up what she says was her childhood dream of modelling for something greater: serving God.
"I guess I had always been searching for, I don't know if the right word is happiness, I don't know. But there came a point in my life when I felt the Lord was calling me. He just kept sending Christians into my life, through friendships and those who lived a different kind of lifestyle," she said.
That was almost 13 years ago.
mixed reactions
Sandra says after she made the decision to become a Christian, she got a lot of mixed reactions from those around her. "I guess, firstly there were those who didn't understand and would be wondering why I made that decision," she said. "They thought it wasn't cool or popular, but then there were also those who were happy for me but still kept themselves at a distance, because I guess, of not understanding."
She says though the competition gave her a lot of exposure, it still didn't make her feel complete. "There was a lot of travelling and that sort of thing, but it never really gave me the sort of satisfaction that I was looking for."
Sandra says after she became a Christian she fully understood her purpose: "I began to understand more of what the meaning of life was about and I considered that there was a purpose for my life and that has been very encourag-ing and given me a lot of hope."
A few months after her conversion, Sandra found someone who understood her desire to follow Christ. She married Ricky when she was 24 years old, and says the two found strength in each other and in God.
The two attend the Swallowfield Chapel and Sandra says spreading the gospel has been their focus. "Each of us has a purpose when we come to know the Lord to commit to growing, knowing and studying the Word and to encourage those who also want to give their lives to the Lord. So discipleship we believe is the heartbeat of why we are called to be Christians."
time for the kids
However, she says she always has to make time for her five children. "Right now the focus is the children because they are young."
She spoke fondly about life as a mother. "I didn't know it was so much responsibility, but it is a blessing and I realise that there is a purpose in everything we do. I was raised to be very career oriented, so this life has been really, kinda different for me and I feel that this is where God wants me. But I'm learning like everybody else. I don't think that anybody can have it down pat on how to be an excellent mother. "
Though Sandra is a far way from her childhood dream of modelling, she says she doesn't regret modelling or her later decision to leave it behind: "I see everything as steps that the Lord used to lead me to Him. From I was a child I longed to know what that was about, but having been in it, I realise that it can't satisfy the longings of the soul. There can still be a void in your heart, even when you have what looks like success."
Sandra, however, still keeps abreast of the competitions, and had a few things to say about this year's queen, Terri-Karelle Griffith.
"I think she's cute. I think on the night of the competition she did very well and I'm happy to read that she is making waves over there. Every woman has to know that her beauty comes from within even though they are being judged by different standards of beauty, some there will be blonde with blue eyes, some with long Indian hair, but they also look for persons with a strong personality. I think she has the potential to do very well and will do well."
Sandra, like any true Christian, hopes that Jamaica will turn to Christ. "There are many different reasons why Jamaica is in the state that it is, but the bottom line is that you have to have a change of heart so that you can be a better person: a better mother, father, sister, brother."
