After a courageous battle with face cancer, former Miss South Africa and Miss Universe (1978) Margaret Gardiner has launched her latest book, Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar.
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Now residing in the United States, Gardiner has returned to South Africa for a promotional tour, sharing her journey of resilience and healing through the pages of her novel.
In Damaged Beauty, she tells the gripping story of Joey Superstar, a model whose glamorous parties and high fashion life is shattered when she discovers her husband’s infidelities. As she teeters on the brink of despair, Joey relocates to New York in a bid to rebuild her life and reclaim her sense of self, all while battling the emotional scars of her past.
Gardiner believes Joey’s story mirrors many women’s struggles behind closed doors.
“It’s what happens in the shadows that we’re afraid to bring into the light. But if you’re struggling, it’s important to ask for help,” she shared.
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A personal battle with cancer
Gardiner has chosen to publicly discuss her battle with face cancer to address the changes in her appearance and voice, particularly after facing public scrutiny when she judged Miss Universe in 2024.
“I don’t look like I did when I was 16. It’s 50 years later, and I look like a 65-year-old. I’ve had face cancer and needed reconstructive surgery to close the hole left by the disease,” she revealed.
She also spoke about how the illness affected her speech.
“I don’t sound the same because I have trouble speaking. But thank God, I can still be heard. I get criticised a lot because I’m not overweight—I’m the same size I was when I won Miss Universe. My focus is on my health, not my size. I’ve had so many challenges with cancer, and I thank God for my well-being.”
Gardiner also opened up about the emotional toll of losing her mother and how she found strength amid grief.
“My mum died, and I didn’t know how to go on. But somehow, being blonde helps me get up each day and face the world without her,” she added.
With her latest book, Gardiner hopes to inspire readers to confront their pain, embrace healing, and find the courage to rebuild their lives.
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