Scorched on the road to fame

Set to official release in March 2025, Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar, the debut novel by Margaret Gardiner — renowned for being the first South African to win the Miss Universe title — delves deep into the untold struggles and challenges faced by women, offering a compelling and thought-provoking read.

Gardiner was recently in in the country to attend the Miss South Africa pageant and witness the crowning of Mia le Roux. During her visit, she commenced the promotional tour for her book. “I came back to South Africa because August is Women’s Month and I feel the themes of the book really resonate with women,” she said.

“I wanted to be at this Miss South Africa because Natasha Joubert, Miss South Africa 2023, embodies inspirational traits: strength to pursue a dream, courage in the face of disappointment, resetting and going for the goal in another way, learning from what went before. Mia le Roux’ win resonates with the themes of the book: don’t let others define you.”

As a respected journalist, and frequent contributor to Sunday Times Lifestyle, Gardiner has spent years advocating for women’s rights and social justice, making her new book a natural extension of her life’s work. She’s also our Los Angeles and Cannes Film Festival correspondent.

Have you wanted to write a book for a long time?

I published my first poetry at 16 . I’ve always written. I helped create Women in Entertainment for GoldenGlobes.com, which showcases women who succeed behind the camera. Working in the field of fashion for five decades, I’ve lived through the excesses of the ’80s — the time frame of the book — the #metoo movement and Covid. The common theme in these instances is the psychological impact of fame on women and what happens when we’re psychologically in need and don’t have the tools to employ healthy coping mechanisms. The latter is of prime importance, especially for women and especially in women’s month. It’s time to say, "It's okay to ask for help".

What was the catalyst for Damaged Beauty?

During Covid a beautiful, successful young woman I know was on a knife’s edge because she was taught to not ask for psychological help. With a BScdegree in psychology, I’m interested in the psychology of public projection and social framing that creates unconscious bias.

Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar explores the world of modelling and entertainment on the edge between fame and falling. We meet Joey as the creation of the world in which she’s desperate to succeed. She’s already a ‘damaged beauty’ used by people. For the reader she’s challenging, acting out in ways that shock those who’ve never been exposed to the feral world of the wanna-be. She uses her body like a tool to get what she wants. She uses language that’s vulgar, yet common in her world. She uses drugs as a placebo for the pain of not being seen, heard or valued. She does scandalous things with her body that provoke reactions.

For reference there’s Amanda Bynes, Johnny Depp trashing a hotel room, Britney Spears, Kate Moss confessing to having a nervous breakdown at age 18 after working with Herb Ritts being photographed seminude on Calvin Klein billboards. We have the allegations against Bill Cosby and recorded conversations of the former president of the United States. The book introduces Joey Superstar damaged by the world. Her journey is an onion of actions and revelations — explaining how she became who she is. She slowly realises she could be another Gia — the model from that era who was addicted and died of Aids. She needs to find healthy coping tools to understand why she self-destructs. In the fight for personal survival, a secret is revealed that makes her quest for mental health urgent.

How long was the process? Did the book just pour out of you?

The ideas have been bouncing around. I’ve written various parts over the years. Covid crystalised the damage isolation does, and how people self-harm when in psychological pain. Once I decided on the theme, it poured out. The three book series is called Damaged Beauty. Each focuses on a good girl, who plays nice, gets damaged and fights back — not always in a healthy way. It’s going to shock people, but it captures the delicate dance of what happens to people who get scorched on the road to renown.

You’ve had a lot of experience in the seemingly glamourous world of models, celebrity and beauty pageants. The book is obviously a work of fiction, but did you draw on your own experiences?  

The Miss Universe organisation provides a chaperone for events. I didn’t experience any of the things as Miss Universe that I’ve mentioned in the book. Joey is not me. I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ve never done drugs, and I have an excellent sense of self-worth. I’ve walked away when I’ve felt uncomfortable. Achieving success as Miss Universe at a young age gave me an understanding of what success is. I never wanted anything enough to damage myself to get it. Not everyone is as lucky. The Harvey Weinsteins of the world exist. Gwyneth Paltrow was Hollywood Royalty and wasn’t immune from inappropriate coercion. Her boyfriend at the time, Brad Pitt, interceded. It’s documented. The book is set in a ‘world-adjacent’.

Much of what I experienced was professional and beige but there are always moments in any industry. When you live in the world of glamour, you hear things, you see things but although it’s set among the rich, beautiful and famous, the world of premieres and parties, it’s the story of everywoman. The setting may be different, the behaviors extreme, but I’m showcasing what many women have experienced. We don’t talk about it. At some stage, a woman has experienced that gray moment where they feel you could be compromised. Then you’re through it and out safely. Or not. It’s also about ageism, size — it’s about a lot of things women go through. I hope the book starts conversations.