Jana Marvanová inspires through MJ TOP MODEL
February 7, 2025
Jesseca Long: A Queen’s Journey Beyond the Crown
February 10, 2025
Balancing multiple careers while pursuing her passions, Sarah Mandjou is redefining what it means to chase dreams fearlessly. As a pharmacist, entrepreneur, and musician, Sarah exemplifies determination, creativity, and grace. Now stepping into the world of international pageantry as a contestant for Miss Europe Continental, she is ready to shine on the global stage. From her devotion to music and personal growth to her insights on self-care and purpose, Sarah’s journey is one of resilience and self-discovery. In this candid conversation, she shares her experiences, challenges, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Sarah’s story reminds us that with faith, focus, and a fearless attitude, we can achieve greatness in all facets of life.
Participating in Miss Europe Continental is a huge commitment. How do you manage to stay focused on your goal while balancing your pharmacy career and other passions?
Miss Europe Continental will be my first international pageant experience and representation. (I competed for Miss Grand France last year but “only” ended up as 4th runner-up and won the Special Prize of Elegance, so I never competed on the international stage.) I have to admit that balancing this competition preparation while managing three different careers at the same time (I am a pharmacist, an entrepreneur, and a musician) can feel tricky sometimes, but for me, it is more of an opportunity than a challenge.
I would say the best way to stay focused is to take one day at a time and prepare step by step. It helps me stay grounded and manage each obligation as it comes without being crushed by the pressure in any area. My second tip would be to not be afraid to take time for yourself. Whether it’s exercising, meditating, doing something you enjoy, or simply resting, this will allow you to go a long way. If you take care of yourself, you become your first partner in achieving your goals, and it shifts the dynamic from which you operate.
What inspired you to pursue music alongside your professional career, and how do you keep your creativity flowing between different projects?
Music has always been a big part of my life. In fact, my childhood dream was to become a concert pianist, so I started taking piano lessons very early, at six years old. As time went on, I began singing and writing my own songs as well. When I was younger, music helped me find my voice and stand up for it to be heard. Even today, the moments I spend in front of the piano are the moments I feel most like my whole self.
As you mentioned, keeping the flow of creativity in my daily life is something I had to learn along the way. I think the saying “Appetite comes with eating” applies well to creativity. I usually consume other creative works and stay inspired by them. I love reading (whether it’s books or poetry), visiting museums or art galleries, and, of course, listening to music. This is the part where I feed my creativity by exposing myself to things that aren’t from me but that touch me for some reason.
The second part involves expressing creativity in areas other than music or writing. It could be through dancing, embroidery, sewing, crafting jewelry, trying pottery, or experimenting with new recipes. The goal is to keep the creative flow alive as much and as often as possible.
We often hear about the importance of finding purpose. How would you describe your journey in discovering yours, and how does it influence your daily life?
Finding your purpose is very important to me. It brings meaning to everything you do, serving as a compass in life. As a devoted Christian, my purpose is intricately linked to my faith. My journey in discovering my purpose has always been parallel to my spiritual journey of finding God and, in turn, finding myself in God.
To put it simply, for me, finding your purpose means discovering what makes God smile when He sees you doing it.
Pageantry offers a platform for personal growth.How has your involvement in beauty pageants changed your perspective on beauty and self-expression?
Pageantry is often a field of personal growth for young women. I only started competing last year. Before that, I was approached several times to compete, but my age was a limiting factor (I am 28, which is too old for many beauty pageants).
To me, pageantry is more than a celebration of grace, elegance, and beauty—it’s also a form of art and, in a sense, a game. When we step onto that stage, it’s almost like playing a role (similar to acting), where we must exude authenticity to captivate the audience. I think that’s a healthy perspective to have.
Unfortunately, many young girls compete with the intention of gaining or proving something. But for me, one should only compete if they are ready to lose gracefully, just as much as they are ready to win. One should only compete with the knowledge that, regardless of the outcome, they already possess an inner sense of value that no one can take away—and no crown can add to.
The danger lies in using pageantry as a tool for validation, as it can end up doing the opposite of its intended purpose, which is to affirm one’s sense of self and femininity.
As someone juggling multiple careers, what challenges do you face in maintaining balance, and how do you manage stress during busy times?
As I mentioned earlier, I truly believe in the power of rest. There have been times in my life when I didn’t listen to my body and pushed its limits. In the end, it was never productive from a professional standpoint, and working while exhausted is never fulfilling.
That’s why today I prioritize taking time for myself to rest and practice self-care. I’ve noticed that as soon as I began putting myself and my needs first, I became much more efficient than I was when I constantly pushed myself to the edge. It’s an everyday discipline, though, as I’m still unlearning unhealthy working patterns.
In your experience, is there a moment that stands out where you realized pursuing diverse passions was the right choice for you?
Very early in life, I knew I had many interests I wanted to pursue professionally. Of course, it wasn’t easy to do everything at the same time, and sometimes it meant focusing more on one thing while pausing the others.
I think the pivotal moment was when I realized that life is short and time is never guaranteed. If I wanted to do something, I had to make it happen. That realization became my motto: make it happen now. Do it all at the same time, as much as possible. And if you can’t start now, prepare to start. Read about your project, research the best way to approach it, save money, and reach out to people who can help you.
What advice would you offer someone trying to chase their dreams while managing their career?
Go for it! Life is too short for regrets. It’s better late than never, and it’s better to try and fail than to give up without even starting.
Of course, balancing it with your personal life and career will be challenging, but as I said earlier, taking it one day at a time can make all the difference.
Also, accepting to start small is a game-changer. Sometimes we wait for the perfect moment to do things, but the perfect moment is the one you create. So just start. Start small. Start with what you have now. Start with who you are now. And then build from there.
@therealmandjou