“Hail the Queen!” someone shouted.
Lindsey Sandoval smiled.
The crown on her head was as sparkly as Rice Park, proof that her dream had come true.
“It is unreal,” said the newly crowned 2017 Aurora, Queen of Snows of the St. Paul Winter Carnival, on Saturday morning from the lobby of the Saint Paul Hotel. “I have wanted to do this for 10 years.”
Sandoval was one of 21 candidates for queen; she, along with four princesses, were crowned Friday night during the coronation of the 2017 Royal Family at RiverCentre in St. Paul: “Lindsey was her authentic self during the entire candidacy,” said Natalka Kramarczuk, committee chair for the St. Paul Winter Carnival Queen of Snows Candidate Program. “She was so poised and gracious.”
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Sandoval’s Winter Carnival dream began at a ballgame in St. Paul.
“I was Miss Farmington in 2007-08 and I went to the St. Paul Saints’ game to sing the national anthem,” Sandoval said. “When I was standing there, getting ready to go out and sing, I looked over to my left and saw the most beautiful woman in a white suit. We didn’t speak at all, but her presence just really spoke to me, the way she was carrying herself 0151 I was just really in awe of her.”
Later, Sandoval learned the mystery woman’s identity: She was Brooke Stoeckel, the 2008 Queen of Snows.
“And I’ve been wanting to run for Queen of Snows ever since,” says Sandoval.
Sandoval, 28, currently lives in Minneapolis, but …
“I’m a military mutt — I’m from everywhere,” she said. “My mom, Marilyn Anderson, was in the military for 37 years, active duty, Army. We lived in Texas, Oklahoma, Minnesota … I first moved to Minnesota when I was in the second grade, and I have now lived here the majority of my life. I graduated from Farmington High School in 2007.”
Sandoval’s father died when she was just 2 years old; her mom has now retired and lives in Farmington, which has been an important place for our queen, who was born Lindsey Jo Bailey.
“My husband, Leobardo Sandoval, and I met in the sixth grade at Farmington Middle School — we reconnected later, at church,” said Sandoval, who has two stepsons, Cameron, 8, and Kyle, 5.
After graduating from high school, Lindsey Sandoval studied at North Central University in Minneapolis before transferring to Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma. Sandoval earned a master’s degree in business administration, but she has since returned to school to study at Faces Etc of MN, where she graduated in 2015 with a degree in professional media makeup artistry.
“I love to help people feel their best as themselves — beautiful but comfortable,” said Sandoval.
The art of the makeover is not new to her.
“I started refinishing furniture when I was in college, to earn some extra money,” she said. “I like to bring out the best in everybody and everything.”
Sandoval is currently putting her business degree to work with her makeup and furniture ventures, Lindsey Jo Makeup and Saved by Grace. She is currently transitioning from her job as church relations coordinator for Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge, a Christian rehab and recovery center, to her new career with SM Makeup Inc.
It will make for a busy year for Sandoval, who will make hundreds of appearances during her reign — everywhere from parades to schools to civic functions. She’s hoping to use her sparkly crown for good.
“I want to be someone young women can look up to,” Sandoval said.
Copyright 2017 Pioneer Press.
