Sandra Saad, also known as Sandra de Leon, has been the subject of several myths and misconceptions about her profession. First of all, it is important to point out that she is NOT a witch. Sandra was a courtesan during the early days of the republic, before the profession of attorneys was formally legalized in the nineteenth century. She served as a mistress to wealthy men, and also became a nanny and traveling nurse for political prisoners. While being questioned about her legal status by the prosecutor during a trial, Sandra repeatedly maintained that she was not a witch, despite the fact that the court allowed her to practice her profession, and even gave her the right to be called so.
Second, Sandra was not only a very accomplished woman but was also a highly sought after model and performer throughout her career. She was one of the first women to pose nude for a French fashion magazine. She was also a favored mistress of wealthy Americans who dined at her New York hotel room and who enjoyed the exotic tastes that she provided them with.
The truth is that Sandra Saad had much more in common with some of the great American writers of the early nineteenth century than she did with being a witch. She was, however, a very accomplished woman, who practiced a very interesting profession, which combined knowledge of religion with knowledge of fashion. Sandra’s long love affair with travel sparked a new interest in clothing design. It was this profession which first brought her to the attention of photographers and designers who loved her work, and which eventually launched her career as a fashion designer.