What Does Captain Sandy Yawn's Wife Leah Shafer Do? Her Career, Music & Wedding

If you’re a fan of Below Deck Mediterranean, you’ve probably seen Captain Sandy Yawn navigating high seas and tough crew moments.

Amidst all this, you might have seen some exclusive and unseen moments from her wedding on the Sept. 23, 2024, episode of the Below Deck Mediterranean After Show.

Sandy got married to her long-time partner, Leah Rae Shafer, now known as Leah Rae Yawn, on May 11, 2024.

Sandy’s relationship with her wife, Leah, is not new to many of you, but if you are someone who is curious about “what does Captain Sandy's wife do?”, you have landed at the right place!

Who Is Leah Shafer?

Leah Shafer, aka Leah Rae Yawn, is not just Sandy Yawn’s wife; she is a certified medical esthetician, acne specialist, and gospel singer.

Leah has over three decades of experience in the beauty and skincare industry, helping clients of all ages and skin types achieve healthy and radiant skin.

She is the founder of Skin by Leah, a medical skincare spa studio where Leah has combined her clinical knowledge with a deeply personal approach to skincare.

Apart from being a trained esthetician and wellness advocate, Leah is also a gospel singer. She was just 14 years old when she started writing and recording songs.

She was moved by music early on and was later inclined to Modern Country Music.

In 2012, Leah released an album titled You're My Everything. The album features 12 tracks, including original songs like "Broken and Beautiful," which Leah has said was inspired by her own real-life experiences.

According to the album's description, Leah's music "represents her heart toward God, family, and relationships."

The album was produced by Darren Rahn and created with the love and support of her then-husband Ross Shafer and her daughter Lolo

Leah got into retail sales and makeup artistry after college when she moved to Orange County, California.

She worked in major brand companies like Bloomingdale's, Sax Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Barney’s New York after discovering her passion for skin health and the skincare industry.

Captain Sandy Yawn and Leah Shafer’s Wedding

Sandy proposed to her lady love, Leah Shafer, in September 2023. The glimpses of their proposal were shown on the trailer for Season Nine in April 2024.

Sandy had also shared some pictures from their engagement, announcing that they got engaged. She even asked her followers to stay tuned for their wedding.

Eight months later, on 11th May 2024, Sandy and Leah got married on a superyacht owned by their friend. Sandy shared about their marriage with some wedding pictures on her Instagram, writing that she got married to the love of her life on 11th May 2024. She continued,

“I had no idea how amazing marriage could be! It feels incredible and I feel like the luckiest woman in the world. I love you, Leah Rae Yawn!! Thank you for taking my name! Thank you to our entire family and friends for coming out to show your love and support to our relationship.”

Sandy and Leah have now been married for more than two years and have been giving some insights into their relationship through their social media posts.

On their 2nd wedding anniversary in 2026, Sandy shared some pictures from the wedding on Instagram, writing that she knew she married her soulmate from that moment they had their first dance.

People think that Sandy runs everything, as she is the captain at sea, but the truth is Leah is the captain at home.

The secret to their successful relationship is the grace that they give to each other. Talking about their relationship, Sandy says,

“No relationship is perfect. But when it’s real, you grow, you evolve, and you keep choosing each other. And I can honestly say… I’ve never been more in love and so happy she is my wife.”

How Did Sandy And Leah Meet?

Sandy and Leah first connected in 2018 through Facebook. Leah sent Sandy a message that said: "I came across your show, congratulations, many blessings."

It was the phrase "many blessings" that caught Sandy's attention. Later that year in November, they officially met face-to-face in Los Angeles.

It was practically love at first sight for Leah. It was unexpected, but it just happened between Sandy and Leah.

It did not take much time for Sandy and Leah to fall in love, and then they moved in together.

Sandy packed up her life in Los Angeles and moved to Denver, Colorado, to be with Leah.

You can follow Sandy on Instagram here and Leah here to get some more updates on their married life.

FAQs

Who is Leah Rae Yawn?

Leah Rae Yawn is the wife of Below Deck Mediterranean's Captain Sandy Yawn.

What does Leah Shafer do for a living?

Leah Shafer, who is known as Leah Rae Yawn, is a certified medical esthetician and acne specialist. She is also the owner of a medical skincare spa studio called Skin by Leah.