Mariatu Kargbo won the 2009 Miss World Talent and Best World Dress Designer (COURTESY PHOTO)

Nicknamed the "Black Pearl of China," Sierra Leonean star Mariatu Kargbo is best known in China as the 2009 Miss World Talent and Best World Dress Designer. Yet, millions of Chinese fans are unaware of the hardships she experienced as a child.

Kargbo grew up in a low-income family in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and lost her father when she was only three months old. Later, her mother fell ill. Although she is the youngest in the family with seven siblings, at eight years old, she had to sell cold water and fried fish in the street to help her family.

She never experienced motherly affection until she came to China in 2004 when she suffered from acute appendicitis. Luckily, a Chinese mother sent her to a hospital for an operation and looked after her for two weeks.

"She cooked chicken soup for me. I never had the opportunity that somebody took care of me," she said with tears in her eyes. "I felt the warmth and motherly love, so I called her my Chinese Mama. It's at that moment that I decided to stay here."

Thank you, China

A couple of months ago, she released the world's first Afro-Chinese album Thank You China, which celebrates how China has changed her life and expresses her gratitude. Chinese lyrics and instruments, as well as traditional African tunes, are used on this album.

"I've been to many countries, but it's only when I came to China that I realized my dream. China has changed my life and fate. It's my second hometown. So I want to say thank you China!" she said with emotion at the album release press conference.

This is not the first time Kargbo has given back to China. When China faced its own tragedy with the Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan Province on May 12, 2008, Kargbo flew there the next day. She was among the first group of volunteers.