For the first time since everybody’s favourite guessing game hit our screens – and after the identities of seven high-profile personalities had been revealed – The Masked Singer South Africa’s four detectives finally solved a mystery together.
When the time arrived for the elegantly wired Robot to show her beautiful human face, detectives J’Something, Somizi Mhlongo, Sithelo Shozi and Skhumba Hlophe all named Miss Universe 2019, Zozibini Tunzi.
However, it took quite a while for the four investigators to reach their light-bulb moment
This week, the second group of remaining bizarre, costumed characters competed to keep their anonymity intact. Robot opened the show, followed by Doughnut, Lollipop, Fox, and Lion.
In her humorous pre-recorded clue package, Robot transmitted in an Eastern meditation pose that, as technical as she is, there is no AI in her self-care. Then, the camera zoomed into some badges; whereafter we saw Robot gracing the cover of a magazine. The Masked Singer South Africa’s sentient humanoid also revealed that her body art “had people in a frenzy” and that she transferred her downloads to two other machines.
Following Robot’s electrifying performance of Whitney Houston’s “I wanna dance with somebody”, J’Something gauged that Robot was not a musician. Still, he complimented her voice – his favourite on the show. The names Amanda du Point and Linda Mtobo crossed J’Something’s mind.
For Sithelo, Robot’s magazine cover and exquisite physique signalled the word “model”. Hence, Sithelo’s guesses were Joelle Kayembe or Rosette Ncwane.
Robot’s previous performances on the show prompted Somizi to believe that the lady behind the mask is a beauty pageant winner. The feminine long-legged masked singer gave him “Zozibini vibes.” But that was before this week’s clue package with the Asian meditation setting, which convinced him it was Lalla Hirayama. For starters, Lalla is Japanese, and Japan is where one finds all Robot’s tech stuff.
Skhumba agreed with Somizi but did not discard the possibility of Robot being Zozi.
When the Men in Black brought Robot’s final clue – a physical item –onto the stage, Robot explained the bowl of soup with a line from Oliver Twist: “Please, Sir, can I have some more.”
J’Something was caught off-guard. Was it perhaps one of his guesses from long ago, Bonang Matheba? Because Bonang dated D’Banj, whose hit song is “Oliver Twist”? Yet, Amanda du Pont has her own make-up range.
But the soup confirmed Skhumba’s suspicion about Zozi. Miss Universes can eat for free wherever they go.
So, before the next Masked Singer, Doughnut, rolled onto the stage, the detectives locked in Amanda du Pont, Lalla Hirayama, Joelle Kayembe and Zozibini Tunzi.
After Robot received the fewest votes, leading to her unmasking, J’Something, Somizi, and Sithelo changed their tune. J’Something delved into his notes from previous episodes. Somizi realised Robot’s hand gestures were like those of a Miss Universe, and Sithelo recalled how a model in a Vogue magazine with tattoos was mistaken for Zozi.
As Zozi’s mask dropped, host Mpho Popps’s jaw dropped. A Miss Universe was next to him on The Masked Singer South Africa stage!
Being on the show was a wonderful, enjoyable experience for our ravishing Miss Universe. “I did the show because I love to sing. It brings me pure joy. I loved every moment of living in that musical bubble where people had no idea who I was.”
The Masked Singer South Africa is screened on SABC 3 on Saturdays at 18:30 and SABC at 20:00. There is also a repeat on SABC 1 on Thursdays at 21:00.