The Masked Singer South Africa’s Fox was a force to be reckoned with. Week after week, this stage darling bedazzled the show’s detectives with her slick performances.
While Instagram star Sithelo Shozi waxed lyrically about Fox’s ravishing femininity and eye-catching costume, music maestro J’Something raved about her stunning voice, which he believed could only belong to a professional singer. Comedian Skhumba Hlophe univocally stated Foxy was his favourite performer, and Somizi Mhlongo gushed time after time that she was “in it to win it”. In fact, Somizi didn’t even care who was behind the mask; he just wanted to see Fox going all the way to the end.
With her superb, versatile performances, Fox clawed her way gracefully to The Masked Singer South Africa’s penultimate episode. Fox won every battle against her secret celeb competitors and never landed in the dreaded danger zone.
So, huge was the shock when “the most unpredictable mask in the wild”, as presenter Mpho Popps referred to the radiant star, was suddenly outfoxed by Tree, Lion, Rhino and Lollipop – and just before the show’s spectacular finalé!
And who was behind the mask? Beloved Mzansi screen and stage diva Zikhona Sodlaka!
Somizi, Sithelo and Skhumba correctly unravelled the mystery this week with their final guesses, but only after digging deep into their Fox files, relooking all the clue crumbs the trickster left behind through the course of the show. They had a long list of names to reconsider!
From all the clues, the three detectives gauged that Fox was part of a litter of five, who lost their mama and papa Fox, and now adores her only cub. She also studied on the coast, lived in the City of Gold, was a multi-talented artist who had been around for generations, and danced her way to the top. Furthermore, they ascertained Fox was a serious thespian but playful in nature.
In one of The Masked Singer South Africa’s early episodes, Somizi figured Fox might be Zikhona, which had Skhumba in stitches. However, Skhumba changed his mind in a later episode – all because of Fox’s flirty on-stage behaviour. Skhumba was convinced Fox had a crush on him, pointing out how excited she was every time presenter Mpho mentioned his name. Fox was slightly embarrassed, covering her eyes with her manicured paws. Her reaction confirmed Skhumba’s suspicion, as he knew Zikhona was the type of star who blushed when someone complimented her.
With their final guesses, Sithelo sided with Somizi and Skhumba since it was evident that Fox is a goal-driven actress who also shines in theatres.
J’Something admitted that Fox left him confused. As he insisted that Fox is a singer, he went with the most consistent name in his notes – Amanda Black.
After taking off her mask, Zikhona continued to entertain the audience with the va-va-voom Fox became known for. Instead of replying to a serious question from Mpho about her heavy mask, Zikhona engaged with Somizi and the audience and requested to say something about J’Something first.
Then Zikhona theatrically dropped her mic and turned around to display how floored she was every time J’Something complimented her singing.
When Mpo enquired if she saw music in her future following J’s response, Zikhona directed the question to the detectives and audience, receiving a resounding “yes!”
Finally, Zikhona returned to Mpho’s initial question, saying, “The limitations of the mask are vast because it’s a seriously heavy thing. But we just want to put on a beautiful show because we’re artists and we’re performers, and that’s what we do.”
Next week one of the remaining four masked singers – Lion, Lollipop, Rhino and Tree – will be crowned the king or queen of The Masked Singer South Africa and take home the coveted Golden Mask trophy. Get ready for a spectacular extended 90-minute showdown.
To join the guessing game, and predict who is hiding behind the Final Four masks, speak your mind on X (formerly Twitter, on #MaskedSingerSA
The Masked Singer South Africa is screened on SABC 3 on Saturdays at 18:30 and SABC1 at 20:00.