Women’s Month marks the perfect time celebrate the indelible contributions made by women in the creative industry. As Idols SA wraps up an iconic run of discovering fresh talent that has gone on to elevate the soundscape, we remember the women who snatched the throne on the popular singing competition.
Spanning 19 seasons, Idols SA has summoned some of the most talented singers from all corners of the country. For eight of those seasons, women shone so bright that viewers used their votes to hand them the highly sought title of South African Idol. Here is a run-down of the triumphant ladies of song through the years on Idols SA.
Anke Pietrangeli
Dubbed ‘The Kimberly Diamond’, Anke became the second winner of Idols SA in 2003. This also made her the second title holder in the country because she took over the reins from Heinz Winckler in a resounding victory. Anke has gone on to release four studio albums and build a successful career in music.
Karin Kortje
Keeping it with the theme of ‘her-story’, Karin followed hot on the heels of Anke Pietrangeli’s win to clinch the title in 2005. The R&B singer’s popularity made her the season’s brightest star, as it is said that she received the most votes every vote round. She also received over 65% of the final vote.
Jody Williams
The Cape Town native became the youngest winner when she sang her way to a massive victory in 2007. She was aged just 17 at the time. Her record would later be broken by Paxton, who was also announced as the winner at the tender age of 17 in 2017. Jody’s debut platinum-selling album, Just Gonna Be Me, reached number 1 on the South African albums chart.
Sasha-Lee Davids
Although she ended up being the runner up during season 5 after the late arrival of votes, Sasha-Lee was able to keep her initial win and reign alongside Jason Hartman. Her win became yet another significant victory for women in music, as she went on to release multiple albums in her successful career.
Noma Khumalo
In 2016, Noma became the first female contestant to win Idols SA in 7 years. For this reason, she is considered a trailblazer. Her vocal talent and passion shone throughout the season and won over the audiences. After her win, Noma released her debut album Joy.
Paxton Fielies
Paxton rose to fame in 2017 after winning Idols SA. She managed to trounce all competition and woo audiences with her powerhouse voice, which led her to the title with most of the votes.
Yanga Sobetwa
Mononymously known as Yanga, the singer rose to fame in 2018 following her win on season 14 of Idols SA. Shortly after, she released her debut studio album Promised Land, which shot to number 1 on iTunes. The project boasted several features, including former Idols SA contestants Paxton and Amanda Black.
Zama Khumalo
The Witbank native brought the spotlight to Mpumalanga with her win in 2020. Waiting for no grass to grow, Khumalo inked a record deal with iconic South African music label, Kalawa Jazmee, not long after claiming her victory. Under their direction, she released her In The Beginning.
Idols SA airs every Saturday at 18:00 on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161), thereafter on Mzansi Wethu at 19:30.
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