From music stages to Miss SA bid: Azana on her journey beyond music - TimesLIVE

Award-winning singer Makhosazana Masango, popularly known as Azana, is stepping into a new chapter of her career as one of the 12 finalists competing for the Miss South Africa 2026 crown.

Known for her soulful music, the singer says her journey into pageantry is closely linked to her passion for using her voice to make a difference in communities.

Azana opens up about her transition from music to pageantry, why she entered Miss South Africa, her plans for her advocacy work and what the future holds for her music career.

Azana in 2015 when she won the Miss Chesterville crown at the age of 15. Picture: Supplied What inspired you to enter Miss South Africa? Was this something you had always dreamed of doing, or was it a decision that came to you later in life?

In 2015, when I was 15, I won Miss Chesterville (a pageant from the township I grew up in). At that age I did not comprehend the significance pageantry would have in my life. My mom invested mainly in my education and so I had just entered a competition randomly (wearing my neighbour’s clothes, who had told me about the pageant) and I won! I’ve always known that my purpose lies in me serving people through my music, but I had no idea that my love for music would bring me back to pageantry and change the trajectory of my whole life and the lives of the people who are in my community.

You are known to many people for your music, but now you are stepping into a completely different space as one of the Miss South Africa top 12 finalists. What has the experience been like so far?

My transition from music to pageantry has been seamless to both me and my audience. The values that I embody as a Miss South Africa and Empower Youth Africa ambassador are the same values I have lived by for years before the pageant; therefore, it has been a delight to step into this space and role.

You had already started building a name for yourself in the music industry. What made you consider exploring modelling and pageantry, and did you ever imagine yourself competing for the Miss South Africa crown?

In 2025 I released a song called Amacala Othando with renowned artist Big Zulu. The song had done so well that it gave me the opportunity to breathe. As an artist, I had been working tirelessly for five years in the music industry, recording, performing and travelling without rest. Going back home was my search for tranquility.

When I arrived home, I found peace, however I still had a burning desire to make music, but there were no studios around as I was deep in the rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal. And so I started a choir at Phuzulwazi Secondary School.

This is where I got to experience first-hand the challenges of my community and the challenges of many other South Africans in marginalised communities.

My time at Phuzulwazi Secondary School introduced me to the concept of philanthropy. I learnt that I could use my voice to bring positive change in my community, however I knew I needed help.

I wrote many proposals to varied brands asking to be a part of their corporate social investment programmes and realised that I needed a formidable team to be able to move forward effectively. This is why I have entered the Miss South Africa competition.

You have been quieter on the music front. Does this mean you have stepped away from music, or have you simply taken a break to focus on other opportunities? What informed that decision?

My Empower Youth Africa programme includes me starting choirs in marginalised schools across South Africa while simultaneously finding ways to source business so I can provide access to infrastructure and facilities needed for the children and teachers to thrive. Therefore, my advocacy is the essence of who I am.

This year I have shown a different approach to being a musician and decided to experience my artistry with a different audience; my students and our future investors. I am excited to release more music in due time, as music is the reason I have reached these remarkable heights.

How has your experience as a musician prepared you for the Miss South Africa competition? Are there lessons from the entertainment industry that you believe will give you an advantage?

What a beautiful question. I have unintentionally trained for this position my whole life. I understand my country and the people who live in it because I have travelled repeatedly in different parts and demographics of South Africa.

I have performed in the most marginalised communities and for the most opulent groups. I know exactly how to connect to my audience because I am simply no different from them.

South Africans are respectful people who want change in their communities and economy; this I learned from working for years on the ground as a musician.

I have learnt to stand on big stages and fight the fear of perception, and now I know that my purpose is stronger than any limitation.

As you embark on this new journey, do you see music and modelling eventually coming together, or do you feel you are entering a completely new chapter of your career? Where do you see yourself after Miss South Africa?

I am a soul singer, and I believe that a Miss South Africa is a soul woman; that is a woman who carries along with her her country, who advocates for change just like I do in my music.

The essence of who I am and the role of a Miss South Africa is profoundly interconnected in a way that the whole of South Africa simply understands.

If you were to win the crown, what would you hope to gain from this competition? Are there particular issues or causes you would like to champion if you become Miss South Africa?

My biggest desire is to transform Phuzulwazi Secondary School. I have shown South Africa its economical challenges using the identity of my community, therefore I have to restore their dignity by ensuring that they get the proper infrastructure, access and opportunity needed for them to thrive.

What’s your future like in the music industry? Will you come back after the competition?

As Miss South Africa, I will do what is most suitable in my year of reign, ensuring that I make use of all the resources and opportunities given to me by the Miss South Africa organisation, while strengthening my social enterprise to ensure that I can sustain my advocacy and initiative even after my reign. I am excited to plan this exciting future with my new team.