TRACE Gospel has announced the Top 3 finalists for their Music Video Competition.
And one of them is Mitchells Plain songstress, Shana Ray.
Out of hundreds of entries across South Africa, Shana is also the only one from Cape Town to have made the Top 10 and now Top 3.
TRACE is a 24-hour channel dedicated to local and international gospel music.
Shana was chosen for her single titled Go.
The 29-year-old is a worship leader at her local church and works as a secretary for the City of Cape town.
Her inspiration for her song came when she was going through a tough time.
“I am a heavy girl and always struggle with low self-esteem, even though to the outside world I seem very bubbly and people’s person,” she says.
“I found myself always wanting to sing in the background, because I was afraid of being seen and judged because of my size. I sang for groups and choirs from the age of 14 until 2018.
“I came home from work and was sitting in the living room feeling very frustrated with myself and kind of questioning God in terms of my purpose and why I’m feeling so empty, even when I do so much.”
But Shana is excited for the opportunity.
“I’m overwhelmed by the support of my mense from Mitchells Plain, Cape Town and the Western Cape.
“The Top 10 was already a huge deal and now the Top 3. Thank you for taking your time and resources to invest in a local girl like me.
“I can’t express my gratitude for the love I’ve received. Please continue to vote for me and let’s take this all the way to the No.1 spot. God bless.”
The other finalists are: Thuso Wa Sibini from Johannesburg with her track, Magnificent, and then Rajey from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with his song Tendre Ami.
SONGSTRESS: Thuso Wa Sibini
The top three will battle for the chance to win a music video production to the value of R80 000.
IN THE RUNNING: Rajey
The voting period ends on 31 March 2020.