The leading lady, known for Lioness, Isidingo, The River and The Queen, traded scripted drama for sequins and petals and left the detective panel completely stumped.
In Round 2, six Masks returned to the stage for three high-stakes face-offs. Leopard and Mosquito battled for speed, Chopsticks and Spotty brought the cute factor and regal Protea went head-to-head with fast-food royalty King Pie.
From her very first appearance, Protea baffled J’Something, Somizi, Sithelo Shozi and guest detective Moshe Ndiki. Her clue package placed her in a fantasy wonderland in a unicorn-drawn crystal carriage. She revealed she was “never meant for quiet corners” and that she occasionally takes on the identity of a Cocktail character. At 10 years old, she also discovered “her fists worked as well as her voice.”
This week she dropped more hints via Tropika Island of Treasure host Zanele Potelwa: “Before I did the thing I’m known for, I was hosting children in outer space. My career started somewhere between sci-fi, chaos and intergalactic gladiators.”
Her Motown performance of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” earned laughs from Moshe “There ain’t no clue high enough” but no correct guesses. The panel threw out names including Gerda Steyn, Sho Madjozi, Cama Gwini, Khutso Theledi and even Moonchild Sanelly.
It wasn’t enough. Protea landed in the Danger Zone with Leopard and Chopsticks. When the panel saved Chopsticks, it came down to the audience vote. Protea’s petals fell and Shannon Esra stepped out.
Suddenly the clues clicked. Her first TV job was hosting a children’s version of Gladiators set in space. And the Cocktail reference? A nod to her waitressing days while chasing acting.
“I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the wonderfully imaginative theories,” Shannon said after her unmasking, with names like Rachel Kolisi and Leleti Khumalo also in the mix after her first performance.
In a post-reveal Instagram Reel, she called the show “wonderful, outrageous and so much fun. It’s something I’ve never done before and just such a vibe. The adrenaline…”
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