YOU could say Durban North resident, Marianthé Panas’s, singing career began when she was just a little girl. At the age of three, she would perform in front of her family and would pretend the dinner table was her stage. She would recite Greek nursery rhymes, perform various sketches and sing different pop songs. Her willingness to try out different roles from a young age has translated into showing her versatility on stage.

The Grade 7 pupil from Our Lady of Fatima has already won a number of accolades in her short singing career. In April this year Marianthé was part of the KZN team for the South African Musical Performance Championships of the Performing Arts held in Rustenburg, where she won the overall SA Junior Grand Champion.

The talented 13-year-old was then selected to represent the country at The World Championships in Los Angeles.

She sang 11 songs in various genres in the solo category and three songs in the duet category with her partner, Bernalee Frick.
Incredibly Marianthé won three gold, six silver and three bronze medals. She also received the industry medal (which is awarded to people who talent judges believe have what it takes to make it in the industry). She was also the World Champion Division Winner in the ‘open’ category.

“It was an amazing experience. I’ve been to two world champs and I felt a little under pressure to win medals and perform well. I was really humbled and stoked to win the industry award. That was an awesome feeling,” she said.

Marianthé also played the role of Pepper in the KickstArt Theatre Production of Annie, earlier this year.

“That was so exciting. I’ve watched every single KickstArt production since I was little girl and to finally star in one alongside people I look up to was a dream come true. Because I look older than I actually am, I was afraid I wouldn’t get a callback at the audition phase, but I was over the moon when my mom told me I’d got in. I remember jumping for joy,” she said.

There’s no stopping the talented youngster and her star can only get brighter from here. Marianthé recently placed second in the junior division at the Gateway to Fame competition.