GROWING up, all she wanted to do was sing gospel.
She became a back-up singer for 12 years before going solo and when she started with her own career, she thought people would love what she does.
Instead, her fans expect her to be the person she's not.
Gospel artist Mapula Manyepao said people judge her a lot.
The 28-year-old from Limpopo said people expect her to dress or even behave like her mentor, Winnie Mashaba.
Mapula said she's worked as Winnie's back-up singer most of her career but when she went solo, people thought she'd be the other Winnie Mashaba. However, she became her own brand.
She told Daily Sun many people have judged her because of her dress code.
"I think people are mistaking my age to that of Mama Winnie's. I'm expected to be a mam'fundisi. I'm a 28-year-old, people," Mapula said.
She said many people have always compared her to Winnie.
"They compare me to her, and I don't want that. She's my mentor and I don't want to see myself being her. They like saying I'm better than her," she said.
Mapula said social media has a lot of negativity.
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"It's draining, and I don't deal with it. I just block everyone and try not to think about it because when I address it, I'm often told not to respond to trolls."
Mapula said on stage, she wears dresses but when she isn't performing, she wears whatever she wants.
"When I'm not performing, I wear whatever I want. I wear trousers or miniskirts, but people ask in shock," she said.
"I'm not Jesus, I do go out and even when I'm out people always get shocked and ask why I'm at certain places.
"I don't want to do any other genre. I don't think I can do any other genre. There isn't any other one I can be as passionate as I am with gospel," she said.














