South African artist Zena has landed herself a 5 million pound recording contract

The contract includes a 5-year album deal with Invincible Records, the sister label to the Urban Music Awards.

This 20-year-old artist said: “I am still in shock, but I am so thankful and blessed to have been given this opportunity to represent Africa globally. It’s been a journey, but I believe you can achieve anything with faith, determination and belief in God”.

Zena made her first television debut on the hit reality show 'South African  Idols' in 2010 and reached the top 90 semi-finalists at just the age of 18. A few months later, that same year she entered South African 'Popstars' and made the top 30.

In early 2011, she was granted an indefinite leave visa for the United Kingdom, immediately after completing high school.

Zena packed her bags and wasted no time in moving to London to pursue an international singing career.

"I was secretly terrified to come to London. I was just 18, I didn't know anyone and I didn't have a plan.

"All I knew, is that I was going to make it.

"I had never been away from home but I couldn't let my mum know I was afraid, or else she would never have let me go", explains Zena. 

Quickly after moving to London, Zena was introduced by a mutual friend to the CEO of the Urban Music Awards, Jordan Kensington. He had seen video clips of her performances and  followed her progress on South African Idols and South African Popstars and when he met her in person, the mogul was so impressed by the young starlet's talent  that after a five-hour meeting which included an intense 14-song showcase with her, Zena was signed to Invincible Records.

Zena plans to be the first female mega-star to come out of South Africa.

“I want to represent Africa as a whole,” she says.

CEO of the Urban Music Awards, Jordan Kensington, said: "I instinctively knew Zena was destined to become a global superstar but what made me more certain was her versatile talent, faith, belief, and tenacity in pursing her ambition".

“I have always known that Africa has some very talented musicians who, if given a global platform, will exceed to become household names worldwide and inspire many to see a much more bright, vibrant and successful side to Africa,” Kensington added.

This week saw the release of her first video under Invincible Records, the single entitled ‘Number 1’ featuring her label boss Jordan Kensington. The video has already attracted over 35,000 views online after just 2 days and with the single out on global chart release on the 1st of October 2012, the demand for her has skyrocketed.

She is set to perform at the UK’s biggest Television Awards ceremony, the National Reality Television Awards, on the 30th of August 2012 and has added 34 more dates to her European tour commencing in September, with plans to tour Africa from December.