LGBT star Toya Delazy becomes the fourth Powerpuff Girl

South African LGBT music artist Toya Delazy has been named the African voice of a new Powerpuff Girls character who will debut on the Cartoon Network later this month.

The star, who is now based in London, has voiced the role for the African-broadcast version of a five-episode special of The Powerpuff Girls.

“Cartoon Network has joined forces with 15 super-powered celebrities across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australia who will each lend their voice to the newly revealed fourth Powerpuff Girl,” explained the channel.

Not much is known about the character but all will be revealed on September 23 when the first episode is broadcast.

“I have always dreamed of being the voice of a cartoon character,” said a delighted Delazy. “Never did I think I would be recording a voice for Cartoon Network’s The Powerpuff Girls though!”

She also took to social media to share a picture of herself in the studio recording her lines for the character, writing: “And just like that, became a power puff girl. Much love to my @cartoonnetwork for trusting me with this epic job.”

The show is about the adventures of super-powered crime-fighting sisters Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup.

Jaime Ondarza, Senior Vice President at Turner Broadcasting for Southern Europe and Africa, said that Delazy was “a perfect fit” as the fourth Powerpuff Girl. “She is confident, bubbly and quirky, all the values that we are familiar with, love and appreciate.”

The KZN-born performer already has a strong connection to the popular animated series. Last year she helped create an African theme song for The Powerpuff Girls.

Delazy is one of a few openly gay or lesbian African musicians. Her first album, Due Drop, won three 2013 SAMAs and scored a 2013 BET Nomination for Best International Act (Africa).

In 2016, she won Best International Song for her track Forbidden Fruit at the 9th Out Music Awards. The video for the track was praised for challenging homophobia by including kissing same-sex couples. Delazy released new music and videos in July.

Cartoon Network was recently forced to drop a number of shows that include LGBT characters or themes from the DSTV pay-TV network in Africa by the Kenya Film Classification Board.

AND JUST LIKE THAT, I BECAME A POWERPUFF GIRL ?????
Much love to my @cartoonnetwork for trusting me with this epic job ?❤️️#lifegoals pic.twitter.com/ZshJT8VWR0

— ToyaDelazy (@ToyaDelazy) September 7, 2017