Tyla launches 'That Girl' scholarship with Epic Records, Mzansi reacts

• Tyla partnered with Epic Records to create the That Girl Music Scholarship, named after a track from her A*POP album
• The two-time Grammy winner will award 10 young women $5,000 each, with 6 spots going to US students and 4 to South Africans
• Recipients must demonstrate financial need and academic excellence, with priority given to HBCU students, and applications close on 30 October 2026

Tyla is putting her money where her music is. The two-time Grammy Award-winning South African superstar has announced the "That Girl" Music Scholarship, a new initiative created in partnership with Epic Records to support young women chasing careers in music.

The scholarship — named after a standout single from her recently released album A*POP— will award a total of 10 female students $5,000 each to help fund their music education. Six recipients will be drawn from the United States, while four spots are reserved for students from South Africa. Essence Magazine broke the news on 13 October 2026, with the full details confirmed shortly after.

See the post below:

Who can apply for the Tyla's That Girl Scholarship?

Eligible applicants must be 18 or older, enrolled full-time as undergraduate students pursuing music or arts-related degrees at colleges or universities near select stops on Tyla's current tour. South African applicants must be entering or currently enrolled at the time of the local concert. Priority will be given to students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

To apply, students need to submit a one-page personal statement, a 30-second video, a school transcript, and proof of financial need. Both financial need and academic excellence will factor into the selection process. The deadline is 30 October 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time, or once 50 eligible applications have been received.

Scholarship recipients get a VIP Tyla experience

Beyond the $5,000 award, each recipient will score an exclusive tour experience that includes tickets to a Tyla performance and a meet-and-greet with the artist herself.

The announcement drew a wave of reactions online. While many fans celebrated Tyla's gesture, some debated the scholarship's structure.

@Tyla_Daily wrote:

"Before people start getting silly: she is based in the USA, her record she partnered with is from the US, she gets more streams from the US, she gets more album sales from the US, the fact that she even included 4 from SA is hella nice. Even 2 would have been enough."

@GirlGirl2023089 was less enthusiastic:

"HCBU students and not the girls from her home country? Disappointing. Weren't Americans bullying her??"

@woo_woopty18392 raised a local concern:

"Music courses are too risky in SA when it comes to getting jobs."

Tyla adds second Gauteng date

Meanwhile, Briefly News reported that Tyla announced a second Gauteng concert date after popular demand from South African fans.

The original January 9 Johannesburg show was relocated from Nasrec.

Source: Briefly News

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