 In the year 1997, at the age of 16, Masinga signed to Fork Models; where she began participating in the likes of Durban Fashion Week and leading campaigns for MTN Africa, Edgars South Africa and Levi's Jeans.In 2002, a 21 year old Masinga competed in the Miss South Africa pageant (the year M-Net made the decision to implement a 4 episode reality formatted show, as a build – up to the live finale).She placed 3rd, as the 2nd runner up; and ultimately cites her participation in the pageant as the start of her career as well as what would go on to be a long-standing relationship with M-Net.