Johannesburg – A new Showmax documentary series, "Slay Queens," is set to premiere on October 31st, delving into the complex and often misunderstood world of South Africa's most talked-about women. The five-part series, produced by Kaimal Pictures, the creative minds behind the hit show "Soft Life," aims to uncover the realities behind the glamorous facade of the "slay queen" lifestyle.
The term "Slay Queen," once a term of endearment, has evolved to often carry a derogatory connotation, typically used to describe women perceived as overly materialistic. In today's digital age, where luxurious lifestyles are heavily promoted, many young women are lured into chasing the "soft life," sometimes falling victim to abuse in their pursuit of escaping poverty and emulating those they admire. For some, being a "slay queen" has even become a means of earning a living.
"Slay Queens" features a range of voices, including Inno Morolong, DJ and influencer Cyan Boujee, amapiano star Mr JazziQ, author and media personality Jackie Phamotse, and anthropologist Lebo Masango.
Inno Morolong, one of the key voices in the documentary, promises viewers a raw and authentic portrayal. Speaking about her decision to participate, Morolong said, "I wanted to be part of this documentary because I haven’t actually told my life story. I hardly open up, but this show made me open up about a lot of things. It’s also more about the lifestyle that I’m used to living, so it was easy for me to agree to be part of the documentary."
For Morolong, it was crucial to share her story to dispel misconceptions. "It was important for me to tell my story because I’m always misunderstood. People always assume the worst, but this documentary made me show my other side, from humble beginnings to where I am in life right now. I hope my story makes an impact on young girls out there from small towns, that if I can make it, they can also make it."
Morolong hopes viewers will learn the importance of patience. "I hope viewers learn from my personal journey that in life it’s important to be patient, that good things come to those who wait. I’m a hardworking single mom and I’m in an industry where there’s a lot of competition, so to stand out, you really have to do your own thing and be authentic. I’ve always been open about where I come from and where I am going. So I hope most people who don’t believe in themselves or who have been struggling, especially single moms, will learn a thing or two from my life story and that with hard work and dedication, you can achieve almost everything in life. Also, it’s important to believe in God and put him first in everything you do in life."
When asked what advice she would give to young girls aspiring to the "slay queen" lifestyle, Morolong cautioned, "Having lived and seen these things in real life, the advice I would give a young girl who wants to live like a slay queen is that it’s not easy being a slay queen. It takes a lot of money and time to maintain that high-standard look of a slay queen. So I would advise a young girl to also love their natural looks and be happy with the little that they have and know that it’s okay to make an honest living and to be a natural beauty. Some slay queens get involved in hectic stuff just to keep up with the lifestyle, so child, it’s okay to be a natural, normal queen."
Morolong also highlighted the hidden risks and challenges. "Beyond the glamour, some of the risks or challenges of the slay queen lifestyle that people don’t see are that they do get into a lot of debt to keep up with the lifestyle. Some get stuck and stranded in foreign countries. Some do get abused by some of the blessers. Most go through depression but hide the pain they go through with a flashy lifestyle."
She believes the term "slay queen" is often misunderstood. "The term “slay queen” is definitely misunderstood because people think slay queens are high-class escorts or something like that. Even a hard-working woman like Beyoncé can look and be labelled as a slay queen, but she’s a wife and a mother. She even made a song about slaying. She’s a proudly slaying queen. I want people to know that some women prefer to glam up and look good, and take all efforts to look good, and that doesn’t mean they are your typical “slay queens”."
Finally, Morolong addressed the role men play in the "slay queen" economy. "Men play a role in the slay queen economy by financing them. Men are naturally providers, so when they feel like flashing money, they always want to be seen with women who look like slay queens, and most men do pay women to always look a certain way so they can shine."
"Slay Queens" promises to be a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of a complex subculture, offering a glimpse behind the carefully curated images and into the lives of the women who navigate this world.
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