Showmax has just released the official trailer for Slay Queens, a five-part documentary series that peels back the layers of one of South Africa’s most talked-about lifestyles — women chasing the “soft life” by any means necessary.
The Showmax Original premieres on 31 October 2025, with new episodes dropping every Friday.
Created by executive producer Vusi Zion and his creative collective Kaimal Pictures — the same team behind the hit Showmax series Soft Life — Slay Queens offers an unfiltered look at the controversial world of beauty, money, fame, and survival.
“Slay Queens was born from a need to hold up a mirror to a world we often speak about in whispers, memes, or judgment, but rarely listen to directly. My role as a filmmaker is not to sanitise or sensationalise but to create a platform where voices that are usually dismissed or caricatured can be heard in their full complexity.”
says Vusi
The documentary features an unflinching mix of voices — from the women who live the lifestyle to the men and communities entangled in it.
Among the key voices are DJ and influencer Cyan Boujee, who opens up about the realities of internet fame and the personal costs of staying relevant in a culture that rewards visibility at any cost. Audiences will see a more vulnerable side to Cyan than ever before.
Also featured is multi-award-winning amapiano producer and DJ Mr JazziQ, who offers insight into the nightlife economy from his vantage point as owner of the Johannesburg hotspot Vibes on Main. He unpacks the symbiotic relationship between slay queens and the entertainment industry.
Author and media personality Jackie Phamotse, known for her bestselling book Bare, adds a deeply personal perspective as a self-proclaimed former slay queen, reflecting on the emotional and psychological toll of living for luxury — and what it takes to reclaim your story.
Adding intellectual depth, anthropologist and author Lebo Masango (The Soft Life: Love, Choice and Modern Dating) examines the cultural and economic factors that shape the slay queen phenomenon, including gender dynamics, social mobility, and transactional relationships.
The documentary also gives voice to other perspectives — a sangoma, an Uber driver, and a promoter — each integral to understanding the ecosystem of this lifestyle.
“Slay Queens doesn’t just document a lifestyle. It challenges the systems, stories, and stereotypes behind it. It shines a light on those who live, critique, and capitalise on the slay queen era.”
says Vusi
Get ready for a provocative, stylish, and emotionally charged exploration of one of South Africa’s most polarising cultures.
🎬 Slay Queens premieres 31 October 2025, exclusively on Showmax, with new episodes every Friday.
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