The dark side of the soft life: 'Slay Queens' premieres on Showmax

The much-anticipated new South African documentary series Slay Queens has arrived on Showmax.

It lifts the veil on the pursuit of the so-called 'soft life', exploring the risk and reality behind the lifestyle we see reflected in images of glamorous women in designer labels popping bottles of champagne.

'It's a high-stakes game where ambition rubs shoulders with scandal, and survival means bending the rules.'

The series features some of Mzansi’s most recognisable voices, including former slay queen and bestselling author Jackie Phamotse, and Inno Morolong, a social media influencer who's lived the nightlife.

Sara-Jayne Makwala King chats to Phamotse and Morolong, along with Slay Queens executive producer Vusi Zion (Kaimal Pictures).

While viewers may be drawn by the 'scandal' element inherent in the show, it's less about this and more about the human story, says Zion.

One of the things that struck him most during research and filming, was just how relatablethe featured characters are.

"This really is a story that is about social archaeology - just how we are as a society... And, if you listen carefully, you'll discover that these are people who are striving towards a betterment of their life, coming out of very checkered circumstances and backgrounds but dealing with the real dynamic that is economically viable."

"The pursuit of soft life is fascinating in how women in this country are taking it as a kind of vehicle to self-emancipation. It sparks a conversation at a deeper level, with ourselves as a society."

Phamotse, as a woman who knows this world intimately, says what is most misunderstood about the lifestyle is the inherent dangers.

She highlights the impact on the women's mental and physical health, along with the very real danger of human trafficking.

"People think it's all about a good life, the gold and glitter... and that whenever you want to leave the relationship or leave the phenomenon as a whole, everything is going  to be perfect - you're going to still have the money, the mental health and your physical health, and actually it's not like that."

"In the first episode already, one of the women speaks of the dangers - how she started, why she started, how she was groomed into it and just the physical health problems that she had. There were fights, there were court cases, there were protection orders she had to get... And human trafficking is a big thing in Africa -  there is a huge crime syndicate that follows the slay queen culture."

The top-secret information that slay queens get to know also puts them in danger, she says.

"The secrets they end up knowing, the dealings they're exposed to, the moving around of drugs and money... If a girl can sit there and record those conversations, she really has a hold on this man; that information could destroy his reputation in all kinds of ways."

In conclusion, says Zion, his hope is that the audience will come to Slay Queens and see it as a human story, without judgement.

New episodes of the five-part docuseries land every Friday on Showmax.

To listen to the executive producer and stars of 'Slay Queens' in conversation with Sara-Jayne Makwala King on CapeTalk's Weekend Breakfast, click on the audio link below: