Slay Queens: Inno Morolong on the dark side of the lifestyle

Launching on Friday, 31 October, Slay Queens is a bold, no-holds-barred documentary series that dives straight into the glitzy, gritty world of Mzansi's most talked-about women.

That definitely describes Inno Morolong. We caught up with the influencer, club promoter, and reality star to find out what viewers can expect from the documentary.

What made you want to be part of this documentary?

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.

Why was it important for you to tell your story, and what impact do you hope it has?

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. 

What do you hope viewers take away from your personal journey in the series?

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.

Having lived and seen these themes in real life, what advice would you give to a young girl who wants to live like a “slay queen”?

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.

Beyond the glamour, what are some of the real risks or challenges of the slay queen lifestyle that people don’t always see?

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 the flashy lifestyle.

Do you think the term “slay queen” is misunderstood, and if so, what would you want people to know about it?

The term “slay queen” is definitely misunderstood because people think slay queens are high-class escorts or something like that, while even a hard-working woman like Beyonce 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”.

What role do 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 premieres on Showmax on 31 October, with new episodes on Fridays until 28 November. The 5part documentary series is produced by Kaimal Pictures, the creative minds behind Showmax hit Soft Life. In addition to Inno, the documentary also talks to DJ and influencer Cyan Boujee, amapiano star Mr JazziQ, author and media personality Jackie Phamotse, and anthropologist Lebo Masango, author of The Soft Life: Love, Choice and Modern Dating, to name a few.

Watch the trailer for Slay Queens

Slay Queens premieres on Showmax on 31 October, with new episodes on Fridays until 28 November. The 5 part documentary series is produced by Kaimal Pictures, the creative minds behind Showmax hit Soft Life. In addition to Inno, the documentary also talks to DJ and influencer Cyan Boujee, amapiano star Mr JazziQ, author and media personality Jackie Phamotse, and anthropologist Lebo Masango, author of The Soft Life: Love, Choice and Modern Dating, to name a few.