Must-watch trailer: Slay Queens doccie coming to Showmax

Showmax has just released the trailer for Slay Queens, a five-part documentary series about women who chase the soft life by any means necessary. 

The Showmax Original premieres on 31 October, with new episodes dropping every Friday.

Slay Queens brings the signature edge of executive producer Vusi Zion, whose creative collective, Kaimal Pictures, was also behind the Showmax hit Soft Life.

“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,” says Vusi. “I was inspired by the courage of women who live these realities every day, by the men and communities affected, and by the silence surrounding their truths. 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.”

Watch the trailer for Slay Queens

The documentary features both slay queens and ballers telling their stories in their own words, as well as some of the most recognisable voices shaping the conversation around the controversial lifestyle.

DJ and influencer Cyan Boujee, known for her bold presence and viral moments, opens up about life in the spotlight and what it really takes to maintain her status, from the pressure of staying relevant to the personal costs of internet fame. Cyan shows a side of herself the public has never seen.

Multi-award-winning amapiano star Mr JazziQ also weighs in. As the owner of the popular Jozi nightclub Vibes on Main, he offers a unique perspective on the nightlife scene, where slay queens are both a presence and a force. From behind the decks to the VIP booth, he has a front-row seat to the culture.

Author and media personality Jackie Phamotse brings her own lived experience as a self-proclaimed former slay queen. Known for her bestselling book Bare, Jackie reflects on the emotional and social consequences of chasing the high life, and what it takes to walk away from it.

Adding a sharp, academic lens is Lebo Masango, anthropologist and author of The Soft Life: Love, Choice and Modern Dating. Drawing from her Master’s research, Lebo explores the economic and cultural dynamics that fuel the rise of the slay queen, from transactional relationships to the pursuit of financial freedom in a society where options are often limited. 

Other cast members include a sangoma, an Uber driver and a promoter, who are all intrinsic parts of this lifestyle.

“Slay Queens doesn’t just document a lifestyle, it challenges the systems, stories and stereotypes behind it,” says Vusi. “It shines a light on those who live, critique, and capitalise on the slay queen era.”

Join the conversation: #SlayQueensShowmax