South African influencer and DJ Cyan Boujee has shared her unsettling experience working on a controversial campaign in Russia. The 24-year-old star, born Honour Zuma, revealed that she noticed several red flags during the project, which is now being probed by authorities.
The campaign initially promoted a two-year “start programme” that promised job opportunities, professional skills, and career growth for young women. However, after intense backlash and accusations of exploitation, the promotional videos featuring influencers were swiftly taken down from social media.
In a new YouTube vlog, Cyan shared a series of voice notes she had sent to her PR manager at the time, detailing her discomfort and suspicions. She revealed that she felt misled and uneasy, especially after interacting with other participants who seemed to be in distress.
“I would never sell any woman intentionally. I’m going to share some of the dodgy stuff that I figured from this programme. These are the voice notes I shared on the same day with my PR manager, and I told her that there was something off,” she explained.
One moment that deeply disturbed her was interviewing a young woman from the programme who broke down in tears, complaining about her poor living conditions and treatment. Cyan said the participant was later pressured to lie on camera and pretend everything was fine.
The DJ also slammed the unprofessional environment, recalling how staff smoked and wasted time while filming instead of focusing on the work.
“I didn’t know that God is going to use me to expose the brand. If you work with any other influencers you have to be legit because this is BS,” Cyan added.
Expressing concern for the participants, Cyan said many appeared unhappy and uncomfortable, particularly when asked about their accommodation and daily experiences.
She ended by stressing that she hopes the ongoing investigation uncovers the full truth, as she remains worried about the welfare of the young women who were allegedly exploited through the programme.
