'Bad Influencer' offers a gritty look at clout, fake bags and real-life struggles

Netflix’s "Bad Influencer" is giving all the chaos, clout and glam you’d expect from the influencer world, but honey, with a proper Jozi twist that makes it feel oh-so-local.

From fake designer bags to slang that doesn’t always make sense (“math isn’t matching - it’s giving…”), this show dives headfirst into the highs and lows of online fame. And sis, it’s messy in the best way.

At the heart of it: BK Msinga, played by Jo‑Anne Reyneke, is a single mother and fashion designer with major grit. When she can’t make ends meet, she turns to counterfeiting luxury handbags to save up for her neurodivergent son Leo’s specialised schooling needs.

Then there’s Pinky Sithole, portrayed by Cindy Mahlangu, a mid‑level influencer who’s all about the flex, the content and the ‘Gram life until her world collides with BK’s.

Yes, people, there are levels to being an influencer: beginner level, mid-level, and then there's making it to the top.

Their love-hate energy is everything. One moment, they’re riding high, laughing off the latest scandal; the next, they’re dodging undercover cops or plotting stunts that could land them in jail.

The actors bring serious charisma to their roles, one channelling chaotic superwoman energy, the other mixing brains with audacious street smarts. Together, they’re magnetic. You can’t help but admire them, even when you know the law (and basic common sense) is on thin ice.

Acting‑wise, Reyneke nails the “can‑do, will‑do” energy as BK; she’s tired, on the edge, but still determined to get the life she and her son deserve. Mahlangu as Pinky layers ambition with insecurity; you see the girl chasing likes even when the cost is high.

What makes "Bad Influencer" sing is how it lays out the velvet‑glove façade of influencer culture alongside the raw reality: fake bags, sugar daddy deals, BBL trips to Turkey, and social media tiers (“mid‑influencer”, “millions‑club”).

The series doesn’t shy away from the gritty side of Jozi life. Hillbrow makes an appearance, not for anything cute, but as a reminder that poverty isn’t glamorised.

There’s realness beneath the hashtags, even when the money’s up and the outfits are on point, some friendships fade, and the show quietly reminds us: “When days are dark, friends are few.”

It’s a nod to the struggles behind the glam, the moments behind the filters that influencer culture conveniently hides. Kindness really is key, because you never know the battles someone is facing behind that perfect Instagram feed.

There are jokes, shade, and situations so ridiculous you’ll snort laughing. The main actors thrive here, balancing superwoman energy with chaotic, messy human vibes that make their characters impossible not to watch.

They’re flawed, fabulous, and entirely believable even when their antics are absolutely extra.

The world of fake designer bags gets a full spotlight in the series, and sis, it’s revealing. There’s this underground economy portrayed where “luxury” handbags are minted not in fancy boutiques but in shady back‑rooms, sold cheaply to influencers who post them like they’re the real deal.

Globally, counterfeit goods comprised roughly 2.5 % of world trade in 2019 to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars. Research shows that the louder and flashier a bag style is, the more likely it is to be knocked off.

So when you see your favourite influencer flexing that “7500” bag or “rare” drop‑piece, ask yourself: is it real, or just a mirror‑grade replica meant for the ‘Gram?

Meanwhile, you’re saving up, maybe skipping a few weekends, trying to cop that bag because you believe in the authenticity narrative. The show takes this glamorous façade and peels it back, exposing how buying into the hype can make you complicit in the cycle.

And then there’s the added layer with BK’s son Leo. His autism is woven into this world of flash and filters, grounding the chaos in something real. While influencers and clout-chasers are busy flexing fake bags and chasing likes,

Leo’s story reminds us that real life doesn’t always match the feed. His experience of neurodiversity highlights the challenges of navigating a world obsessed with perfection, attention, and image.

"Bad Influencer" brings the conversation of influencer culture, ambition, and the grind to make ends meet.

In a world where poverty makes it a struggle just to get your child into a decent school, influencers are raking in money by simply flaunting a fake designer bag.

It leaves you with the question: who’s really winning, and who’s paying the price for the illusion of luxury?

Rating: **** a standout series with exceptional qualities.