In the dynamic world of South African social media, few personalities have captured public attention quite like Cyan Boujee. Born Honour Zuma Zacn on August 25, 2001, she is a well-known South African social media influencer and model who transformed from a beauty content creator into one of the country’s most talked-about digital personalities. Her journey from makeup tutorials to international controversy showcases both the opportunities and pitfalls of modern influencer culture.
Early Life and Background
Johannesburg Roots
Cyan (22 years old) was born on August 25, 2001, in Johannesburg, South Africa. She holds American nationality and is of African ethnicity. Cyan follows the Islamic religion, and her zodiac sign is Virgo. Growing up in South Africa’s economic hub, she was exposed to diverse cultures and opportunities that would later shape her content creation style.
She is currently in a relationship with her boyfriend who seems to be in the creative industry doing graphic design amongst other things. Cyan Boujee’s height is 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) tall and her weight is 58 kg (127.86 lbs). These physical attributes, combined with her charismatic personality, would later contribute to her success in the modeling and content creation industry.
The Digital Journey Begins
YouTube and Content Creation
Cyan Boujee is famous in South Africa for her makeup tutorial and beauty tips videos on her Youtube channel. She set up her YouTube Channel on December 10, 2019. This marked the beginning of her professional content creation journey, focusing initially on beauty and lifestyle content that resonated with young South African women.
Her primary profession revolves around crafting engaging video content for her audience. Her approach to content creation was strategic and audience-focused, understanding the power of visual storytelling in the digital age.
Building a Social Media Empire
Her posts on different platforms are just so captivating. With eye-catching visuals and engaging content, she has attracted a huge following. Her Instagram presence became particularly notable, where she built a substantial following through lifestyle content, fashion posts, and personal insights.
907K Followers, 868 Following, 101 Posts – Honour Zuma 🇿🇦 (@cyan.boujee24) on Instagram: “Here’s my story for the history books. 🌱 Bookings: 064 500 3080 📧:c.boujeespace@gmail.com @boujeebaby_24 💫 NOT ON Snapchat, Facebook & twitter 24 🧸”. This impressive follower count demonstrates her significant influence in the South African social media landscape.
Professional Success and Brand Partnerships
Influencer Marketing
Endorsement Deals: Honour Zuma Zacn aka Cyan Boujee has worked as an influencer and brand ambassador for several brands. Her success in securing brand partnerships reflected her growing influence and marketability within the South African influencer economy.
Cyan Boujee was born on August 25th, 2001 in South Africa. She has achieved incredible success in her career as an entertaining content creator. Her ability to create engaging content across multiple platforms made her an attractive partner for brands seeking to reach young South African consumers.
Personal Relationships and Controversies
High-Profile Connections
Cyan Boujee was rumoured to be involved with DJ Maphorisa at some point. She admitted in an interview with MacG that she had a crush on DJ Maphorisa and that he invited her to his house several times. She also said she regrets not giving him some “cake” (a slang term for sex) and would explore the opportunity if given another chance. These revelations about her personal life often generated significant media attention and public discussion.
Physical Transformation
Cyan was among the influencers accused of promoting a work-study opportunity in Russia that allegedly targets and traffics young South African girls. According to Cyan, she lost “some bit of dignity,” her TikTok account and several brand deals. “This is absolutely a learning curve for me,” she said. Before these recent controversies, she had also been open about her cosmetic surgery decisions, including her BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) procedure.
The Russia Scandal: A Career-Defining Controversy
The Alabuga Programme Promotion
In 2024, Cyan Boujee became embroiled in one of the most significant controversies of her career when she promoted a Russian work-study program. According to the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, in October 2024, The Associated Press reported that women from Africa, largely Central and East African countries, were recruited via social media to work in a factory in Russia assembling drones to be launched in Ukraine.
Per the report, the group of people were lured to Thailand in 2024 by promises of lucrative “internet promoter” positions, high salaries, free accommodation and paid comprehensive travel expenses. However, they were met by appalling conditions, forced to scam people and faced violence if they resisted.
Personal Experience and Escape
Popular influencer Cyan Boujee, whose account was recently banned by TikTok for alleged links to a Russian human trafficking scam, has posted a video admitting to identifying red flags and abandoning ship. Her firsthand experience with the program revealed the dangerous reality behind what seemed like a legitimate opportunity.
Professional Consequences
The scandal had severe professional repercussions for Cyan Boujee. The controversy cost her her professional and personal brand; she revealed that several brand deals have cut ties with her, and her TikTok account, which had approximately 1.7 – 1.8 million followers, has been banned.
“I lost a lot. I lost some dignity,” she admitted in interviews following the controversy. This candid acknowledgment of her mistakes demonstrated a level of accountability rarely seen from influencers caught in similar scandals.
Lessons Learned and Public Response
Taking Responsibility
Cyan Boujee has broken her silence on how she got involved in the Alabuga programme, explaining her side of the story while acknowledging her role in promoting what turned out to be a problematic program.
Cyan said influencers are human and make mistakes. This statement reflected her attempt to humanize the influencer experience while taking responsibility for the consequences of her actions.
Current Status and Future Prospects
I’m a hero to myself.” · On her dating life, Cyan said she doesn’t have a specific type and has dated both wealthy and broke men. She claimed one of her ex-boyfriends was abusive and even stole from her. Despite the controversies, she continues to share personal insights and maintain her authentic voice with her remaining audience.
Impact on South African Influencer Culture
Cautionary Tale
Cyan Boujee’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for the South African influencer industry. Her story highlights the importance of due diligence when accepting partnerships and the potential consequences of promoting opportunities without thorough investigation.
Industry Reflection
Her case has prompted broader discussions about influencer responsibility, the need for better industry standards, and the protection of both influencers and their audiences from potentially harmful partnerships.
Conclusion
Cyan Boujee’s journey from beauty content creator to controversial figure illustrates both the opportunities and dangers inherent in modern social media influence. Cyan Boujee was born on August 25th, 2001 in South Africa. She has achieved incredible success in her career as an entertaining content creator, but her recent controversies have overshadowed her earlier achievements.
Her story serves as a complex narrative about fame, responsibility, and redemption in the digital age. While the Russia scandal significantly impacted her career and reputation, her willingness to acknowledge mistakes and share her experiences may contribute to important conversations about influencer ethics and safety.
As she works to rebuild her brand and career following these setbacks, Cyan Boujee’s story remains a compelling example of how quickly fortunes can change in the fast-paced world of social media influence. Her experience underscores the importance of careful decision-making, thorough vetting of opportunities, and the ongoing responsibility that comes with having a large platform and influence over young audiences.
Whether she can successfully rehabilitate her image and career remains to be seen, but her story will likely continue to serve as an important case study in influencer culture, responsibility, and the complex relationship between content creators and their audiences in contemporary South Africa.
