Social Media influencer Maja Janeska found dead under "mysterious circumstances"

Maja Janeska, an online beauty influencer with over 1.2 million Instagram followers, was discovered dead under "mysterious circumstances," according to local media and family members. Janeska, 39, was discovered with a gunshot wound to the head at her upscale Bassonia Estate house in Johannesburg, South Africa, on December 2, according to police. A police spokesperson Lt. Col. Mavela Masondo said in a statement, "Upon arrival at the address given, police found a woman in the bedroom with a gunshot wound on the head." "There was a firearm next to her. The woman was certified dead by the paramedics,” the spokesperson added. Additionally, the celebrity cosmetics artist and online content creator, known to her followers as "Maya Mia," was supposedly dating and living with "cigarette tycoon" Kyle Phillips, co-director of Johannesburg-based tobacco firm Carnilinx. Phillips, who has been described as "devastated and in shock by this tragedy," told officials that he was brushing his teeth in the bathroom when he heard a gunshot coming from their bedroom.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Maya Mia (@maya_mia_y)

Interestingly, when asked who owned the pistol, Lt. Col. Masondo remained silent, saying, "The police cannot comment on it now as that might jeopardize the investigation.” However, police said that an inquest has been opened into the influencer's death, adding that her death is "not being treated as suspicious at the present time." Meanwhile, Phillips has told local media that he will hire his own pathologist to do the autopsy.

What's more

A "heartbroken" family member told South African news site News24 that Janeska "feared for her life" at times, and was concerned about being murdered. According to the family member, they were informed of her death by one of Phillips' former associates, who purportedly stated suicide was the current suspected cause.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Maya Mia (@maya_mia_y)

Maja Janeska told university students during a guest lecture nine days before her death that she traveled to Tanzania when she was 19 to work in a hotel, according to sources. She became "fluent in Swahili" during this period and began her career as a cosmetics artist and stylist. Moreover, in her most recent Instagram post on November 22, Janeska was posing with Bujar Osmani, North Macedonia's minister of international affairs. She stated that the meeting was aimed at "establishing diplomatic relations between my country Republic of North Macedonia and my second home the Republic of South Africa."