Cindy Mahlangu Opens Up About Playing Pinky in Bad Influencer

The new show Bad Influencer is already capturing the attention of fans with its drama, suspense, and plenty of twists. Starring Jo-Anne Reyneke as BK, a small-time con artist and single mother, the series follows her journey into the dangerous world of crime. BK teams up with Pinky, an ambitious influencer played by Cindy Mahlangu, to sell fake luxury handbags online. What starts as a clever hustle soon spirals out of control when their scheme attracts the attention of a ruthless crime boss and the police. The women are forced to navigate a high-stakes game of survival. Premiering on 31 October 2025, the series has already become a social media sensation, with fans loving every moment.

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Cindy Mahlangu, no stranger to our screens, proves her versatility in this latest role. Originally from the small town of Standerton in Mpumalanga, Cindy says she always knew she wanted to act. “At some point, I was working in an office, a regular 9 to 5 and one day I got an email to attend an audition. I didn’t know anything at that time. It was for a show on Mzansi Magic or something like that. I didn’t get it. A year later, I was called again. I went back, but I was reluctant to go because my first audition was just so scary. I didn’t know what was happening. The second time, I was more prepared. I went there, auditioned and that’s when I got my first role. I think it was about eight years ago on The Herd,” she recalls.

Cindy describes her journey in acting as something divinely guided. “And that’s where it all started. It was like one role after another, and I feel like God literally wrote my story. I can’t say exactly what I did to get to this point. I really feel like God wrote the story and he’s still writing it.”

According to True Love, now  taking on her first leading role in Bad Influencer, Cindy plays Pinky, an influencer who sells fake bags alongside BK. She admits that bringing Pinky to life was a challenge. “Playing Pinky didn’t come naturally to me because she is the complete opposite of who I am. So it was a beautiful challenge to portray her. I did a lot of research on my side to understand her world, but the script was written so well, it really helped me to bring her to life naturally.”

Cindy also enjoyed her time on set and the bond she formed with Jo-Anne Reyneke. “I loved every bit of it. It was so nice. Jo-Anne is like my big sister now. She was very supportive and really understanding. We were working together throughout the whole series to just bring Pinky and BK alive.”

With Cindy’s dedication and natural talent, Pinky is a character that fans won’t forget anytime soon, and Bad Influencer is proving to be the must-watch show of the year.