How did Maja Janeska die? Makeup influencer told relatives her fear of being murdered
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA: Maja Janeska, a well-known makeup artist for celebrities and influencers, was discovered dead inside her South African home where she lived with her tobacco tycoon boyfriend. The 39-year-old influencer was discovered last Friday, December 9 with a gunshot wound to the head. Her boyfriend, Carnilinx co-director Kyle Phillips, claimed he was brushing his teeth in the bathroom when he heard a gunshot coming from their bedroom. Maja's body was later discovered by police in Bassonia Estate, Johannesburg, along with a gun next to her.
According to Daily Mail, police spokesperson Mavela Masondo said, “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.” In response to a question about who owned the gun, another spokesperson Phillips Masondo said, “The police cannot comment on it now as that might jeopardize the investigation.” The influencer's death is not currently being investigated as suspicious, according to the police, who revealed that they had initiated an investigation into it.
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A family member in North Macedonia revealed to local media outlet News24 after Maja's terrible death that she was previously worried about being murdered. “We are heartbroken, and we seriously don't know what to do. We are in Europe and our hands are tied because we can't come to South Africa because of visa issues. Maja is lying there in some mortuary, and we don't have any clue as to what is actually happening,” the relative, who requested to remain unnamed, remarked. The family member claimed that one of Phillips' former acquaintances had informed them of her passing and that the cause of death was currently being investigated as a suicide.
The influencer recently appeared alongside Bujar Osman, the minister of foreign affairs for North Macedonia, in her final Instagram photo, which was published on November 22. She claimed the meeting's purpose was “establishing diplomatic relations between my country Republic of North Macedonia, and my second home the Republic of South Africa.” At the time of her death, the influencer from Macedonia had 1.2 million Instagram followers.
According to local media outlet Times Live, Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters political party, recalled the influencer saying, “I haven’t spoken to Kyle, but I knew her very well. We were friends. She was a very lovely lady, forward-looking and she had very good plans for the continent and the country and held our leadership in high regard.”