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Beauty influencer Maja Janeska was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head, police have confirmed.
The 39-year-old celebrity makeup artist had more than 1.2 million followers on social media and her death came as a shock to friends and family who said her passing was due to “mysterious circumstances”.
Police said the influencer, known as my mayaShe was found dead in the luxurious home she shared with Kyle Phillips, co-head of the Carnilinx tobacco company, on the Bassonia Estate in Johannesburg, South Africa, on December 2.
Beauty influencer Maja Janeska was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head, police confirmed
The death of the 39-year-old celebrity makeup artist came as a shock to friends and family who said her passing was due to “mysterious circumstances”.
Police said the influencer, known as Maya Mia to her followers, was found with a gunshot wound to the head at the home she shared with her boyfriend Kyle Phillips.
“Upon arriving at the given address, the police found a woman in the bedroom with a gunshot wound to the head,” police spokeswoman Mavela Masondo said.
‘There was a firearm next to her. The woman was certified dead by paramedics.
Phillips said he was brushing his teeth in the bathroom when he heard a gunshot coming from his bedroom, according to reports.
According to reports, Maja’s boyfriend ‘devastated and in shock by this tragedy‘ and he even told him local news you’d be hiring your own pathologist.
Masondo would not comment on who owned the firearm, adding: “Police cannot comment on that now, as that could jeopardize the investigation.”
Police confirmed they have opened an investigation into the influencer’s death, meaning he is not being treated as a suspect at this time.
Following the death of the make-up artist, a family member told local media that Maja “sometimes feared for her life.”
Phillips said he was brushing his teeth in the bathroom when he heard a gunshot coming from his bedroom, according to reports.
Her boyfriend is reportedly “devastated and in shock by this tragedy” and even told local news that he would hire his own pathologist.
Police confirmed they have opened an investigation into the influencer’s death, meaning he is not being treated as a suspect at this time.
Sometimes he feared for his life. Her boyfriend had men working for him, and she feared them too,” the anonymous relative told News24.
“We are heartbroken and seriously don’t know what to do,” added the relative, who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons.
We are in Europe and our hands are tied because we cannot come to South Africa due to visa issues.
Maja is lying in a morgue and we have no idea what is really going on.
The family member said one of Phillips’ former associates informed them of his death, stating that suicide was currently the suspected cause.
“I haven’t spoken to Kyle, but I knew her very well,” said Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters political party.
We were friends. She was a very lovely lady, farsighted.
Nine days before her death, Maja told university students that she moved to Tanzania when she was 19 to work in a hotel.
After the death of the makeup artist, a relative told local media that Maja “sometimes feared for her life.”
In her latest Instagram post on November 22, the influencer was photographed with Bujar Osman, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia.
She said the meeting was aimed at “establishing diplomatic relations between my country, the Republic of North Macedonia, and my second home, the Republic of South Africa.”
During that time, she learned Swahili and launched her career as a makeup artist and hairstylist.
In her latest Instagram post on November 22, the influencer was photographed with Bujar Osman, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia.
He said the meeting was aimed at “establishing diplomatic relations between my country, the Republic of North Macedonia, and my second home, the Republic of South Africa.”
The Macedonian influencer had more than a million followers on Instagram at the time of her death who loved and supported her.
Her followers included celebrities such as actress Pearl Thusi, singer Tamara Dey, and television personality Boity Thulo.
The investigation into his death is ongoing.