Have you ever wondered about how celeb culture in South Africa works? Author Janine Jellars gives us a glimpse into the lives of the popular in her latest novel, When the Filter Fades.
Published in November by Tracey McDonald Publishers, When the Filter Fades is Janine’s first work of fiction. The novel tells the stories of Lin (a high-end influencer), Lebo (a troubled former child star), and Mbali (the Queen of Gossip) – composites of a few well-known people. As the three entertainment industry-based ladies jostle to take their places in the fame hierarchy, their ambitions, aspirations and agendas collide.
When asked where her inspiration for writing this novel came from, Janine shared with BONA that her main inspirations were South African celebrity culture and the ‘golden era’ of gossip blogging, locally and internationally. “Whether it was Perez Hilton, Socialite Rank, Just Curious, Mika Stefano or D Listed, there was something fascinating to me about how internet gossip collided with reality TV, the rise of influencer culture and the decline in ‘traditional celebrity’ to create this interesting time in pop culture.”
Also a journalist, Janine used her own experiences as someone who has been in close proximity to celebrity culture. She says, “There are definitely a few of my own experiences and anecdotes, as well as gossip and rumours I’ve heard, sprinkled in the book. I love South African pop culture and I thought focusing on a rising star, a falling star and a catalyst character (a gossip blogger) would bring the story to life.”
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Janine also shared her personal thoughts on South Africa’s celeb culture, adding, “To me, South Africa is the most fascinating society on earth … We’re both status-obsessed and one of the most unequal countries in the world; we have one foot in the now, but in many ways are still governed by tradition.”
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