THE FUSE

Netflix’s new South African series Bad Influencer, produced by Gambit Films, premiered on 31 October 2025, and viewers are already captivated. The show follows a group of women whose clever hustle quickly turns dangerous when it attracts the attention of a ruthless crime boss and the police, forcing them to navigate a high-stakes game of survival.

One of the standout performances comes from Kamohelo Pule, better known as Kamo WW, one of South Africa’s most recognised influencers. Pule shared with Drum their thoughts on bringing the character Lelz to life, explaining how the role resonates with them personally. “People relate to so many things on the show, some from just an aesthetic point of view, and some from an emotional point of view,” Kamohelo said.

Pule, who uses they/them pronouns and is a proud member of the LGBTQ community, revealed that acting has always been part of their journey, even before their influencer career. They started acting at a young age after realising that sports weren’t their forte. “Drama and commercials were my extramural activities in high school, and I attended quite a few auditions for commercials, which exposed me to the acting world,” Pule explained.

Discussing their approach to portraying Lelz, Pule emphasized the importance of preparation and research. “I wanted to be super intentional when playing Lelz, so I had to go back to attending acting classes. I had to build my character arc, and I had to research and see how artists and talent managers lived their lives,” Pule said.

Because Lelz is also a queer character, Pule felt a personal connection, which helped shape the role. “Lelz is a queer character himself. It was a bit easier to build his characteristics and how he is because I, myself, am queer, and that’s my life,” Kamohelo added.

Reflecting on the acting industry, Pule stressed the importance of equal opportunities. “It would just be a very unfair world to block opportunities for people who build themselves and work hard to get recognition for whatever talent or skill they might have,” the star said.

They continued, “An opportunity is an opportunity; everyone is meant to grab that with both hands. Being an influencer might’ve gotten me the recognition; however, it didn’t get me the skill or talent to act. I, just like all the actors, had to undergo the auditioning phase, the callback phase, and still had to prepare for the character, too.”

Sharing their excitement on Instagram, Kamohelo expressed gratitude and disbelief at their journey. “Such a pretty month.! I’ve been filled with sm gratitude lately; I can’t even explain it.! The week I’ve also been waiting for since high school is officially here.! I can’t even imagine what kind of story l’d be telling if I never believed in what the Lord instilled in me.! So really yes, Trust his Timing.! Y’all finally get to meet Lelz on Bad Influencer; this Friday streaming on Netflix! There was never ever a single hint that my debut acting role would be as prominent as this one! I remember attending a gazillion castings back in highschool and wondering how I wouldn’t get that role with sm preparation and that could’ve easily crushed the living hope in me but so much held me down and trusting in him fully grounded me! This really is giving full circle moment and I still need someone to pinch me!, However though I feel like running around and telling everyone that he really listens to your prayers!, so don’t stop!” OMG OMG!

Beyond acting and influencing, Pule is also a musician with multiple projects on streaming platforms, making them one of South Africa’s most versatile rising stars.