There’s glamour – and then there’s the kind that burns. Netflix’s Savage Beauty is one of those shows where elegance masks rot, and power looks as smooth as glass until it shatters. Created by Lebogang Mogashoa, this South African psychological drama uses the glossy world of cosmetics to explore revenge, class warfare, and generational guilt.
Across two explosive seasons, it follows the Bhengu family – South Africa’s beauty empire royalty — as their perfect image unravels under the weight of past sins. Behind the luxury boardrooms and designer gowns, secrets fester like unhealed wounds. The show’s mix of soap-opera intensity and high-end noir makes it one of Netflix’s most addictive African originals. Here is everything you need to know about Savage Beauty – from the plot and cast to reviews and release date. The trailer is at the bottom of the article.
All the key details about Savage Beauty
- Title: Savage Beauty
- Format: Series
- Runtime: 2 seasons (12 episodes total)
- Genre: Drama, Thriller, Revenge
- Country of production: South Africa
- Original language: English, isiZulu
- Year of release: 2022–2023
- Creator: Lebogang Mogashoa
- Main cast: Rosemary Zimu, Dumisani Mbebe, Nthati Moshesh, Angela Sithole
- Produced by: Netflix / Quizzical Pictures
What happens in Savage Beauty?
When a mysterious young woman named Zinhle Manzini (Rosemary Zimu) enters the lives of the wealthy Bhengu family, she isn’t just another model – she’s the weapon of their undoing. Years ago, cosmetics mogul Don Bhengu (Dumisani Mbebe) and his wife Grace (Nthati Moshesh) tested a dangerous skin-lightening product on street children, leaving scars that never healed. Zinhle, one of the survivors, returns seeking vengeance disguised as ambition.
Season 1 builds her infiltration of Bhengu Beauty with surgical precision – all glossy boardroom betrayals, family fractures, and slow-burn revenge. Season 2 raises the stakes, turning Zinhle’s private vendetta into a full-scale corporate and moral war. As new players enter and old alliances crumble, the show becomes a meditation on what justice means when everyone has blood on their hands. You may like ► Unmissable African Movies and TV Series on Netflix: Stories of power, love, and identity
Who’s in the cast of Savage Beauty?
Rosemary Zimu delivers a breakout performance as Zinhle – vulnerable, furious, and cunning in equal measure. Nthati Moshesh brings regal menace as Grace Bhengu, the matriarch guarding her empire like a fortress. Dumisani Mbebe makes Don Bhengu’s contradictions – visionary and villain – frighteningly human. Angela Sithole, Oros Mampofu, and Jesse Suntele round out the ensemble as heirs caught between privilege and decay.
The chemistry between Zimu and Moshesh anchors the show, making every confrontation feel like a chess match laced with pain. It’s a cast that turns melodrama into art.
Is Savage Beauty based on a true story?
No, but it draws heavily on real-world issues in South Africa’s beauty and social landscape, including colorism, corporate exploitation, and moral hypocrisy. The Bhengu empire may be fictional, yet its reflections of power, corruption, and beauty politics feel uncomfortably real.
Behind the scenes, creator Lebogang Mogashoa set out to tell “a story where beauty is weaponized,” inspired by both South African business dynasties and global beauty-brand scandals.
What are the reviews on Savage Beauty?
Critics have described Savage Beauty as “South Africa’s answer to Dynasty meets Revenge” – a slick, bold mix of soap and social critique. Rosemary Zimu’s performance has been widely praised for balancing empathy with ruthlessness. Viewers highlight the show’s lavish production design, sharp pacing, and fearless portrayal of colorism in the luxury industry. Season 2 earned stronger acclaim for deepening the Bhengus’ internal conflicts and exploring the cost of vengeance. You may like ► Beauty, lies, and a prison break: Netflix’s Beauty and the Bester turns a real scandal into must-watch true crime
Where was Savage Beauty filmed?
Principal photography took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, using high-end mansions and modern corporate locations to mirror the Bhengus’ empire of excess. The city’s sleek skyline and township outskirts frame the story’s tension between privilege and poverty.
Savage Beauty: Behind the scenes and fun facts
- Rosemary Zimu trained in business etiquette and runway movement to portray Zinhle’s seamless transition from outsider to insider.
- The Bhengu Beauty brand visuals were developed with South African cosmetics consultants for authentic packaging and product lines.
- The series was among Netflix’s prominent African originals captured in 4K HDR, lending it a cinematic sheen.
- Creator Mogashoa has hinted that a future continuation could explore Grace Bhengu’s rise to power.
What’s Savage Beauty like?
If you enjoyed Blood & Water or Revenge, this is your next obsession – a glossy, ruthless, character-driven thriller that exposes how far people will go to stay beautiful, powerful, and untouchable.
When is Savage Beauty coming out on streaming?
Available now. Savage Beauty Seasons 1 & 2 are already streaming on Netflix, where the show continues to attract international viewers for its bold storytelling and stylish production. Watch on Netflix.
Watch the trailer
In the meantime, here’s the trailer.
