Who is Malvika Sitlani? Beauty star faces fundraiser scam claims after Valentine’s Day posts amid mother's death

Malvika Sitlani is a Mumbai born beauty creator who began posting online around 2016. Over the years, she grew her Instagram to more than 700,000 followers and built a YouTube channel with over 800,000 subscribers. Her videos focus on everyday makeup, skincare routines, faith based reflections, and personal vlogs.

She often signs off with “Jesus is King” and speaks openly about life’s struggles. After her divorce, she spoke about healing, therapy, and raising her daughter Abigail on her own. In mid 2025, she moved to Dubai, calling it a fresh start and a way to break generational cycles. She also co founded the beauty brand MASIC, which helped cement her image as a businesswoman, not just a content creator.

In January 2026, Sitlani turned to crowdfunding platform ImpactGuru to raise money for her mother, Jenifer Sitlani. Her mother was battling metastatic breast cancer for the third time. The cancer had reportedly spread to her bones and liver, requiring intensive treatment in Dubai.

The campaign goal was ₹40 lakh. Within hours, donations poured in. Reports suggested that the fundraiser crossed 70 percent of the target in under a day. By the time it ended in mid January, close to the full amount had been raised.

Sitlani posted emotional appeals, calling the situation “soul crushing” and admitting she never imagined she would need to ask for help as the sole earning member of the family. Medical documents were uploaded, and the platform marked the campaign as verified. At the time, many followers praised her honesty. One supporter wrote on Instagram, “You have given us years of content. This is the least we can do.”

On February 10, 2026, Sitlani announced that her mother had passed away. Her posts were filled with grief. She wrote that life would never be the same and spoke about losing both her parents within months.

But four days later, on Valentine’s Day, her Instagram stories showed a very different mood. She posted glam selfies, shared moments from an outing with a friend, and added captions about missing a man and single girl vibes.

For some followers, the shift felt jarring. A viral post on X questioned the timeline, asking what happened to the money raised and why luxury lifestyle posts returned so quickly. That single post gathered hundreds of thousands of views and triggered the hashtag “Scamvika Sitlani”.

The accusations centre around three main concerns. First, her perceived wealth. Netizens argue that as a successful influencer with brand deals and a Dubai lifestyle, she should have funded the treatment herself. “If she can afford Dubai glam, why crowdsource hospital bills?” one X user wrote.

Second, the timing of her posts. Many felt that posting lighthearted Valentine’s content just days after her mother’s death looked insensitive. “You cannot police grief, but this looks strange,” another user commented.

Third, transparency. While the fundraiser ended before her mother passed away, some people demanded a detailed breakdown of how the money was used and whether any surplus remained. Threads on Reddit accused her of exploiting emotions, with one harsh comment reading, “Daylight robbery.” YouTube commentary channels added fuel to the fire, publishing videos that labelled it one of the biggest influencer controversies of the year.

Not everyone agrees with the outrage. Several fans defended her, saying medical care in Dubai is expensive and unpredictable. One user wrote on X, “She used the money for her mother’s hospitalisation in January. Why judge someone already going through so much?”