From working in reality television to founding one of the most sought-after vegan restaurant chains (Slutty Vegan), Pinky Cole is redefining what it means to be plant-based. For the Baltimore native with Jamaican roots, Cole’s success goes far beyond food. Her bold branding is intended to not only add a sprinkle of fun, but also to spark a conversation about the health and sustainability benefits of plant-based food options for those who’ve never considered them before.
After she was forced to shutter her first restaurant in Harlem due to a grease fire in 2016, Cole took a gamble, opening her first Slutty Vegan food truck in 2018. An astronomical success, she turned over $4 million in profit within the first six months of opening and immediately reinvested the proceeds back in her local Atlanta community. She’s helped struggling local businesses cover their rent, paid the tuition of over 30 college students at Clark Atlanta (her alma mater), and worked to provide coats and warm clothing to community members in need. This year, she released her first book, I Hope You Fail, an account of how the losses in her life led her to success.
