Inside ‘RHOA’ S17 New Cast Member, Pinky Cole’s Marriage, Family And USD 100 Million Business Crisis

Fans will soon be able to meet the ever-dazzling Pinky Cole this April 2026 on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 17. The restaurateur has made a name for herself in the food industry while balancing her busy family life with her young children and adoring husband.

However, while she is one of the sweetest souls out there, Pinky Cole doesn’t back down from showing what she’s made of when it rubs the wrong way. When the Season 17 trailer was dropped, Pinky offered up some tasty teases of what to expect from one of RHOA‘s newest cast members. “I’m vegan…so don’t bring me no beef,” she wrote on Instagram. So, as we prepare to see the Atlanta-based restaurateur make her RHOA debut, let’s take a look at her career and personal life.

Who is The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 17’s new cast member, Pinky Cole?

Pinky Cole was born on December 8, 1987, in Baltimore, Maryland and later moved to Atlanta. She completed her education at Clark Atlanta University. She is a Jamaican American restaurateur and business owner, and has made a name for herself in the food industry. However, her journey was not always easy. She worked at the Police Athletic League and Forever 21 when she was young, becoming independent at a very young age. She reflected on the same during a conversation with Baltimore Magazine and was quoted as saying:

“Baltimore made me super brave even in the times when I was scared. I got my independence in Baltimore. I got my first job when I was young, working at the Police Athletic League and Forever 21. I got my license early. I got a car young. My mother gave me the space and opportunity to be independent— no one cradled me. I am grateful my city did that for me.”

Pinky Cole’s career and rise in the food industry

According to her BravoTV.com bio, she is a restaurateur, author and community activist. She has not only released a cookbook, Eat Plants, Bitch: 91 Vegan Recipes That Will Blow Your Meat-Loving Mind, but also penned I Hope You Fail: Ten Hater Statements Holding You Back From Everything You Want, which “details how her failures have driven her successes.” Her first cookbook was released in 2022, and according to its description, it contains some excellent vegan recipes with easy-to-follow steps. The description could be read as:

“With mouth-watering photographs and easy-to-follow instructions, Eat Plants, B*tch celebrates Cole’s belief that it’s fun and accessible to cook and enjoy irresistible vegan comfort food. From Avocado Egg Rolls to her Black Pea Cauliflower Po’Boy or Oyster Mushroom Parm and everything in between, it won’t be long before you will also be declaring Cole’s timeless mantra: Eat Plants, B*tch!” 

Pinky Cole’s journey with Slutty Vegan Restaurants

Pinky Cole is the founder of the Slutty Vegan restaurant chain and Bar Vegan in Atlanta. According to her bio, “Pinky is a culinary disruptor in the industry, transforming America’s view of plant-based fast food and striving to make plant-based eating delicious, accessible and enjoyable for vegans and flexitarians alike.” As per reports, Pinky became vegan in 2014 and launched her first Slutty Vegan food truck, which specialised in burgers, in September 2018.

Pinky Cole has since opened six operational restaurant locations. However, her journey with the business hasn’t been easy. In 2025, Pinky filed for bankruptcy following major losses. She lost control of her USD 100 million business. However, she reworked her brand, and on February 14, 2026, she reflected on her journey and said:

“On this day last year, my business went into a restructure…meaning I was no longer the owner. Fast forward one year, and not only am I the owner again, but we’re franchising the business and are currently on a nine-city tour bringing Slutty Vegan across the country. You can’t tell me God isn’t real!! Let my testimony be a reminder to stay the course. God has a plan for your business beyond what you can even imagine.”

Meet Pinky Cole’s husband, Derrick Hayes

Derrick’s Instagram bio notes that in addition to his work at Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, he is a “Father 1st, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist.” According to People, the couple met in Atlanta in June 2020. However, it wasn’t supposed to be a romantic meeting. In fact, they were meeting about business, but ended up connecting on a personal level. He proposed two years later in 2022, and then they married the following year. It’s been happily ever after since they said, “I do.”

Pinky Cole and Derrick Hayes’ children

Pinky Cole and Derrick Hayes have built a loving home for their family of five. Yes! The couple is parents to three kids: a daughter, D Ella, and two sons, Derrick Jr. and David Asher. She sometimes shares looks at her home life with her and Derrick’s three young kids. She joked back in January 2026, “Life comes at you fast. My kids are 4, 3, and 2…send help.”

About Pinky Cole’s addition to The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 17

According to Pinky Cole’s bio for The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 17, she will bring her signature boldness and business-savvy energy to the much-loved show. While fans might get to see the entrepreneur behind the USD 100 million Slutty Vegan empire, she now faces a new phase after losing her business and fighting to buy it back. 

So are you excited to see Pinky Cole on The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 17? Let us know.

Next Read: Jacob Chibi Reviews Vs Schlep, Tracing The Origins Of The YouTubers’ Dispute Back To A Viral Post