When Season 17 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta premieres this April on Bravo, fans will get the chance to meet Pinky Cole. RHOA Season 17 will introduce viewers to Pinky, who has already made a name for herself in the food industry while also balancing her busy career with her family life at home with her young kids and adoring husband.
How to Watch
When the Season 17 trailer dropped (video at the top of the post), 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, adding in a separate post, “They counted me out…….Bravo counted me in.”
As Season 17 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta gets closer, we have rounded up everything you need to know about Pinky.Â
Where is Pinky Cole from?
Pinky grew up in Baltimore, MD before later moving to Atlanta. In an interview with Baltimore Magazine, Pinky reflected on her upbringing there. “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,” she said. “I am grateful my city did that for me.”
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What is Pinky Cole’s full name?
Pinky Cole’s full name is Pinky Cole Hayes.Â
What does Pinky Cole do for a living?
According to her BravoTV.com bio, she is a “Jamaican-American restaurateur, author, community activist.” She has not only released a cookbook (more on that below,” but also wrote, I Hope You Fail, which “details how her failures have driven her successes.” Before she took on the food world, she attended college at Clark Atlanta University.Â
Details on Pinky Cole’s Slutty Vegan restaurants
Pinky is the “owner of the Slutty Vegan restaurant chain and Bar Vegan in Atlanta,” according to her bio, which adds, “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.”
According to the Instagram bio for the restaurant, Slutty Vegan has multiple locations and is a “World Famous 100% Plant-Based Burger Joint.”
What is Pinky Cole’s foundation?
Her bio adds, “In addition to her work in the food industry, Pinky is also a philanthropist and head of the Pinky Cole Foundation, which is committed to uplifting marginalized and underrepresented communities and breaking the cycle of poverty by providing access to resources and education to pursue their entrepreneurial goals.”
Details on Pinky Cole’s cookbook and recipes
Pinky released her first cookbook in 2022, Eat Plants, B*tch, which includes 91 recipes for vegan and plant-based cooking. According to a description for the cookbook, “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!”Â
Is Pinky Cole married​?
Pinky married her husband, Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks CEO and founder Derrick Hayes, in 2023. The wedding took place at the St. Regis in Atlanta, Georgia. Pinky later told People about their big day that it was “a fairytale, a Cinderella wedding.”
Inside Pinky Coles and her husband Derrick Hayes’ relationship
Derrick’s Instagram bio notes that in addition to his work at Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, he is a “Father 1st, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist.” The couple, according to People, met in June 2020 in Atlanta. 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.”
In February of this year, Derrick shared a sweet tribute to his wife, writing, “Married to the GOAT. God chose her for me …and I’ll never stop being grateful!”
He also has shared looks at their often playful relationship alongside an emotional tribute to his partner on his social media.
Does Pinky Cole have kids?
What to expect from Pinky Cole in RHOA season 17 (trailer, cast photo, bio)
According to her official bio for Season 17 of RHOA, “Pinky Cole joins the group, bringing her signature boldness and business‑savvy energy. The entrepreneur behind the $100 million Slutty Vegan empire faces a new phase after losing her business and having fought to buy it back. As a wife to an equally successful husband, Pinky supports his rise all while managing life as a mother of five, CEO, and her own share of sizzling plant-based beef with the ladies this season.”
You can see more of Pinky in the trailer for the new season at the top of the post. RHOA Season 17 premieres on Bravo on Sunday, April 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. All Season 17 episodes of RHOA will be available to stream the next day on Peacock.
Andy Cohen reacts to Pinky Cole joining RHOA Season 17
Earlier in March, Andy shared his excitement for welcoming Pinky to the RHOA crew. “This is the cast we’ve been waiting for,” he shared on his Sirius XM radio show, Andy Cohen Live.Â
By the way. Pinky isn’t the only newbie joining RHOA Season 17, where fans will also get to meet entertainment multihyphenate, K. Michelle.
