Slutty Vegan founder Pinky Cole Hayes has joined the season 17 cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, set to premiere April 5. Cole Hayes, along with K. Michelle, join the cast following the departure of Brit Eady and Kenya Moore.
The news marks a high-profile crossover for Cole Hayes, who has turned her Slutty Vegan empire into one of the most recognizable brands in the plant-based dining scene. Alongside K. Michelle—known for her powerful vocals and unfiltered presence on Love & Hip Hop—Cole Hayes brings an entrepreneurial force to the franchise that insiders say is reinvigorating the energy on set. “One thing’s for sure: with K. Michelle’s no-nonsense attitude and Pinky Cole [Hayes’] business boss energy, the new season is already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about yet,” Media Take Out reported.
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“It was incredible,” Cole Hayes told VegNews about her experience filming the reality show. “I could tell that some of the women haven’t really been around people who are vegan, so they got a chance to understand my lifestyle—to see what I eat and what I don’t eat. I assured them that I eat enough (laughs), and I’m just excited that with this show, there will be more visibility on veganism.”
A national phenomenon
Cole Hayes’ journey began in 2018 when she started selling burgers on Instagram from her Atlanta apartment. Within weeks, demand exploded, leading to a food truck and soon the first brick-and-mortar location. According to Cole Hayes, more than 1,200 people waited in line in near-freezing temperatures on opening day.
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Now, the brand has multiple locations and a cult following that includes celebrities, foodies, and the plant-curious alike. Its menu is as bold as its name, offering plant-based comfort food with cheeky titles like Sloppy Toppy, a loaded burger with jalapeños, vegan cheese, and signature Slut Sauce; Dancehall Queen, a patty topped with jerk plantains; and Hollywood Hooker, a plant-based chopped Philly.
Slutty Vegan’s success reflects a broader shift in consumer preferences toward plant-based dining. A 2023 report by Bloomberg Intelligence projected the global plant-based food market could hit $162 billion by 2030, driven by consumer demand for healthier and more sustainable alternatives. In the US, sales of plant-based foods grew by six percent in 2022, according to the Good Food Institute, reaching $8 billion across retail channels.
More than a burger chain
The momentum is especially strong in the fast-casual space, where brands like Slutty Vegan are pushing past niche appeal and into mainstream territory. Cole Hayes’ brand stands out by refusing to water down its identity—leaning instead into community, culture, and Black entrepreneurship.
“I intentionally did not want to sell veganism,” she told Forbes. ”I have not eaten meat since 2007. I’m on a couple of very powerful boards that advocate for veganism. And I realized over the years that oftentimes you can get abrasive.”
“I just want you to have a good time. When you come into a Slutty Vegan, we’re calling you a slut, music is booming through the speakers, it’s a whole vibe.”
Cole Hayes says the marriage of sex and food in the name Slutty Vegan has lent itself well to the brand’s success. “If I would have named it Pinky’s Vegan, I probably wouldn’t have lines down the block,” she said.
Cole Hayes has also used her platform to champion access to healthful food in underserved communities. Through her Pinky Cole Foundation, she has paid off student debt for college seniors, given away thousands of meals, and helped fund small businesses.
She’s also carved out space in pop culture. In 2023, Cole Hayes partnered with Steve Madden on a limited-edition Slutty Vegan sneaker, collaborated with Shake Shack on a one-day plant-based burger pop-up, and published a book titled I Hope You Fail, which hit the New York Times Best Seller list.
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Slutty Vegan
Now, as Cole Hayes enters the world of Real Housewives, her influence is poised to reach an even broader audience. While the Bravo show has featured entrepreneurs in the past, few have brought with them an empire as culturally resonant or values-driven as Cole Hayes’. As her influence expands from food trucks to food television, the plant-based world is watching. And if Bravo viewers weren’t already familiar with Slutty Vegan, they’re about to be served.
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