Pinky Cole is a powerhouse who doesn’t shy away from embracing every facet of her life with passion and fire. As the founder of Slutty Vegan, she’s built more than just a restaurant chain. Cole has created a movement. But what’s most remarkable about the restaurateur is her unapologetic approach to balancing her career with motherhood and her aspirations for the future.
Despite the demands of running a growing empire, raising three young children is still a top priority for Cole. Mom guilt, however, is has no place in her expansive universe. But it wasn’t always that way.
Pinky Cole Doesn’t Let Mom Guilt Get to Her
For Cole, pushing back against mom guilt has everything to do with the strong support system she’s cultivated.
“I used to feel mom guilt really, really bad,” she admitted. “But then I realized that in every culture, they have a village. I’m Jamaican, so this is how we were raised. Somebody would have a baby and everybody raised the baby until it got to a certain age.”
Cole says she understands that her sacrifices will create a legacy that her lineage will be able to benefit from for years to come.
“I’m not doing what I’m doing for me, I’m doing it for my children’s future and their legacy,” she explained. “I’m creating something that they can appreciate, believe in and be proud of. So if that means that I’ve got to take a temporary sacrifice to grow this thing to where it needs to be while my loved ones support me in raising my children, then I’m going to do that.”
With her mother and other loved ones by her side, Cole finds solace in knowing that her children are well cared for while she pursues her dreams.
And what dreams they are. With the opening of her 14th Slutty Vegan location in West Village, Manhattan, Cole continues to push boundaries. But this restaurant isn’t just another addition to her empire; it’s a tribute to inclusivity and self-expression.
“Slutty vegan is an inclusive place,” Cole emphasized. “It really is an ode to being yourself and being free. That’s what this location represents.”
Foot on the Gas
Cole’s ambitions don’t stop with Slutty Vegan. Despite juggling a thriving business, marriage, and three young children, she shows no signs of slowing down.
“When I feel like I’m slowing down, I start getting anxiety,” she confessed. “I need to be busy.”
Her next act? Delving into the world of acting.
“Before I got into this whole world, I wanted to be an actress,” Pinky revealed. “Now I’m like, ‘You know what I can take over the world!’ So that’s the next thing on my list.”
After recently attending the NAACP Image Awards, Cole has a newfound motivation to explore acting. She explains that she is interested in working with go-getter directors, similar to herself. Her close friend Naturi Naughton, is on her list of directors she hopes to work with.
“It’s about working with people that are just as hungry as you are and we can create something special and make our stamp,” Cole said.
With her boundless energy and unwavering determination, there’s no doubt that Pinky Cole is destined for greatness. After having her most recent baby in December, she is excited to continue to build on her legacy.
“I’m back focused and aligned in my business,” she said. “I’m continuing to grow the greatness that was created in 2018”