The Word On Peachtree: Pinky Cole files for Bankruptcy Protection

Slutty Vegan founder facs mounting debt as her reality TV debut on Bravo’s Atlanta’s franchise raws near

ATLANTA — The buzz up and down Peachtree Street is that Aisha “Pinky” Cole, the entrepreneur behind Atlanta-based Slutty Vegan, is heading into reality TV stardom just as she seeks Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in federal court.

Court records show Cole filed for Chapter 11 on Feb. 12 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia, listing nearly $1.4 million in debt. Filings indicate she owes about $1.2 million to the U.S. Small Business Administration and approximately $192,000 to the Georgia Department of Revenue. A prior Chapter 13 filing in January was dismissed after a required court fee was not paid.

The bankruptcy comes during a turbulent period for Cole, whose fast-growing vegan burger brand has been both a national success story and a lightning rod for controversy. In 2025, she temporarily lost control of Slutty Vegan amid a reported $20 million debt load tied to rapid expansion before regaining ownership in a restructuring. Her businesses have also faced lawsuits over unpaid rent and wages in Georgia and other states.

Even as she works through financial and legal challenges, Cole is stepping into a new spotlight as a reality television personality. Bravo announced in late February that Cole will join Season 17 of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” alongside singer K. Michelle and returning cast members including Porsha Williams and Phaedra Parks. The season is set to premiere April 5 at 8 p.m. on Bravo, with new episodes streaming the next day on Peacock.

The network has framed Cole’s storyline as a comeback arc, following her efforts to rebuild Slutty Vegan and balance life as a restaurateur, wife and mother in Atlanta. On Instagram, Cole reacted to the casting news by writing, “They counted me out…….Bravo counted me in,” signaling she plans to lean into both the scrutiny and the opportunity that come with reality TV fame.

Born in Baltimore to Jamaican parents, Cole moved to Atlanta and turned Slutty Vegan from a late-night food concept into a multi-location brand that helped popularize plant-based fast food in the city. At its height, the business was valued at about $100 million and made Cole a prominent face of Black entrepreneurship in Georgia’s restaurant scene.

Now, her next chapter will play out simultaneously in federal court and on cable television. For Atlanta viewers and fans of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” Cole’s debut on the long-running franchise will arrive just as she navigates one of the most high-stakes periods of her career.