Ami Colé Shuts Down After Four Inspiring Years in Inclusive Beauty

Ami Colé shuts down, marking the end of a powerful journey in clean beauty for melanin-rich skin and bold representation.

A Legacy of Purpose and Powerful Community

Founded by Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye in 2021, Ami Colé started with a vision for clean beauty tailored to women of color.
Supported by L’Oréal and stocked at Sephora, the brand rapidly gained recognition and strong community support across North America.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, N’Diaye-Mbaye announced she made the difficult decision to close the brand this year.
“This is not goodbye,” she said, “but a love letter to everyone who believed in our mission and supported our journey.”
Ami Colé shuts down after delivering four years of bold storytelling, inclusive products, and unwavering commitment to beauty equity.
The brand became a symbol for many, providing representation, high-quality products, and a safe space for Black and brown communities.

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Rapid Growth, Bold Impact, and Hard Truths

N’Diaye-Mbaye created Ami Colé from a Brooklyn apartment sketch to Sephora shelves in just four short but impactful years.
Despite achieving 75% year-on-year revenue growth, market shifts and rising business costs challenged the brand’s sustainability.
She thanked investors and Sephora for offering the platform that amplified her mission and supported her dream.
Ami Colé shuts down despite receiving investment from L’Oréal’s BOLD fund and industry-wide praise for its inclusive offerings.
BeautyStat founder Ron Robinson, a fellow founder and friend, said he was “crushed” to hear of the brand’s closure.
He praised Ami Colé for raising the bar in accessible luxury for Black and brown beauty lovers everywhere.

Harsh Realities Behind the Beauty Industry’s Façade

In her op-ed for The Cut, N’Diaye-Mbaye shared the tough realities of launching as a Black entrepreneur in beauty.
Pre-2020, she faced immense difficulty raising funds until the racial reckoning sparked by George Floyd’s murder shifted interest.
Still, she observed investor interest fading again, making the climb even harder for Black-owned beauty brands in 2024.
Industry funding for Black-founded beauty brands dropped from $73M in 2022 to just $16M in 2024, reflecting systemic barriers.
She highlighted the paradox of brands preaching inclusion while lacking long-term support for diverse founders and products.
Ami Colé’s closure sheds light on the fragility of even successful Black-owned businesses in today’s unforgiving economic landscape.

Inspiration for the Future of Inclusive Beauty

In her farewell, N’Diaye-Mbaye encouraged other Brown girls to dream boldly, fail out loud, and never stop trying again.
The brand’s closure is bittersweet but leaves a lasting legacy and opens doors for future entrepreneurs in the space.
Her journey proves that mission-driven brands can inspire, impact, and lead, even if their run is not everlasting.
Transitioning from one chapter to the next, N’Diaye-Mbaye’s story will continue influencing inclusive beauty’s future direction.

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