In this powerful conversation from Season 1, originally recorded in the early days of her brand's journey, Diarrha N'Diaye-Mbaye—founder of Ami Colé—joins us to share the inspiration behind her clean beauty line created for melanin-rich skin. Rooted in her Senegalese heritage and her mother’s Harlem beauty salon, Ami Colé was more than a brand—it was a love letter to her community.

Now, four years later, we revisit this episode with reverence and reflection, as Diarrha recently announced the closing of Ami Colé in a heartfelt essay for The Cut. Her story, both then and now, reminds us that success is not just in the launch but also in the grace of knowing when to pivot. As we celebrate Diarrha’s visionary leadership, we honor the mark she made on the beauty industry—a legacy of representation, care, and soul-deep affirmation for those long overlooked.

“I’m building this for my younger self, for my community, for every girl who walked into a store and didn’t see herself.” — Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye, Business of the Beat, Season 1: Episode 11

This episode is a testament to beginnings, to brave endings, and to the enduring power of building with purpose.