Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks owner Derrick Hayes and Slutty Vegan’s founder Pinky Cole are engaged! Hayes popped the question at the 2022 Essence Festival, and the moment was captured on video, melting viewers’ hearts.
Hayes was a part of the panel at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center with his now-fiancée Cole. In the video, the Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks owner stood in front of the Slutty Vegan founder, who got emotional as he thanked her for having his back and told her he wanted to make things official, placing the ring on her finger.
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Cole posted the video on her Instagram with the caption, “Because I was tired of calling you my partner ? One of the best days of my life 
??@officialdhayes.”
The happy couple shares a child and will soon welcome their second baby into the world.
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Their engagement follows the couple being featured on the cover of a recent Essence magazine issue. They discussed everything from their romance and the soon-to-be husband’s legal issue to business and foot in their “Hot In The Kitchen” cover story with the publication. The Delta Sigma Theta talked about the time she was uncertain about including her future husband on her Instagram since she was vegan and he wasn’t.
“To be honest, there was a business concern that I am in the vegan community, and he’s not,” she said. “But what I realize is who cares what people say. Even though we’re different, we can still exist together and still love each other—because we are tapped into each other’s hearts.”
Both of their businesses attracted A-list celebrities. Slutty Vegan’s first huge celebrity was Viola Davis, who booked the Vegan chef’s food truck for her movie set. The Cheesesteak chef’s first celebrity was Emmy Award-winning writer Waithe.
Congratulations to the couple on their engagement!
