"To say I'm devastated about Ami Colé closing is an understatement. Any time you've seen me since 2021, I was wearing the lip treatment oil. Bliss, Excellence, Reflection: I gifted one to every woman in my family one Christmas. I swear by the mascara. I never felt more beautiful than when I first put on the skin-enhancing tint and saw my natural face staring back at me, not transformed but simply enhanced with an easy glow. Ami Colé felt like a piece of the effortless beauty, the quiet confidence Diarrha's always had, that she gifted to all of us. It was transformative to see Black beauty through Diarrha's eyes. In her world, we didn't have to contort ourselves to fit a beauty standard that was never designed to include us. We all felt more beautiful, loved, and valued in her reflection.
Diarrha, I am so deeply proud of you. To witness this journey from start to finish — to see Ami Colé go from a mere dream to shelves in Sephoras around the world — has truly changed me. It's a testament to your grit and your wonder. That you are not able to sustain this business because of a lack of investors — as less than one percent of venture capital currently goes to Black founders — is a tragedy. But it's a racist society that failed here, not you. Women around the world were inspired by your work and the next great Black beauty brand founder is somewhere playing in makeup just like you were, energized and inspired by your story. Your reach goes far beyond numbers, and your legacy is just being created." — Jessica Andrews, senior style director
