A New Chapter for a Beauty Visionary
Diarrha N’Diaye, the founder of beloved clean beauty brand Ami Colé, is stepping into a powerful new role. She has been named the Executive Vice President of Beauty and Fragrance at Skims Beauty, Kim Kardashian’s latest venture into the cosmetics world.
This news follows the emotional closure of Ami Colé earlier this year, a brand celebrated for centering deep skin tones and real beauty. N’Diaye shared in her farewell letter that the brand had become “unsustainable in this beauty market” but promised she was “looking forward to what comes next.” Now, that next step has arrived—bigger than ever.
“I’ve sat on salon floors, worked eight-hour shifts at beauty retailers, started a company, and am now taking an executive seat at a beauty brand promising to bring a fresh approach to beauty,” N’Diaye told The Cut. “The sky really is the limit, and I want every little brown girl to know that.”
From Harlem’s Visionary to the Skims Boardroom
N’Diaye’s journey from Harlem to the upper ranks of Skims Beauty is one rooted in passion and persistence. At Ami Colé, she built a trusted community of customers who loved her products for their deep shades, clean formulas, and thoughtful service. Her leadership redefined what modern inclusive beauty could look like.
Now, at Skims Beauty, N’Diaye plans to expand that same authenticity on a larger scale. “I meant what I said about my love, dedication, and obsession with our beloved beauty industry,” she said. “I am proud to have lived my dream out loud, failed, and dusted myself off into an amazing new opportunity to continue to do the work.”
Kim Kardashian expressed confidence in her appointment, saying, “I want Skims Beauty to be a place where everyone feels represented, and there was no better person to help us do that than Diarrha.”
A Partnership That Redefines Inclusive Beauty
This collaboration between N’Diaye and Skims represents more than a career move—it signals a shift in how luxury beauty includes and celebrates Black women. Skims, already a global leader in body inclusivity, is now expanding into fragrance and cosmetics with a renewed focus on authenticity.
“Diarrha’s modern and community-forward view on beauty aligns perfectly with the ambitions of Skims Beauty,” said Jens Grede, co-founder and CEO of Skims. “Her entrepreneurial background and ability to determine customers’ untapped beauty needs will be instrumental in driving forward our business.”
While Kim Kardashian is no stranger to the beauty world—with her former brands KKW Beauty and SKKN BY KIM—this time, the strategy feels different. By bringing in N’Diaye, Skims is showing a real commitment to diversity and creative leadership that mirrors the global audience it serves.
A Full-Circle Moment for Black Women in Beauty
For many who followed Ami Colé’s rise, N’Diaye’s move feels like a victory. Her new role not only validates her talent but also affirms that Black women’s leadership, vision, and creativity belong at the highest levels of the beauty industry.
She embodies what it means to evolve—turning a brand closure into a global opportunity. From crafting lip oils in Harlem to shaping beauty strategy at one of the world’s most influential brands, N’Diaye continues to prove that representation and resilience can coexist beautifully.
As she steps into this new era, one thing is clear: Diarrha N’Diaye’s story is not just about success—it’s about transformation, purpose, and the power of starting again.
