News — Multimillionaire

There so many sectors of the U.S. economy that lacks diversity. One of such sectors is the culinary industry. Black founders are scarce in the industry, which is estimated to be 5.4 billion, according to this market report.

PreMadonna Thomas has taken a giant step into the cookware industry to not only bring diversity in the sector but to also open doors for other Black women. The television personality and rapper is venturing into an industry where many of the founders are whites and can easily access capital to expand their operations.

Thomas founded the cookware brand, Premadonna’s Cookware. She was inspired to create spices and cookware lines because of the lack of products in the industry that are available at affordable prices and in great quality. 

She tells Forbes in an interview that her products also seek to improve on existing cooking appliances on the market. What makes Premadonna’s Cookware unique is its diverse product lines as many of the existing culinary brands focus on cookware, appliances, cookbooks, or seasonings.

Aside from the pressure cooker, her multi-million-dollar cookware and seasoning empire has other products such as air fryers, deep fryers, and blenders. She also offers a best-selling cookbook and seasonings which have been endorsed by celebrities like Rihanna and the Kardashians. The wife and businesswoman tells BET Style that business is doing well that on a slow day, she can expect to ship over 500 packages.

Thomas loves cooking. She comes from a cooking family and knows a lot about pots and pans. However, she did not always have time to get into the kitchen to prepare a meal. “There was nothing in the industry for me…All the pressure cookers were older and traditional. So, I came up with a digital model. I knew that people would adapt to something that was vibrant, unique, and resourceful for all types of working people,” Thomas tells Forbes.

The entrepreneur and mom says her business has thrived owing to the passion she has for what she is doing. She goes the extra mile to ensure her customers get the best. Also, she ensures rigorous testing of every product in her kitchen before launching. This has helped her detect product defects and other minor challenges that could affect trust in her products and her brand in general.

“I think that a lot of businesses make mistakes because they’re so anxious to start, and they go with the first sample they get. With my pressure cooker and air fryer, the process took almost six months, and I tested six different models before I chose which one I wanted to go with. It was more costly, but I’m here to provide the best quality,” she explains. 

Thomas grew up in poverty. She was raised by her single mother and supported by her community through childcare programs and food banks. Thus, she wants to give back to her community using her business. She is planning a free coaching and training program for Black girls interested in the culinary industry. It will feature workshops, webinars, and guest speakers from across the industry.

Tiffany Trump, the last daughter of Donald Trump, has announced her engagement to longtime boyfriend Michael Boulos, a Lebanese-Nigerian multimillionaire heir. She made this known a day before her father’s presidency officially ended.

“It has been an honor to celebrate many milestones, historic occasions and create memories with my family here at the White House, none more special than my engagement to my amazing fiancé Michael! Feeling blessed and excited for the next chapter! ❤️”, she wrote on Instagram.

It is unclear if Trump consented to the engagement, though a White House source told Page Six the family is delighted about the news.

Tiffany’s mom, Marla Maples, sent in a congratulatory message on Instagram. “Celebrating God’s endless blessing of love…May God’s blessings & love always light your path. Love you so much, mom.”

Tiffany, 27, and Boulos, 23, were first photographed together in 2018. After, he met the entire Trump family at Thanksgiving dinner at Mar-a-Lago in Florida that same year.

Now many have asked, who is Michael Boulos?

Boulos was born in Kfaraakka, a village in northern Lebanon. His family lived in Houston, Texas for a while before moving to Nigeria when he was a toddler. He had his basic education at the American International School and then went on to pursue his Bachelor’s in Global Business Management from London’s Regents University in 2018. He holds a Master’s in Project Management, Finance, and Risk from City University also in London. He graduated in 2019.

The Boulos family own a multibillion-dollar conglomerate and a large portfolio of companies actively operating in more than 10 West African countries. Boulos’ father, Dr. Massad Boulos, is the head of all the businesses.

Boulos’ mother, Sarah, who always calls Nigeria her home, is the founder of the Society for the Performing Arts (SPAN) in Nigeria. SPAN prides itself as a “one-stop destination for performance art, dance, theater, music, and visual arts.”

Sarah’s father bought SCOA Nigeria Plc, a Nigerian-based company which engages in the distribution, maintenance and leasing of motor vehicles. After the purchase, Sarah’s entire family including her nuclear family relocated to Nigeria. Boulos is currently the Associate Director of SCOA Nigeria Plc, the director of Fadoul Group since 2019, and the business development manager of Royalton Investment, also since 2019.

Boulos has three other siblings — two sisters, Oriane and Sophie, and a brother, Fares. His brother, with whom he has a striking resemblance, is an actor and underground rapper with the stage name, Farastafari on YouTube.

There have been reports that Tiffany and Boulos both love the nightlife and party scene but evidently, they also have a knack for business. Tiffany recently graduated from Georgetown Law School in D.C.

A source told Town and Country mag, “They are both dedicated to their studies and are really supportive of each other’s career aspirations.” The two are at the moment “enjoying each other’s company,” the source added.