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Ubah Hassan Has a Hot and Saucy Side Hustle — What to Know
Somali-born model Ubah Hassan is bringing the heat with a hot sauce collection not even Oprah Winfrey can resist.
Things are sizzling up ahead of the new reboot of The Real Housewives of New York City, but it seems one new Housewife is already used to the heat.
Model and businesswoman Ubah Hassan joins the all-new cast for RHONY’s Season 14, bringing flavor alongside Sai De Silva, Erin Lichy, Jenna Lyons, Jessel Taank, and Brynn Whitfield.
But thanks to Ubah’s own hot sauce company, UBAH HOT, we’re sure the Somali-born ‘Wife will leave much to savor.
What Is Ubah Hassan's Hot Sauce Company?
The African-inspired UBAH HOT collection made the list of Oprah’s favorite things of 2021, which is no easy feat. It was featured in an Oprah Daily profile of Ubah, who has modeled for brands such as Gucci, Ralph Lauren, and Oscar de la Renta, to name a few.
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But flavor was never far from the model’s heart. In fact, she told The Fashion Spot that, if not for modeling, she would have pursued a culinary career as a chef.
Ubah found her zest for life soon after moving from Canada (where she’d emigrated with her family at 15) to New York City to pursue her modeling career at age 26, according to Oprah Daily. At the time, she lived on a sixth-floor walkup apartment shared with seven fellow models, all trying to make a name for themselves in the industry.
She began really focusing on her line of hot sauces when COVID-19 brought her modeling career to a stall.
“Although I’ve found myself in a modeling career where I’ve had to watch what I eat to stay healthy and radiant, I wanted to find a way to honor my palate and passion for food without compromising the taste,” according to the UBAH HOT website.
Ubah told Oprah Daily she didn’t want to eat bland food like steamed fish and vegetables without flavor.
“I would make this hot sauce and put it in a jar and bring it to dinner,” said Ubah. “And people would grab it, like licking it: ‘What is this? What is it?”
In a 2021 interview with Page Six, Ubah said, “I thought of everyone who strives to eat healthier and consume more vegetables and less processed food but didn’t want to miss out [on] the savory deliciousness.”
What Kind of Hot Sauces Does Ubah Hassan Sell?
The UBAH HOT website showcases some of Ubah’s tried-and-true recipes featuring any one from a trio of hot sauce flavors.
The first, “Ruby,” is described as a sweet flavor of strength, inspired by Ubah’s two Virgo nieces and made of Fresno peppers.
The second, “Yellow Tanzanite,” is a “rare and special” recipe made of habanero peppers, “inspired by my beloved mother, my roots, the one who taught me to see the good in everyone.”
The third of the collections is called “Emerald,” inspired by Ubah’s favorite quote by Marcus Aurelius that reads, “Whatever anyone does or says, I must be an emerald and keep my color.” It is flavored with serrano peppers, cilantro, and garlic.
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“In this African-inspired sauce trio, ruby is for those who want just a little heat, emerald is for those who can take a bit more fire, and yellow? Well, that’s for the brave souls who don’t mind breathing flames,” said Oprah. “What I appreciate most is that just a dab of these instantly elevates even the simplest meal.”
Each sauce jar has a different color label to match its titles (red, yellow, and green, respectively), featuring a sketch of the Ubah in a modeling pose.
Ubah Hassan on UBAH HOT
Ubah said on her Instagram that her pour-on sauces “literally” make steamed broccoli taste like lasagna. She gave them jewel-themed names because her hot sauce was “the gem of Africa.”
New castmates Sai De Silva and Jenna Lyons also showed their support for Ubah’s “UBAH BOWL” at New York City’s Beatnic restaurant, a dish made of coconut rice, red kidney beans, bananas, and more.
UBAH HOT is an ambitious endeavor, self-funded by Ubah herself, according to Oprah Daily.
“Every time I heard someone say, ‘It can’t be done,’ I sat down and figured out a way to get it done,” Ubah stated. “Often, that meant doing it myself — making boxes, packing jars, affixing labels. I’ve done it all.”
Fans can add UBAH HOT to dishes like avocado toast and grilled cheese, as shown on the product's Instagram page, but we can’t wait to see what this saucy ‘Wife will serve on The Real Housewives of New York City, premiering July 16 at 9/8c on Bravo.
