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Supermodel Tyra Banks to launch ice cream brand in Abu Dhabi

By Shane McGinley
Smize Cream: ADIO initiative is helping US companies led by women and minority entrepreneurs expand in emirate Massimo Campana
Smize Cream: ADIO initiative is helping US companies led by women and minority entrepreneurs expand in emirate

Californian supermodel Tyra Banks has picked Abu Dhabi as the first international market outside the US to launch her global ice cream brand, Smize Cream, as part of a partnership with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO).

The 48-year-old entrepreneur made the announcement at the Access Granted talk series on Thursday, adding that she was inspired by the UAEs’ rapid development over the last 50 years.

“It has evolved from the sand to the Moon. The country’s beauty and warmth touch me. Also, its progress on female empowerment,” she said.

The Access Granted talk series is an initiative by ADIO and Maven Global to help US companies led by women and minority entrepreneurs to expand in Abu Dhabi and serve as a catalyst for expanding into the wider Middle East market. 

SMiZE Cream launched last year as an ice cream brand, with the opening of its first store in Los Angeles. In September last year, Banks also teamed up with music legend Lionel Richie to launch the “ALL NIGHT LOVE” SMiZE Cream flavour.

ADIO was launched in 2019 with the objective of helping investors and companies of all sizes establish, grow and develop their business in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

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