Los Angeles, United States
Sharon Chuter, the Nigerian-born entrepreneur celebrated for transforming the beauty industry with her focus on inclusion and representation, has died at the age of 38.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Chuter, the founder and former Creative Director of Uoma Beauty, was found dead on a patio on August 14. Her death is listed as “deferred,” meaning the official cause is still under investigation.
Chuter shot to prominence in 2019 when she launched Uoma Beauty, a brand that disrupted the industry with its bold embrace of diversity. Its debut at Ulta featured over 100 products, including a 51-shade foundation line that set a new standard for inclusivity.
Before founding Uoma, she worked with global giants such as L’Oréal and LVMH and was instrumental in helping Revlon expand into the Nigerian market.
In 2020, during global conversations on racial justice, Chuter became a leading activist with her Pull Up for Change campaign, which pressured beauty and fashion companies to disclose how many Black employees they had in leadership. Brands like MAC, Glossier and e.l.f. responded.
“The goal was to shine more light on the lack of economic opportunities for the Black community, especially within the beauty space,” she told The Drew Barrymore Show.
She later launched the Make It BLACK initiative in 2021, pushing dictionaries to redefine the word “Black” and partnering with top beauty companies on limited-edition products. Sales proceeds went into the Pull Up for Change Impact Fund to support Black-owned businesses.
In 2023, Chuter stepped down as CEO of Uoma Beauty following a health scare that forced her into extended medical leave. She revealed that doctors had once suspected cancer and admitted that years of nonstop work had taken their toll. Though she left daily operations, she remained a shareholder.
Earlier this year, she filed a lawsuit against MacArthur Beauty, BrainTrust and Settle Funding, alleging that she had been forced out of leadership during her leave and that Uoma’s operations were prematurely shut down.
Her last public Instagram post in May showed her on stage at a beauty event with the caption: “Doing what I do!”
