Uoma Beauty Founder Sharon Chuter Dies: beauty Industry Mourns Death of Trailblazer

Sharon Chuter Founder of Uoma Beauty Dies at 38

The beauty industry has lost one of its brightest and most fearless voices. Sharon Chuter, the visionary founder of Uoma Beauty and the woman behind the groundbreaking “Pull Up for Change” movement, has died at the age of 38.

According to The Business of Fashion the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that Chuter was found unresponsive on August 14. Her cause of death is currently listed as “deferred” pending further investigation.

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A Beauty Revolutionary

Born in Nigeria, Sharon Chuter built her career with some of the world’s biggest beauty powerhouses, including L’Oréal and LVMH, before striking out on her own. In 2019, she launched Uoma Beauty, a brand that redefined inclusivity in makeup. Its debut collection included 51 shades of foundation alongside over 100 products—making Uoma one of the most inclusive brands on the market from day one.

Uoma quickly gained international recognition, landing coveted spots on the shelves of Ulta Beauty in the U.S. and Selfridges in the U.K., while cementing Chuter’s reputation as one of beauty’s most innovative founders.

Activism at the Heart of Her Work

Chuter was never afraid to use her platform to push for change. Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, she spearheaded the #PullUpOrShutUp campaign, which challenged beauty companies to reveal how many Black employees were in leadership positions. Within days, major players like e.l.f. Cosmetics, MAC, and Glossier released their diversity data, marking a watershed moment for transparency across the industry.

In 2021, she went further, launching Make It BLACK, a campaign that not only raised funds for Black-owned businesses but also called for dictionaries to update the word “black” with positive definitions.

A Fierce Journey

Despite her success, Chuter’s career was not without hardship. She stepped down as CEO of Uoma in 2023 after a serious health scare, later revealing she had been hospitalised with symptoms doctors initially feared were cancer. Though she recovered, she continued to face challenges, filing a lawsuit earlier this year against investors she claimed had wrongly taken control of her company during her illness.

A Lasting Legacy

Chuter’s passing leaves a profound void in the beauty world. She wasn’t just a brand founder—she was a force of nature, blending artistry with activism and refusing to accept the status quo. Her work opened doors for countless Black entrepreneurs and created a blueprint for what true inclusivity in beauty can look like.

As tributes pour in, one thing is clear: Sharon Chuter’s legacy will not be measured only in products sold, but in the change she demanded, the conversations she ignited, and the barriers she broke.