Sharon Chuter, the Nigerian-born entrepreneur who reshaped the beauty industry with her focus on inclusion, has died at 38.
According to PEOPLE, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed she was discovered on a patio on August 14. Her official cause of death has not yet been determined.
Chuter was best known as the founder of Uoma Beauty, a brand she launched in 2019 to break down barriers in the cosmetics industry. The line debuted at Ulta with more than 100 products, including a foundation range spanning 51 shades—an early statement that diversity and representation were non-negotiable in her work.
Before stepping out on her own, she built a career at major companies like L’Oréal and LVMH and even persuaded Revlon to expand into the Nigerian market.
Her influence extended well beyond store shelves. In 2020, during a turning point for conversations around racial justice, Chuter introduced the Pull Up for Change movement. The campaign challenged beauty and fashion companies to disclose the number of Black employees in leadership within 72 hours.
Major brands including MAC, Glossier, and e.l.f. responded to her call. As she explained on The Drew Barrymore Show, the goal was to “shine more light to the lack of economic opportunities for the Black community, especially within the beauty space.”
She went on to spearhead the Make It BLACK initiative in 2021, urging dictionaries to update definitions of the word “Black” and teaming with leading beauty companies on limited-edition products in black packaging. Profits were directed to the Pull Up for Change Impact Fund to support Black founders and businesses.
In 2023, Chuter announced she was stepping down as CEO of Uoma Beauty after a health scare led to an extended medical leave. She shared on Instagram that doctors had once feared cancer, and while she recovered, she admitted years of nonstop work had taken a toll. Even after her exit from daily operations, she remained a shareholder.
Earlier this year, Chuter filed a lawsuit against MacArthur Beauty, BrainTrust, and Settle Funding, claiming that she was pushed out of her leadership role during her leave and that the brand’s operations were prematurely shut down.
Her last public post came in May, where she shared a photo of herself onstage at a beauty event with the caption: “Doing what I do!” The investigation into her death is still underway.