Uoma Beauty founder and champion of inclusivity Sharon Chuter dies at 38

Sharon Chuter, the Nigerian-born powerhouse behind Uoma Beauty, died at the age of 38 on 14 August 2025. Chuter has since been described as a "visionary" and "champion of inclusivity" by her beauty industry peers.

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, she passed away after being found unresponsive on a patio, with the cause of death still officially pending investigation.

Before founding Uoma Beauty, Chuter forged her path at renowned beauty conglomerates such as L’Oréal and LVMH, building nearly two decades of experience.

In 2019, she launched Uoma Beauty with a bold vision: a brand that celebrated diversity not as a trend but at its core. Its initial launch featured 51 shades of foundation, eye palettes bursting with pigment and lipsticks with each shade named after Black cultural icons such as Diana Ross and Nina Simone.

In the wake of the 2020 racial justice movements, Chuter founded Pull Up for Change and the hashtag-driven #PullUpOrShutUp initiative, pressuring beauty brands to disclose the racial makeup of their leadership. Her activism inspired a wave of major brands, including e.l.f. Cosmetics and Milk Makeup, to publish their diversity data.

In May 2023, Chuter stepped down from her position as CEO of Uoma Beauty, citing health challenges and burnout after years of relentless dedication. On Instagram, she wrote about "saying farewell to the boardroom" after a hospital scare that led to a forced medical leave.

Later that year, the brand entered a period of uncertainty. Uoma Beauty’s assets were sold in December 2023 to MacArthur Beauty LLC. In February 2025, she filed a lawsuit alleging that the sale was conducted in bad faith, forced upon her during her medical leave and far below the company’s prior valuation.

Chuter's work catalysed industry-wide change and brought about representation to the global beauty industry.