Honoring Sharon Chuter: A Beauty Visionary Who Changed the World
The beauty world lost a visionary. Sharon Chuter — Nigerian powerhouse, founder of UOMA Beauty, and creator of Pull Up For Change — passed away in August 2025 at just 38 years old. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, she was found at her Los Angeles home on August 14, 2025, and her cause of death remains under investigation. Her transition leaves behind more than a brand or a movement; it leaves behind a legacy of unapologetic inclusivity, cultural pride, and straight forward accountability.
Rooted in Nigeria, Blossoming Worldwide
Sharon’s journey started in Nigeria, where she grew up witnessing firsthand how the global beauty industry often ignored women who looked like her. As a teenager, bold and fearless, she reached out to Revlon to distribute their products in Nigeria. They said yes. That was her entry point — but also the beginning of her mission: to make beauty truly global, truly representative.
She later lived across continents, from Australia to the United States, but she never left her roots behind. What once brought shame — her African, Nigerian identity — became her superpower. She proudly named her brand UOMA (“beautiful” in Igbo), turning heritage into headline. Sharon said it best: “I started flying that flag so big and feeling my ancestors through me.”
UOMA Beauty: A Beautiful Rebellion
When UOMA Beauty launched in 2019, it wasn’t just another cosmetics line. It was a manifesto. Fifty-one foundation shades. Lipsticks named after Black icons like Diana Ross and Nina Simone. Formulas designed for every undertone.
Sharon called UOMA an “Afropolitan” brand — Africa meets cosmopolitan — a rebellion wrapped in bold packaging. She showed the industry what real inclusivity looks like: not tokenism, not marketing spin, but products that spoke to all of us.
Pull Up For Change: Shaking the Industry Awake
In June 2020, amid a global reckoning on racial justice, Sharon Chuter took her advocacy beyond product lines and straight into the boardroom. She launched Pull Up For Change, a movement and nonprofit initiative that called on companies — especially beauty brands — to disclose the demographics of their workforce.
Using the now-iconic hashtag #PullUpOrShutUp, she gave brands 72 hours to publicly reveal how many Black employees they had, particularly in leadership. She even urged consumers to hold off on shopping from companies that refused to share.
The impact was seismic. Major players like Glossier, e.l.f. Cosmetics, MAC, Milk Makeup, and Huda Beauty all “pulled up,” posting their numbers in a historic wave of transparency. Sharon reminded the industry of its responsibility:
“You need to make sure your internal teams reflect the world and the community. There needs to be a wide range of voices, everywhere — including the back room where products are being developed.”
By forcing the industry to show its hand, Sharon exposed who was truly committed to diversity and who was not. As she told The Drew Barrymore Show, her goal was simple yet profound: “to drive more awareness and shine more light on the lack of economic opportunities for the Black community, especially within the beauty space.”
Her courage did more than spark conversation — it redirected capital. Through the Pull Up For Change Impact Fund, Sharon invested in Black-owned businesses and emerging founders. Her work didn’t just challenge beauty; it redefined accountability across industries. Sharon’s call turned into a cultural shift — showing us that accountability isn’t optional.
Through Pull Up For Change, and later her Make It Black campaign, Sharon didn’t just call for change — she redirected dollars and influence to Black founders and communities. She wasn’t afraid to be disruptive. That was her genius.
A Leader, A Fighter, A Light
Sharon’s brilliance came with sacrifice. She worked tirelessly, often pushing herself past the limit, until health challenges forced her to step back from UOMA in 2023. But even then, she fought for the soul of her company — and for the values she embedded in it.
Her passing was sudden, her cause of death still under investigation. But her voice lives on. Industry leaders, fans, and founders alike have called her “a bright light that broke so many barriers” — a force who proved what’s possible when heritage, courage, and creativity collide.
Her Legacy Is Ours to Carry
At Henewaa, we see Sharon Chuter not just as a founder, but as a movement in motion. She taught us that representation is power, that culture is currency, and that beauty belongs to everyone.
Her story reminds us to never dim our roots, to lead with audacity, and to hold systems accountable. She made beauty about more than products — she made it about people, purpose, and pride.
Sharon Chuter may have left us far too soon, but the vision she started is eternal.