Uoma Beauty Founder Sharon Chuter, the Visionary Behind Pull Up for Change and Make It Black, Has Died at 38

The beauty world is mourning the loss of Sharon Chuter, the fearless entrepreneur and activist whose work redefined what it means to build with intention. Chuter, founder of Uoma Beauty, as well as the global advocacy campaigns Pull Up for Change and Make It Black, has died at just 38 years old. Her passing marks a profound loss for beauty, fashion, and culture at large, yet her vision and contributions remain an unshakable part of the legacy she leaves behind.

Born in Nigeria and later carving out a space for herself in the global beauty industry, Chuter was never one to shy away from the hard truths. When she launched Uoma Beauty in 2019, she did so with a mission that was bigger than makeup, it was about identity, inclusivity, and representation. Her brand name, Uoma, means “beautiful” in Igbo, and every product was designed with the understanding that beauty cannot and should not be defined by a single standard. From its wide foundation range to campaigns celebrating individuality, Uoma Beauty challenged the industry to meet the diverse needs of people of color while celebrating heritage and authenticity.

But Chuter’s impact stretched far beyond her products. In the wake of 2020’s racial justice uprisings, she spearheaded Pull Up for Change, a campaign that demanded beauty and fashion brands disclose the number of Black employees in their corporate offices. Her bold call-to-action put pressure on some of the world’s biggest companies to reckon with their internal practices, and it gave consumers a powerful tool for accountability. She also launched the Make It Blackcampaign, which both redefined what it meant to be Black in culture and raised funds to support Black-owned businesses. Through these initiatives, Chuter proved that the beauty industry could be a powerful space for activism, transparency, and systemic change.

Those who knew Chuter, or even those who simply witnessed her work, will remember her for her unrelenting boldness, sharp wit, and refusal to compromise. She was a force who believed that beauty was not superficial, but deeply tied to how people see themselves and how the world sees them. By pushing industries to face uncomfortable truths, she created room for Black entrepreneurs, professionals, and creatives to thrive and to be seen.

At just 38 years old, Sharon Chuter leaves us too soon, but her impact reverberates. She not only built a brand but sparked a movement, one that will continue to influence the way we think about representation, inclusivity, and equity across industries. Her legacy is proof that one voice, when it refuses to be silenced, can create seismic shifts. In the world of beauty and beyond, Sharon Chuter will forever be remembered as a pioneer who dared to demand better.