Sharon Chuter, CEO and founder of Uoma Beauty, died suddenly at age 38. Her body was found on the patio of her Los Angeles home on August 14, according to police.
The L.A. County Medical Examiner’s Office listed her cause of death as “deferred”, meaning her untimely death is still under investigation.
Nigerian-born Sharon Chuter launched her beauty brand in 2019. The brand focused on diversity, diversity and inclusivity in the beauty industry.
In 2020, her beauty products were sold in ULTA stores and favored by celebrities such as Skai Jackson (left), Jordyn Woods (right), Jasmine Sanders, and EJ Johnson (Magic’s son).
Chuter launched the viral hashtag #pulluporshutup in reaction to the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis, Minnesota and around the country.
She coupled the hashtag with her “Pull Up for Change” initiative that challenged corporations to address racism in the United States. Her Pull Up For Change initiative urged major brands like L’Oreal, ULTA, and Sephora to disclose the number of Black employees in their companies.
In May 2023, Chuter stepped down as CEO and sold the company’s assets to MacArthur Beauty LLC. In February 2025, she filed a lawsuit against MacArthur Beauty LLC and BrainTrust, accusing them of undervaluing the brand’s assets in 2023.
In her lawsuit, Chuter argued that the sale, made to cover a $6.2 million loan, was “commercially unreasonable” and far below Uoma’s previous valuation of up to $50 million.
Chuter’s supporters claim her death is somehow linked to the lawsuit.
