Beauty Pioneer Who Pushed for Transparency Dies at 38

Sharon Chuter, the visionary behind Uoma Beauty and a trailblazer for corporate transparency, has died at 38, according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner. She was found dead on a patio on Aug. 14, with the death still under investigation, per People and USA Today. Chuter leaves a legacy that reshaped the beauty industry and inspired calls for meaningful change. In 2019, she launched Uoma Beauty, earning attention for its focus on inclusivity, with a 51-shade foundation line. The brand, which found shelf space in Ulta Beauty stores nationwide, became known for its wide product range catering to diverse skin tones.

Beyond cosmetics, Chuter—who also worked with L'Oreal, Revlon, and luxury goods conglomerate LVMH—made her mark as an advocate for corporate transparency and economic empowerment. In 2020, she launched the "Pull Up for Change" campaign in response to the Black Lives Matter protests, urging companies to publicly reveal the number of Black employees in their ranks and leadership. The effort sparked more than 300 companies to share their diversity data in just a week, helping turn Pull Up for Change into a national initiative. The organization later awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to aspiring Black entrepreneurs.

In 2023, Chuter stepped down as Uoma's CEO, citing a need to focus on her own well-being; she later referenced a health scare. Ownership of the company transitioned to MacArthur Beauty, BrainTrust Fund, and Settle Funding. This past February, Chuter filed a lawsuit accusing the new owners of pushing her out while she was on medical leave and restructuring the company without her knowledge. She said she declined an offer she described as undervaluing her remaining stake.