The Visionary Behind UOMA Beauty A Legacy Cut Short

Sharon Chuter, the bold and brilliant founder of Uoma Beauty, captured in her signature style and confidence.

Photo courtesy of Sharon Chuter’s official Instagram.

“Doing what I do.” — Sharon Chuter, May 21, 2025

A Legacy Rooted in Disruption

Sharon Chuter was never here to play by the rules. As the founder of UOMA Beauty, she unapologetically disrupted a historically exclusionary beauty industry and redefined what luxury looks like when it centers Black women. From bold shade ranges to culturally resonant product names, UOMA Beauty wasn’t just another brand on the shelf—it was a statement.

And Sharon? She was the voice behind that statement—one that refused to whisper.

"Pull Up for Change" and Power Moves

In 2020, while the world reckoned with performative allyship, Chuter launched the Pull Up For Change campaign—challenging major beauty brands to publicly release the number of Black employees in corporate and executive roles. It wasn't just a hashtag; it was a reckoning. And it forced accountability across the entire industry.

UOMA wasn’t her only weapon. Her advocacy made her a sought-after voice on panels, a headline-maker in Forbes, and a celebrated innovator in business circles that were rarely inclusive.

A Legal Battle Behind the Gloss

But behind the scenes, a different kind of fight was unfolding.

In the months leading up to her passing, Chuter filed a lawsuit against MacArthur Beauty and its partners—including BrainTrust and Settle Funding—alleging they had taken control of UOMA’s operations during her medical leave and subsequently removed her from decision-making authority. The suit also claimed that MacArthur, which had become the brand’s new owner following financial shifts in 2023, pushed her out of her operational roles entirely.

According to legal documents filed in February 2025, the takeover began while Chuter was on medical leave, which she intended to end in July 2023. The lawsuit highlighted the corporate tug-of-war that often shadows founders of color, especially Black women, once venture capital enters the room.

Final Words from a Warrior

Her last public Instagram post, dated May 21, showed her onstage at a beauty event. The caption read:

“Doing what I do!”

It was classic Sharon—radiant, fierce, and centered in her purpose.

Just months later, news of her passing broke, sending shockwaves through the beauty and business world alike. While the cause of death has not been officially released, tributes from fans, celebrities, and fellow founders poured in, recognizing not just what she built—but who she was.

The Blueprint She Left Behind

Sharon Chuter’s impact can’t be measured in product sales or social followers. Her true legacy is in how she made people feel seen, heard, and worthy—in boardrooms and beauty aisles alike.

She was the beauty industry's necessary wake-up call. And she made sure we wouldn’t go back to sleep.