What Really happened to Sharon Chuter?

The beauty industry and wider creative community are in mourning after the sudden and devastating loss of Sharon Chuter, the Nigerian-born entrepreneur and activist who transformed the conversation around inclusivity in cosmetics. Chuter, just 38 years old, was found deceased on August 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has classified her cause of death as “deferred,” leaving the official explanation unresolved and fueling growing concern.

Chuter was not only the founder of Uoma Beauty, launched in 2019, but also a forceful advocate for diversity. Her brand broke ground with an extensive foundation shade range and campaigns that boldly challenged the traditional beauty narrative. Beyond her business, she became widely known for launching Pull Up for Change in 2020, which pressured global corporations to disclose the number of Black executives in leadership roles. Later, she introduced the Make It BLACK initiative, using beauty to funnel resources toward Black entrepreneurs.

Her achievements made her a rare figure in an industry long criticized for exclusion, but her journey was not without hardship. In 2023, Chuter stepped down as CEO of Uoma Beauty following a serious health scare that left her visibly unwell. Although she retained a stake in the company, tensions rose when she was sidelined during her medical leave. Earlier this year, she filed a lawsuit contesting the handling of the business during her absence.

These professional struggles were part of a life lived with fearless honesty. Though private about her family life, Sharon was outspoken about her Nigerian heritage and the way it shaped her identity. Her boldness made her a respected yet sometimes polarizing figure in beauty, one unafraid to demand equity where others stayed quiet.

I didn’t know Sharon personally, but I was deeply inspired by her strength, her tenacity, and her determination to succeed whether through her business or her activism. The shock I feel right now is unexplainable. It feels like I blinked, and she was gone. Like me, countless others across the world are asking the same questions: what really happened to Sharon?

At present, it remains unclear whether her passing was due to natural causes, accident, or something more sinister. The deferred classification of her case underscores the need for further investigation and clarity.

What is undeniable is the deep sense of loss. Sharon was a visionary who insisted that power be held accountable. In the spirit of her own work, accountability is what we must demand now. The world deserves clear answers not only out of respect for her life and legacy but also to confront any systemic failures that may lie behind her untimely death.

Speculation helps no one, but silence helps even less. This is a moment that requires transparency from officials and urgency from investigators. Sharon Chuter gave voice to countless people who felt unseen; now, in her absence, we must ensure her story is not left unfinished.

"She was a disruptor, a leader, and an inspiration. Her fight for justice and representation should not end with her death" .