NEED TO KNOW
- Sharon Chuter was found dead on a patio at 38 on Aug. 14
- The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner shared her cause of death in an updated report
- Chuter was the founder of Uoma Beauty and the Pull Up for Change Initiative
A cause of death for beauty founder Sharon Chuter has been revealed.
Chuter died on Aug. 14 after suffering from blunt traumatic injuries, per a new report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office. She was 38.
According to the Los Angeles Medical Examiner, Chuter, the founder and former creative director of beauty brand Uoma Beauty, was found dead on a patio. The death was listed as an “accident.” The report also cited medication non-complaint Schizoaffective Disorder as other significant conditions.
According to Substack account Ahead of the Kirb, a source with knowledge of the situation shared that a former executive of Uoma Beauty relayed the news of Chuter’s death to other former employees at the time of her death in August.
Uoma Beauty was launched by Chuter in 2019 at Ulta, offering over 100 inclusive beauty products, including foundations in 51 shades. Chuter had already established herself as a name in the industry before launching her company. She worked with high-powered brands including L’Oréal and LVMH — and even famously convinced Revlon to distribute its products in Nigeria, where she was born.
“It was important for me to give my own take on inclusivity and diversity, which is simply allowing people to be their ultimate selves, and something I don’t think the industry is understanding,” she told WWD in 2019. “I appreciate uniqueness and stories. Who is behind the shade? What is their origin story and what do they want? And how do we create a world that allows for these different views?”
Chuter continued to make an impact beyond the store shelves when, in June 2020, she launched Pull Up for Change and the #PullUpOrShutUp initiative, which, as reported by Vogue Business, gave companies 72 hours to reveal the percentage of their corporate and leadership roles held by Black employees.
The campaign also encouraged consumers to avoid purchasing from brands until they chose to disclose the makeup of their staff. Glossier, e.l.f. Cosmetics and MAC Cosmetics were among the participating companies, the outlet reported.
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In 2022, Chuter opened up about the campaign on The Drew Barrymore Show. “I did that really to drive more awareness and shine more light to the lack of economic opportunities for the Black community, especially within the beauty space,” she said.
“I’ve always been the person who speaks up,” she continued. “Whenever I see something that needs to change, I don’t have it in me means to just sit it out.”
Chuter’s last public Instagram post was shared on May 21. Alongside a photo of her speaking on stage at a beauty event, she wrote “Doing what I do!”
Read the original article on People
