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Sharon Chuter is the founder of inclusive black-owned beauty brand UOMA Beauty, based in LA and London. She is a former beauty executive, named by WWD as amongst one of the 50 most forward-thinking beauty executives shaping the future. Sharon Chuter’s career has spanned across multiple continents with UOMA Beauty being deemed as the most inclusive beauty brand aimed at disrupting monocultural corporations in America.

Dear Young Sharon,

I know you are having a very tough time fitting in – You are thin with big eyes, high cheek bones and most call you froggy and you are currently the definition of “unattractive and undesirable”. You are not “marriage material”, you are too outspoken, too loud, too smart and never the first pick for anything other than academics. You can’t sing although you wish you could and your aspirations are too big for your reality. If only you know how life will turn out – That not fitting in will be your greatest asset! 

Trust the process! You will go from unable to sing to being paid to sing! You will discover you are mentally ambidextrous and this will be your greatest strength. Your inability to “focus on one thing” is not a downside, it means you have an incredible power to process many things all at once. People may not be able to relate with this BUT this is why you are special and will be pivotal to your success.

Not fitting in = You are one of the rare ones. One of the crazy ones. One day you will watch a commercial that will change your outlook about being different – That apple commercial from 1997 (even though you will watch it a decade later) will change your perspective and you will learn to trust and endure the challenges of being a weirdo to blossom into what you will one day proudly call being the “Wierdo in chief”. That term will go from being offensive to a badge you wear proudly. You will find the strength to execute your crazy ideas even when everyone else including those who love you the most worry about you. 

Everything people said you couldn’t do, you will go on to do and more. You will grow into that big voice of yours. Your smarts will come in handy, you are a natural leader and that comes with HUGE responsibilities which you will take on and make it look easy. Ha! You will earn your way into some of the most elite rooms in the world, and even if you feel as though you don’t belong, YOU DO.  You are going to experience rough times in life, people will dismiss you, not take you seriously, and discount you because of who you are and what you look like. You will be the only woman in a lot of the rooms, even more often- the only black woman. But don’t be disheartened, this will fuel an incredible fire in you to do what you do best; which is speak up and fight for what you believe is right regardless of the consequences.

Keep an open mind, it will be a great strength. If only you know how much you will challenge all of your belief systems; You will go from being petrified of animals to a little four legged fella “Leo” becoming the greatest love of your life. You will love many times but you will also love yourself enough to walk away from people when necessary.

You are strong. You will make it your life’s mission to create a space where everyone can  feel loved and appreciated for being who they are. A space where the “weirdos” are welcome. You will fight for what’s right. And, even if you feel that the work is never done—that won’t stop you from fighting. 

The best gift that you can give to yourself is to love yourself. It doesn’t mean you are narcissistic – it simply means that you understand that you cannot operate at your best until you love and accept yourself.  So I leave you with the words from the greatest commercial ever made; the words of Rob Siltanen – 

“Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. But the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” _Rob Siltanen.

Sharon Chuter