Dragons’ Den is back on our screens tonight, and for the first time ever, the number of female Dragons outnumbers the males.
The Dragons’ Den star has a link to Love Island (Image: BBC Studios/Simon Pantling)
A Dragons’ Den star has a surprising link to Love Island.
The BBC programme is returning to screens tonight, and for the first time ever, the number of female Dragons outnumbers the males.
Following the departures of Touker Suleyman and Sara Davies from the beloved BBC show, a string of guest Dragons, including Gary Neville and Tinie Tempah, have joined regulars Peter Jones, Steven Bartlett and Deborah Meaden in the Den.
After a months-long break, the series is continuing with new episodes from Thursday, August 20.
Joining Peter, Steven and Deborah in the Den, North East businesswoman Jenna Meek and The Apprentice star Susie Ma are returning as investors, reports Chronicle Live.
After making her debut on Dragons’ Den earlier this year, Jenna was supported by her followers as she wrote on social media: “The secret is out… Your newest Dragon.
“Been manifesting this one for a long time and it still doesn’t feel real that it actually happened. It has always been a massive goal of mine to be on Dragon’s Den – it was this show (and Deborah sorry other Dragons haha) that inspired me from day one to want to be an entrepreneur.
“I used to watch this show all the time and would dream to pitch on it one day, never mind be a dragon beyond grateful for this incredible opportunity, it pushed me to new limits and had so much fun doing it.
“The most incredible incredible experience and so grateful for the amazing crew and all the incredible dragons who made me feel so welcome.”
Who is Jenna Meek?
Jenna is the co-founder and CEO of beauty brand REFY.
Since its launch in 2020, the company — which Jenna co-founded alongside influencer Jess Hunt — has grown into one of the UK’s fastest-rising beauty brands, boasting an annual turnover exceeding £40m.
Prior to REFY, Jenna held positions at Burberry and Rebecca Minkoff, and set up festival beauty label Shrine from her bedroom at just 20 years old.
First known as The Gypsy Shrine, the company popularised peel-and-stick face and body gems and biodegradable body glitters, with Jenna even visiting the Love Island villa to decorate the likes of Olivia Attwood and Montana Brown in her products for a glitter party.
She previously told Mail Online: “We were just brainstorming and thinking of new ideas. I was like, ‘Let’s get on to Love Island’.”
She continued: “It was so crazy. I had nearly given up but my mum was like, ‘don’t let me down on this’, I had to figure it out and I kept pestering I guess.”
She went on to recall: “Kem [Cetinay] wanted [a lot of glitter], he was like ‘Do this do this!’ I had to tell him, ‘No we’ll keep it silver otherwise you are going to look like an idiot on TV!’”
The 33-year-old has firmly established herself within the industry, earning recognition in The Sunday Times beauty rich list and Forbes’ 30 under 30 list in 2022.
Jenna’s net worth is thought to be in the region of £52m.
Dragons’ Den airs from 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.