Tropic Skincare founder and CEO, Susie Ma, and Refy CEO Jenna Meek, will be guest dragons on BBC television show Dragons’ Den in 2026.
The beauty founders will star on the reality show which sees budding business owners pitch ideas to a line-up of investors in the hopes of securing funding to grow their companies.
Joining the show’s resident ‘dragons’ Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman and Steven Bartlett in the den are four guest dragons: beauty’s Meek and Ma, as well as rapper and entrepreneur Tinie Tempah and footballer-turned-businessman Gary Neville.
Budding beauty entrepreneurs are no strangers to pitching on the den, with brands such as henna-based body art Pavan Beauty, body and hair care brand Hello Klean, natural and sustainable brand UpCircle, and now-closed skin care brand Faace, all appearing on the show.
Who are the guest dragons on Dragons’ Den?
Jenna Meek, CEO, Refy
Refy co-founder and CEO Jenna Meek is one of four guest 'dragons'
Meek co-founded Refy alongside influencer Jess Hunt in 2020, and in five years has seen the brand build an Instagram following of almost one million, with retail partnerships spanning Selfridges, Sephora and Space NK.
Prior to launching the brand, Meek was the brains behind festival-inspired hair, beauty and fashion brand Shrine, formerly known as Gypsy-Shrine, which initially launched with a range of face jewels and glitter.
Meek said: “I am so excited to be joining Dragons’ Den, this has been a lifelong goal of mine.
“Dragons’ Den is the reason I became an entrepreneur, from watching it with my dad from such a young age, so it is incredible to be able to meet so many amazing entrepreneurs building businesses and pushing the boundaries.
“It is such an empowering environment and I am thrilled to be a part of it.
“It is also incredible to be here alongside the dragons, especially Deborah.
“She has inspired me from such a young age, and I hope I can do the same for someone else.”
Susie Ma, founder and CEO, Tropic Skincare
Susie Ma, CEO and founder of Tropic Skincare, will be making her debut in the Dragons' Den
Ma turned £200 given to her by her mum into a stall in Greenwich market, London, which went on to become a multimillion-pound business turning over £68m annually in just over two decades.
The founder secured £200m investment from Lord Alan Sugar following a third-place result in the 2011 series of The BBC’s show The Apprentice, and has since bought Lord Sugar out to become sole owner of Tropic Skincare, which operates fully from Croydon, UK.
Beyond beauty, Ma donates and invests heaving in charity initiatives and good causes, with 10% of profits from her business donated.
Her commitment to charity partnerships has led to the opening of four schools in remote countries with United World Schools.
As well as planting more than 7,000 trees in the ‘Tropic forest’, and committing to ocean and reef conservation through partnership with Reef Restoration Foundation in Australia.
Ma said: “It is an absolute honour to join the den as a guest dragon.
“I started Tropic Skincare from a market stall at 15, and I know the grit, vision and belief it takes to turn a spark of an idea into something extraordinary.
“I am here to back the bold – the next generation of changemakers building businesses with purpose, creativity and courage.
“Sitting in that iconic chair is a pinch-me moment, and I am so excited to help brilliant founders bring their dreams to life.”
All image credits: BBC Studios/Simon Pantling