Susie Ma is returning to Dragons' Den as the new series launches tonight. The BBC business show continues on Thursday, August 20, with Susie joining Peter Jones, Steven Bartlett, and Deborah Meaden in the Den.
They are also joined by guest Dragon and REFY founder Jenna Meek, after Touker Suleyman and Sara Davies announced they were stepping back from the show. Throughout the remainder of this series, Gary Neville and Tinie Tempah also step in as investors.
First for the Den
The show return marks a series first, as Jenna commented: "Can we take a moment? I think this is the first time in the Den there's been more females than men, so very cool!" She added to Peter and Steven: "So watch out, you two!" before Steven quipped back: "Don't gang up on us."
But Dragons' Den is not the first time Susie has appeared on a BBC business programme, reports Wales Online.
Susie Ma's Career and TV Past
Susie is the founder of Tropic Skincare, a British beauty brand that boasts an annual turnover of £68 million. The businesswoman, born in Shanghai before relocating to Australia at the age of six, launched the company at just 15 years old — two years after moving to the UK from Australia with her mother — selling handmade scrubs from a market stall to help keep the household afloat.
In 2011, Susie shot to fame on The Apprentice, reaching the final three and becoming the youngest ever candidate in the show's history at the time. Despite missing out on the top prize, she won the backing of Lord Sugar, who became a business partner and invested £200,000 in Tropic Skincare.
Buying Back Lord Sugar's Stake
In 2023, Susie bought out Lord Sugar's stake and is now the sole owner of her business, later telling Metro: "We got on fine as he had his fingers in so many pies with so many businesses, and I was just a small part of his empire. So when we parted ways I bought him out fully and it just felt like how it should be. Me, the captain, steering the ship by myself, and it felt amazing not having to run decisions past somebody else. So, it does feel like a full circle moment."
After appearing on Dragons' Den earlier this year, Susie celebrated on social media: "The power of word of mouth That's a wrap on my first episode in the Den and very first investment! The response has been absolutely unbelievable! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support. I'd love to hear what you think - is it time we backed more mum-founded businesses?"
One fan replied: "So amazing!!" as another said: "Go Susie!!" Someone else wrote: "This was brilliant, I loved seeing you on DD. Only just been introduced to Tropic and I'm hooked!" "Loved watching you," another echoed.
Dragons' Den returns at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
