Jenna Meek Bio, Age, Height, Family, Net Worth & More

Jenna Meek is a British serial entrepreneur, beauty industry disruptor, and CEO who has transformed from a festival glitter enthusiast into one of the UK’s most successful business leaders. Best known as the co-founder and CEO of REFY Beauty, the minimalist cosmetics brand taking the world by storm, Jenna has built a beauty empire valued in the multi-millions while championing sustainable practices and inclusive beauty standards. In 2026, she steps into the spotlight as the youngest-ever guest Dragon on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs with her remarkable journey from Bishop Auckland to the boardroom.

Quick bio

Early Life & Education

Jenna Suzanne Meek was born in August 1992 in Bishop Auckland, a market town in County Durham, North East England. Growing up in a working-class northern family, Jenna developed her entrepreneurial spirit early—thanks largely to her father, Shaun Meek, who taught her the value of thriftiness and business acumen. In interviews, she credits her father with instilling her “head for numbers” and remembers childhood car-boot sales where she first learned the basics of commerce.

Jenna attended local schools in County Durham before pursuing higher education at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in International Fashion Marketing. This combination of creative and commercial training would prove foundational to her future success in the beauty industry.

Career Journey

The Fashion Foundation (2012–2015)

Before launching her own ventures, Jenna honed her craft in luxury fashion’s most prestigious houses. Her career began at Hugo Boss as a sales advisor and marketing placement, followed by internships at Rebecca Minkoff in New York. She quickly progressed to product development roles at Christopher Raeburn, Emilia Wickstead, and finally Burberry—where she mastered the art of taking products from concept to launch.

Shrine: The Festival Pioneer (2015–2024)

In December 2015, at just 20 years old, Jenna made the bold decision to quit her coveted position at Burberry to pursue her passion for body painting and festival culture. She launched The Gypsy Shrine (later rebranded as SHRINE) from her bedroom, initially selling glitter and face jewels online.

The brand exploded in popularity after Jenna innovated the “all-in-one” self-adhesive face jewel—a product not widely available at the time. By 2017, SHRINE had:

• Partnered with Topshop, ASOS, PrettyLittleThing, and Bloomingdales
• Created pop-up experiences at Coachella and global music festivals
• Provided makeup for ITV’s love island stars
• Collaborated with brands including Coca-Cola, Spotify, and Google

Jenna later pivoted the brand toward sustainability with the launch of Drop It, the world’s first multi-use, non-permanent hair color dropper free from single-use plastic. She successfully exited SHRINE in 2024, selling her stake to focus on her next venture.

REFY Beauty: The Global Phenomenon (2020–Present)

In November 2020, Jenna co-founded REFY Beauty alongside influencer and makeup artist Jess Hunt. Based in Manchester, REFY was created to “simplify beauty routines with multifunctional, high-performance makeup and skincare.”

Key Milestones:

• 2020: Brand launch with viral Brow Sculpt product
• 2021: Secured placements in Selfridges and Brown Thomas
• 2022: Global expansion into Sephora (UK, US, Canada, Middle East)
• 2023: Annual turnover exceeded £40 million
• 2024: Won Most Inspiring Launch Award at The Klicks; named one of The Times’ Best Places to Work
• 2025: Recognized by FEBE Growth 100 as one of UK’s fastest-growing private companies; retained Times Best Place to Work status

REFY is now valued at approximately £80 million, with Jenna’s 50% stake contributing significantly to her personal wealth.

Television & Investment (2026)

In January 2026, Jenna realized a childhood dream by appearing as a guest Dragon on BBC One’s Dragons’ Den (Series 23). At 33, she became the youngest female Dragon in the show’s history. Her appearance alongside Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, and Steven Bartlett marks her transition from entrepreneur to investor.

Personal Life

Marriage & Family Jenna married her long-term partner in a romantic ceremony in Tuscany, Italy, in July 2021. True to her private nature, she has kept her husband’s identity largely out of the public eye. The couple welcomed their first child, a son, around 2024.

Work-Life Philosophy Jenna is an advocate for mental health and boundary-setting in the workplace. In 2025, she made headlines by removing work emails from her personal phone and implementing a “no work phones” policy at REFY, stating: “We sell bronzer, we don’t save lives.” This move was designed to improve team wellbeing and combat always-on culture.

Hobbies & Interests Beyond business, Jenna maintains her creative roots through festival culture, body art, and sustainable living. She remains connected to her North East heritage despite being based in Manchester.

Awards & Achievements

• Forbes 30 Under 30 (2022) – Recognized in the retail and e-commerce category
• Sunday Times Beauty Rich List 2025 – Ranked #13 with estimated net worth of £52-53 million
• EY Entrepreneur of the Year – Top 10 finalist
• The Times’ Best Places to Work – 2024 and 2025 (REFY Beauty)
• Marie Claire Prix d’Excellence – Beauty brand recognition
• British Beauty Community Winner
• FEBE Growth 100 (2025) – One of UK’s fastest-growing private companies (REFY)
• Dragons’ Den Guest Dragon (2026) – Youngest female Dragon in BBC show history

Physical Statistics

Quotes

1. “Dragons’ Den is the reason I became an entrepreneur. From watching it with my dad from such a young age, it is incredible to be able to meet so many amazing entrepreneurs building businesses and pushing the boundaries.” – BBC Interview, 2026
2. “I really resonated with the people standing in front of us because I was in their position almost eight years ago. I was empathetic towards the entrepreneurs and much more competitive with my fellow Dragons.” – On her Dragons’ Den experience
3. “We sell bronzer, we don’t save lives. Emails can wait and my family deserves my full attention.” – On work-life balance and removing emails from her phone, 2025

Controversies

Jenna Meek has maintained a remarkably scandal-free public profile throughout her career. However, her business decisions have occasionally sparked discussion:

Workplace Boundaries Debate (2025) When Jenna announced REFY’s ban on work phones and after-hours emails, some traditional business commentators criticized the move as “unrealistic” for startup culture. However, the policy was largely praised by Gen Z workers and mental health advocates, positioning Jenna as a progressive leader challenging toxic productivity norms.

Glitter Environmental Concerns (Early Shrine Days) In the early years of The Gypsy Shrine, Jenna faced scrutiny regarding microplastics in cosmetic glitter. She addressed these concerns proactively by pivoting SHRINE toward eco-friendly formulations and eventually launching Drop It, the plastic-free hair color alternative.

Salary & Net Worth

As of 2026, Jenna Meek’s financial standing places her among Britain’s wealthiest self-made women:

Net Worth Breakdown:

• Estimated Net Worth: £52–53 million ($65–66 million USD)
• Source: Sunday Times Beauty Rich List 2025
• Primary Assets:
  • 50% stake in REFY Beauty (valued at ~£40 million)
  • Real estate investments via JMK Property Ltd
  • Exit proceeds from SHRINE (2024)
  • Speaking engagements and Dragons’ Den appearance fees

Salary & Income: While Jenna’s exact salary as CEO is not public, REFY Beauty reported profits of £8.9 million on £24.8 million turnover in 2023, with 60% year-over-year growth projected. Her income derives from dividends, director’s fees, and now, television appearances.

Interesting Facts

1. Car Boot Origins: Jenna learned business basics selling items at car boot sales with her father as a child—a skill set she credits for her negotiation prowess.
2. The £10 Bet: When launching SHRINE, her father bet her £10 she wouldn’t sell ten bags of glitter. She sold 100 in the first day and still jokingly claims he never paid up.
3. Love Island Connection: SHRINE gained massive publicity when Jenna “pestered” producers with emails for two weeks to secure a gig painting Islanders—eventually becoming the show’s official glitter partner.
4. Self-Taught Body Painter: Despite no formal makeup training, Jenna’s body painting skills were entirely self-taught through festival circuits.
5. kylie jenner Party: Through SHRINE’s Coachella activation, Jenna partied with Kylie Jenner and secured brand exposure to millions.
6. Backup Plan: When launching REFY in 2020, Jenna and Jess Hunt had a contingency plan for how to “flog the stock” if it didn’t sell—now unnecessary given the brand’s £100 million trajectory.
7. ** Youngest Female Dragon**: At 33, she’s the youngest female investor to sit on the Dragons’ Den panel, surpassing Sara Davies who was 35 when she joined.

Social Media Links

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Jenna Meek? Jenna Meek is 33 years old as of 2026. She was born in August 1992.

What is Jenna Meek’s net worth? According to the Sunday Times Beauty Rich List 2025, Jenna Meek’s net worth is estimated at £52–53 million (approximately $65–66 million USD).

Who is Jenna Meek married to? Jenna married her long-term partner in Tuscany, Italy, in July 2021. She keeps his identity private, and he is not in the public eye.

What companies has Jenna Meek founded? Jenna founded SHRINE (formerly The Gypsy Shrine) in 2015 and co-founded REFY Beauty in 2020. She exited SHRINE in 2024 to focus on REFY.

Is Jenna Meek still on Dragons’ Den? Jenna appears as a guest Dragon in Series 23 (2026), joining for select episodes alongside regular Dragons Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, and Steven Bartlett.

Where is Jenna Meek from? She hails from Bishop Auckland, County Durham, in the North East of England, though she is now based in Manchester.

What did Jenna Meek do before REFY? She worked in luxury fashion product development for Burberry, Emilia Wickstead, Christopher Raeburn, Rebecca Minkoff, and Hugo Boss before launching her own businesses.

Conclusion

Jenna Meek’s transformation from a 20-year-old festival body painter to a £50+ million beauty mogul and BBC Dragon is a testament to the power of authentic vision, relentless hustle, and strategic risk-taking. Her journey embodies the modern entrepreneurial dream—built not through privilege, but through identifying cultural moments (festival beauty, clean girl aesthetic) and executing with precision.

As she takes her seat in the Dragons’ Den in 2026, Jenna represents a new generation of business leaders: empathetic yet competitive, digitally native yet financially savvy, and committed to building wealth while prioritizing wellbeing. For aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly young women from northern England, she stands as proof that with creativity and determination, the bedroom startup can become a global empire.

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