Deborah Meaden was the first woman to become a regular investor on the British programme after its original panel.
Meaden joined Dragons' Den in 2006, during the programme's third series. She became one of its longest-serving and most recognisable investors, known for backing businesses with clear products, strong margins and opportunities for growth.
Her career before television included building and investing in businesses, especially in leisure and retail. She first gained broad public attention through her work with Weststar Holidays, a family holiday business that she later sold.
This fact is distinct from the question of who was the only woman on the original panel. Meaden was not part of that original group; she joined afterward and became the programme's first subsequent regular female Dragon. Later women on the panel included Kelly Hoppen, Jenny Campbell and Sara Davies.