Kelly Hoppen became a dragon after founding the homewares company Kelly Hoppen Interiors.
Hoppen is a British interior designer whose work is associated with a minimalist style combining neutral colours, clean lines and an East-meets-West design influence. She established Kelly Hoppen Interiors before joining the Dragons' Den panel.
She became a dragon in the programme’s eleventh series. Her expertise differed from that of investors focused primarily on retail, technology or manufacturing, since her career was built around interior design, furniture and luxury lifestyle products.
Hoppen’s name is sometimes mixed up with Deborah Meaden, another female dragon with a long-running role on the show. The two have different business backgrounds: Hoppen is chiefly identified with interior design, while Meaden is associated with investments and the leisure industry.