Which guest Shark on Shark Tank founded the shapewear company Spanx?

Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, appeared as a guest Shark on Shark Tank. Blakely built Spanx into a major apparel brand after identifying a need for smoothing undergarments and developing an early product herself.

Her appearance connected the show’s investment theme with her own entrepreneurial history. Unlike regular Sharks who appear throughout a season, guest Sharks join the panel for selected episodes and bring specialized experience from industries such as fashion, technology, food, retail, or finance.

Spanx is commonly associated with shapewear, although the company’s product range expanded beyond its original category. Blakely’s story is also notable because she launched the company with personal savings and grew it without the traditional venture-capital path often discussed in startup television.

The answer is Sara Blakely, not another businesswoman who appeared on the program. Guest Shark appearances can vary by season, so identifying the company she founded is the clearest way to distinguish her from other female investors and guests.