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In a moment of pride for the Bishop Auckland community, St John’s Catholic School and Sixth Form has been celebrating the success of one of its most impressive former students. Entrepreneur Jenna Meek, co‑founder of the beauty brand Refy, recently made her debut as a new Dragon on the iconic BBC show Dragons’ Den, marking a remarkable milestone in her already fast‑rising career. [thenorther...echo.co.uk]
From Local Student to Global Entrepreneur
Jenna’s journey began in the classrooms and corridors of St John’s, where teachers recall her as a passionate and driven student. Those early qualities later propelled her into the world of fashion and beauty, starting with an International Fashion Marketing degree and eventually leading to the creation of Refy — a brand now stocked across Selfridges, Brown Thomas and Sephora in the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada and the Middle East. [thenorther...echo.co.uk]
Her entrepreneurial accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. In 2025, Jenna earned a spot on the Sunday Times Beauty Rich List, ranking 13th with an estimated net worth of £52 million. [thenorther...echo.co.uk]
A Proud Moment for St John’s Catholic School
With Jenna joining the Dragons’ Den panel, St John’s Catholic School now boasts two alumni Dragons, the other being fellow County Durham entrepreneur Sara Davies. The school shared its excitement publicly, describing Jenna as an “incredible role model” whose hard work and ambition have set a powerful example for current students. [thenorther...echo.co.uk]
Educators at the school expressed immense pride in seeing a former student achieve a lifelong dream. Jenna herself has spoken about how the show inspired her as a child — watching it with her dad sparked the ambition that eventually shaped her path into entrepreneurship. She described joining the Den as “a lifelong goal” and emphasised how inspiring it is to meet and empower emerging entrepreneurs through the show. [thenorther...echo.co.uk]
Inspiring the Next Generation of Creators and Innovators
What makes Jenna’s achievement particularly special is not just her rise in the beauty industry, but the way her story resonates with young people from Bishop Auckland and beyond. Her journey reflects the idea that world‑leading innovation can begin anywhere — even in a small County Durham town — with passion, ambition, and relentless dedication.
Students at St John's now have a powerful example to look up to: someone who walked the same halls, sat in the same classrooms, and dared to pursue something extraordinary.
A Community Rooting for Continued Success
As Jenna steps into her role on Dragons’ Den, the Bishop Auckland community stands firmly behind her. Her success is a celebration not only of individual achievement but of the influence schools and local communities can have on nurturing future leaders.
With her global beauty brand, growing influence in the business world, and new platform on national television, Jenna Meek’s story is only just beginning — and it’s already inspiring thousands.