Ukrainian refugee wins investment from Dragons’ Den

Nenya now has 98 wholesale partners across three continents, products in two department stores and a yearly turnover of £100,000.

Some of the five brands she distributes were originally based in Kharkiv but had to relocate their manufacturing to the safer western part of the country.

In Ukraine, Ms Smaglo owned her own brand of womenswear and she said Nenya translated as “motherland”.

She said: “It was my first experience of pitching investment and it was quite challenging, especially in English.”

The BBC contacted her and asked her to take part in the show.

She said: “They told me, ‘we found your business and we think it’s really good, would you consider taking part?’

“I have to be honest, I had never seen it.

“I messaged my chat group and I said,’ I had this call and they invited me – should I accept it?’. And they all said yes!”

She added: “I had my own business before, I have a strategy, so pitching in front of other businesspeople, it is OK.

“What made me nervous was the cameras, not the people!”

She accepted a joint offer from Meaden and Bartlett, with each investing £40,000 for a 5% share.

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