Kelly Hoppen was born on 28 July 1959 in Cape Town, South Africa, to Seymour and Stephanie Hoppen. Her family moved to London when she was young, where she grew up and later built her career.

She left school at 16 and began her career by designing a family friend’s kitchen. This early opportunity led to more projects, and she quickly developed a reputation in interior design.

Over time, she built an international design business, working on luxury homes, hotels, yachts, and commercial spaces. She became known for her “East meets West” style and authored numerous design books.

Hoppen joined Dragons’ Den on BBC Two in 2013, appearing for two series until 2015 as an investor. She also presented Superior Interiors with Kelly Hoppen (Channel 5) and judged The Great Interior Design Challenge.

She lives in the UK and continues to run her design business, write books, and support charitable causes while maintaining a relatively private personal life.