For most entrepreneurs stepping into the BBC's Dragons' Den, predicting the thoughts of the multi-millionaire investors they hope to impress remains an impossible dream. However, for professional psychic medium Danielle Close, this became a tangible reality when she secured a joint £50,000 investment from her 'dream Dragons', Deborah Meaden and Gary Neville, on the popular investment series.
A Psychic Prediction Comes True
Danielle Close, the founder of skincare brand My Skin Feels, exclusively shared her remarkable journey with Metro, revealing that her connection to Gary Neville began long before her appearance on the show. Back in 2023, when the former Manchester United footballer was announced as a guest Dragon for series 21, Danielle experienced a powerful premonition.
'If you want to know something really weird... years ago when Gary Neville was announced as a Dragon, I really thought if I ever go on the show I want my Dragon to be him,' she confessed. 'So when I was put with him, I just knew it. I had such a good feeling about him and I don't know why.'
Intuition Driving Business Success
As a fifth-generation psychic medium with seven years of formal training, Danielle brings a unique intuition-led approach to her business. My Skin Feels creates effective, sensitive-skin-friendly formulas using rescued food by-products, blending sustainability with skincare innovation.
'People think that my psychic work is separate, but intuition is your daily life,' Danielle explained. 'For me, choosing who to work with, knowing which direction to go in, knowing what feels right, what is wrong - it's just having good intuition. When you go into mediumship, it's a separate thing because that's particularly a specific skill for clients, but intuition in business goes hand in hand.'
The Dragons' Den Experience
During her appearance on the show, Danielle originally asked for £50,000 in exchange for 10% of her business. While several Dragons made offers, including Peter Jones who proposed taking 20% equity, Danielle ultimately accepted Deborah Meaden and Gary Neville's joint offer of £50,000 for 20% of the company.
In a humorous moment that viewers will remember, Danielle appeared to snub Peter Jones' offer, something she later clarified was accidental. 'It was a complete accident,' she admitted. 'I actually forgot he made an offer because I was so focused on Deborah and Gary, and then I said I'm actually really sorry.'
Beyond the Den: Remarkable Growth
Despite securing the investment from Gary and Deborah on the show, Danielle revealed an interesting twist: she didn't end up taking their money. Private investors who came through her psychic mediumship contacts offered a better deal, demonstrating how her diverse professional networks converged to benefit her business.
Since her Dragons' Den appearance, My Skin Feels has achieved impressive 250% year-on-year growth. The brand has successfully launched into all 15 Credo Beauty stores across the United States and secured early distribution with Whole Foods, marking significant expansion for the UK-based company.
Breaking Down Stigma
Danielle openly discussed the challenges of being a professional psychic medium in the business world, acknowledging there's 'a lot of stigma around the work'. However, she emphasised how her psychic abilities have positively influenced her entrepreneurial journey.
'It has had such a positive impact on My Skin Feels,' she stated. 'I bet if you talk to any business leader they're using intuition and not realising they're using it.'
Her story challenges conventional perceptions about business leadership, demonstrating how alternative approaches and diverse skill sets can drive commercial success in unexpected ways.
