Susie Ma Biography: Inspiring Rise From Teenage Entrepreneur to Beauty Mogul
Susie Ma is a British-Chinese entrepreneur, businesswoman, and philanthropist best known as the founder and CEO of Tropic Skincare. She started experimenting with skincare products when she was only 15 and sold her creations at Greenwich Market in London. What began as a small teenage business eventually developed into an established British beauty brand.
Her journey has been impressive, but success did not come without challenges. Her family experienced financial difficulties, and Susie later entered the highly competitive beauty industry while still very young. Her appearance on BBC’s The Apprentice introduced her to a national audience, while Lord Alan Sugar’s subsequent investment helped Tropic enter a new stage of growth. Today, Susie is the sole owner of Tropic Skincare and has become a recognised figure in British entrepreneurship.
Susie Ma Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Susie Ma |
| Date of Birth | November 22, 1988 |
| Age | 37 years old as of August 2026 |
| Birthplace | Shanghai, China |
| Nationality | British |
| Heritage | Chinese |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, Businesswoman, Philanthropist |
| Known For | Founder of Tropic Skincare |
| Education | University College London |
| Degree | Philosophy and Economics |
| Company | Tropic Skincare |
| Position | Founder and CEO |
| Net Worth | Estimated £73 million |
| Major TV Appearances | The Apprentice, Dragons’ Den |
| Children | One daughter |
Who Is Susie Ma?
Susie Ma is the entrepreneur behind Tropic Skincare, a British company offering skincare, body care, hair care, and beauty products. As founder and CEO, she has been closely involved with the company’s direction, product development, sustainability goals, and long-term strategy.
Her story attracts attention because she did not begin with a large corporate operation. Instead, her entrepreneurial foundations were built through direct contact with customers at a London market. Those early experiences helped her understand products, customer preferences, and the practical realities of running a business.
Susie Ma Early Life and Birthplace
Susie Ma was born on November 22, 1988, in Shanghai, China. She spent part of her childhood in Australia after her family moved there, including time in Cairns, Queensland. The tropical surroundings she experienced in Australia later became an important influence on the identity of Tropic Skincare.
Her childhood also included financial challenges. Her parents had professional educational backgrounds but faced difficulties establishing themselves after moving abroad. These circumstances exposed Susie to the realities of financial uncertainty and contributed to the entrepreneurial attitude she developed at a young age.
Family Influence on Susie Ma
Family played an important part in Susie’s early interest in skincare. Her grandmother worked in medicinal chemistry and toxicology, giving Susie early exposure to ideas surrounding ingredients and skincare.
Her mother also supported her first entrepreneurial steps. When Susie wanted to start creating products as a teenager, she borrowed money from her mother to purchase ingredients. That small beginning eventually contributed to the development of a multimillion-pound company.
Susie Ma Education
After moving to Britain, Susie attended Croydon High School. She later entered University College London (UCL), one of the UK’s leading universities, where she studied Philosophy and Economics.
Her university years were particularly significant because she continued pursuing business activities alongside her education. Instead of treating entrepreneurship as something to begin after graduation, Susie gained practical commercial experience while completing her studies.
How Susie Ma Started Her Career
Susie Ma’s entrepreneurial career began when she was approximately 15 years old. She started making skincare products inspired partly by knowledge passed through her family and sold them at Greenwich Market in London.
Selling directly to customers provided an important foundation for her later career. She could observe customer reactions, understand which products attracted attention, and learn how to communicate the value of what she was selling. The small operation eventually provided the foundations for Tropic Skincare.
Early Experience in Finance
Susie also gained experience outside the beauty sector. After university, she completed an internship involving foreign exchange sales and trading at Citigroup.
The experience exposed her to a professional financial environment, but entrepreneurship ultimately became her primary career. Her skincare venture offered an opportunity to build a company around ideas she had already been developing for years.
Susie Ma on The Apprentice
A major turning point came in 2011, when Susie appeared on Series 7 of BBC’s The Apprentice. The programme gave her an opportunity to demonstrate her business skills to a national television audience.
Susie did not win the competition, finishing in third place. However, losing the programme did not prevent her from achieving major success afterward. Her performance attracted the attention of Lord Alan Sugar, creating a business relationship that would become important to Tropic Skincare’s expansion.
Lord Sugar’s Investment in Tropic Skincare
Following The Apprentice, Lord Sugar invested £200,000 in Tropic Skincare. His investment provided additional financial resources and business experience during a crucial period of the company’s development.
Tropic subsequently expanded its operations and product range. Susie remained at the centre of the brand, helping develop its identity around beauty, sustainability, naturally derived ingredients, and ethical business practices.
Susie Ma and Tropic Skincare
Tropic Skincare is the company that defines Susie Ma’s entrepreneurial career. Its origins can be traced to the skincare products she sold as a teenager, but the operation later developed into a much larger beauty business.
The company’s range includes products across skincare, body care, hair care, and cosmetics. Tropic has also built its identity around environmental responsibility and social impact rather than focusing exclusively on commercial growth.
Tropic Skincare Ambassador Network
An important part of Tropic’s expansion has been its direct-selling model. The business developed a network of independent Tropic Ambassadors who introduce and sell its products to customers.
The Ambassador community has grown to more than 20,000 people across the UK. This network has helped Tropic develop customer communities outside the conventional retail model while creating opportunities for independent Ambassadors.
Susie Ma Becomes Sole Owner of Tropic Skincare
Another major milestone occurred in 2023, when Susie agreed to buy Lord Sugar’s shareholding in Tropic Skincare. The move eventually returned the company to full founder ownership.
Becoming the sole owner of Tropic Skincare represented an important stage in Susie’s business journey. Lord Sugar’s involvement had played a significant role during the company’s expansion, but Susie ultimately regained complete control of the business she had started as a teenager.
Susie Ma Net Worth and Source of Income
Susie Ma’s wealth was estimated at approximately £73 million in the 2025 Sunday Times Beauty Rich List. The figure placed her among Britain’s wealthy beauty entrepreneurs and reflected the commercial value associated with Tropic Skincare.
Her primary source of wealth is her ownership of Tropic. As founder, CEO, and sole owner, her financial position is closely connected with the performance and value of the company she has spent years developing.
Susie Ma Career Achievements
Susie’s achievements extend beyond Tropic’s financial growth. In 2018, she was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list, recognising her accomplishments as a young entrepreneur.
Her career also demonstrates that a television competition result does not necessarily determine long-term business success. Although she did not win The Apprentice, she used the opportunities that followed her appearance to continue building her company.
Philanthropy and Social Impact
Social responsibility has become an important element of Susie Ma’s business philosophy. Through Tropic, she has supported charitable initiatives designed to improve education and opportunities for children.
Tropic has worked with United World Schools (UWS) and supported educational projects in countries including Cambodia, Nepal, and Madagascar. The company has reported funding millions of days of education through its charitable work.
Sustainability at Tropic Skincare
Environmental responsibility is another significant component of Tropic’s business identity. The company has focused on responsible sourcing, environmentally conscious packaging, and measures intended to reduce the environmental impact of its operations.
Susie’s approach connects business growth with environmental and social responsibilities. This combination has helped differentiate Tropic within a beauty market where consumers increasingly consider how products are made as well as how they perform.
Susie Ma on Dragons’ Den
In 2026, Susie reached another television milestone when she appeared as a guest Dragon on BBC’s Dragons’ Den. The appearance demonstrated how dramatically her professional position had changed since her first major television experience.
On The Apprentice, she was a young entrepreneur competing to prove her commercial abilities. On Dragons’ Den, she appeared from the investor’s side, assessing entrepreneurs and their business ideas. The transition highlighted the growth of her experience, wealth, and influence within British business.
Susie Ma Latest News
One of the most notable recent developments in Susie Ma’s career is her 2026 appearance on Dragons’ Den. The role introduced her to viewers as an investor and established entrepreneur rather than simply as a former Apprentice candidate.
At the same time, Susie continues to lead Tropic Skincare as its founder, CEO, and sole owner. The business remains the central focus of her professional career and the primary source of her entrepreneurial reputation.
Susie Ma’s Legacy
Susie Ma’s developing legacy is closely connected with entrepreneurship, beauty, sustainability, and socially responsible business. Starting a business at 15 and developing it into a substantial beauty company represents an unusual entrepreneurial achievement.
Her journey also carries an important message about setbacks. She did not win The Apprentice, yet that negative result did not define her future. Instead, the connections and opportunities surrounding the programme became part of a much larger business story.
Conclusion
Susie Ma has developed from a teenage market seller into the founder, CEO, and sole owner of Tropic Skincare. Born in Shanghai and raised across different countries, she began selling skincare products at approximately 15 before studying Philosophy and Economics at University College London.
Her career accelerated after The Apprentice, followed by Lord Sugar’s £200,000 investment in Tropic. Years later, Susie regained complete ownership of the company. With an estimated £73 million fortune, more than 20,000 Tropic Ambassadors, philanthropic initiatives, and a guest appearance on Dragons’ Den, her career represents a powerful example of sustained entrepreneurship and business development.
Frequently Asked Questions About Susie Ma
How old is Susie Ma?
Susie Ma was born on November 22, 1988. She is 37 years old as of August 2026.
Where was Susie Ma born?
Susie Ma was born in Shanghai, China. She later spent part of her childhood in Australia before moving to Britain.
What is Susie Ma famous for?
She is best known as the founder and CEO of Tropic Skincare. She also became widely recognised through The Apprentice and later appeared as a guest Dragon on Dragons’ Den.
What is Susie Ma’s net worth?
Susie Ma’s wealth was estimated at approximately £73 million in the 2025 Sunday Times Beauty Rich List.
What did Susie Ma study?
She studied Philosophy and Economics at University College London.
Did Susie Ma win The Apprentice?
No. Susie finished third in Series 7 of The Apprentice in 2011. Lord Alan Sugar later invested £200,000 in Tropic Skincare.
What company does Susie Ma own?
Susie Ma is the founder, CEO, and sole owner of Tropic Skincare.
When did Susie Ma start her business career?
Her entrepreneurial journey began at approximately 15 years old when she started making skincare products and selling them at Greenwich Market in London.
Does Susie Ma have children?
Yes. Susie Ma has one daughter.
What is Susie Ma doing now?
As of 2026, Susie continues to lead Tropic Skincare. She has also expanded her television business profile through her appearance as a guest Dragon on BBC’s Dragons’ Den.
