Millions of TV viewers will see Manx entrepreneur Stephanie Kelsey step inside the fearsome Dragons’ Den as she pitches her sand-removing product.

She is the founder of island business Beachpowder Limited.

Ms Kelsey, who once was on a Department for Enterprise business mentoring scheme, will take Beach Powder and Beach Powder Shimmer, two talc-free powders the entrepreneur designed to remove sand from the skin, into the Den in the hope of gaining financial backing for the products.

Beachpowder started trading in 2019.

Before going away for filming last September in Manchester, Ms Kelsey practised her pitch on her daughters Graihagh and Breesha.

She said: ’My two girls aren’t nearly as scary as Deborah Meaden or Peter Jones though.

’I don’t think anything could have prepared me for walking into the Den and seeing the actual Dragons staring back at me.’

This is the 18th series of the long-running programme, which has moved to BBC1 this year from BBC2, after series 17 boasted a peak of 3.4 million viewers.

As well as Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones, who have been in the popular show the longest, the other dragons are Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies and Tej Lalvani.

Ms Kelsey said: ’Spending time on the beautiful beaches of the Isle of Man was what inspired me to create Beach Powder and Beach Powder Shimmer, so I hope the island gets a mention in the episode.’

The Douglas woman added that what started as a local business has quickly gone global however and the sand-removing products are now available across the United States as well as throughout the UK and in the island.

She added: ’I was inspired to invent products that instantly remove sand from the skin because I love the beach but I don’t like taking it home with me.

’My products get rid of sand effortlessly which means no sand in the car, no sand on your hands when you’re trying to picnic on the beach and no sand on your feet when it’s time to put your shoes back on at the end of your beach day.

’They’re eco-friendly and totally talc-free so they’re completely safe for adults, children and babies.’

Last summer Ms Kelsey, who had previously run her own French tuition business, told the Isle of Man Examiner’s Business News: ’I’m really proud to be Manx and I often say that Beach Powder was inspired by the beautiful beaches of the Isle of Man which is absolutely true.’

She spoke to us at the time on the beach at Port Erin where she had sponsored a beach bar outside the Cosy Nook.

’Often people are surprised when people realise we have beautiful beaches, and then I mention the UNESCO biosphere and that’s why I’m determined the products are eco-friendly.

’So I publicise the Isle of Man as much as I can when people ask where I’m from.’

She also revealed that at a trade show in pre-Covid days, she once bumped into Leigh-Anne from the girl group Little Mix, and the pop star sang the praises of the product.

The last series saw a total of 27 investments made with nearly £2m pledged in the Den.

Since its doors first opened in 2005 more than 1,000 entrepreneurs have entered and there has been a total of 18 Dragons, who have made 276 deals and pledged over £22m in investments.

Ms Kelsey is sworn to secrecy about how her pitch went and the episode featuring her will be broadcast on Thursday, May 13, at 8pm on BBC1.