News imageBusiness Daily, Founders: Nasty Gal's "Girl Boss" on shoplifting, empire building and life after bankruptcy

Business Daily

Founders: Nasty Gal's "Girl Boss" on shoplifting, empire building and life after bankruptcy

26 August 2026

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Sophia Amoruso, founded of Nasty Gal after a successful stint of eBay upselling. It grew into a company worth hundreds of millions and allowed its founder to claim the title of original "girlboss" but eventually filed for bankruptcy.

In the space of a few years, she had swapped shoplifting items to sell on Amazon and eBay for clinking champagne flutes in the South of France, schmoozing investors and having her book turned into a Netflix series and dealing with unhappy employees. Did swift success stifle what Nasty Gal could have become?

Presenter: Leanna Byrne

Producers: Niamh McDermott, Barbara George, Aleeza Siddiq and Victoriya Holland.

(Photo credit: Sophie Amoruso/Supplied)

You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk