‘The Apprentice’ has a new winner, and her journey to the top feels like something straight out of a comeback story.
Karishma Vijay, a 28-year-old beauty entrepreneur from Surrey, was crowned the champion of the BBC’s 20th series after outlasting a field of 20 ambitious candidates and delivering when it mattered most: the final boardroom.
“My heart is just so happy and proud. I’ve done it. I’ve done something huge in this life,” she said on BBC following the win.
Her reward? A £250,000 investment and business partnership with Lord Alan Sugar, the ultimate prize for any contestant on the long-running show.
The finale came down to Vijay and fellow finalist Pascha Myhill, who went head-to-head in an all-female showdown. Both candidates were tasked with refining their business ideas, building a brand campaign, and pitching to industry experts before facing Sugar one last time.
Vijay’s proposal centered on expanding her skincare brand, Kishkin—a business she built from personal experience and persistence. Her pitch, widely praised for its clarity and confidence, ultimately tipped the scales in her favor.
Sugar’s decision reflected not just the idea, but the person behind it. He reportedly saw in Vijay a “grafter” with sharp entrepreneurial instincts and the potential to turn investment into profit.
What makes Vijay’s win resonate goes beyond the boardroom.
Before stepping onto the show, she faced a string of personal and professional setbacks—including losing a major shipment tied to her business, wiping out her savings. That moment pushed her to take a chance on The Apprentice, even though she wasn’t a longtime viewer.
Months later, she stood as the last candidate remaining.
“I was so blown away… I couldn’t believe I’d done it,” she said after learning she had won, describing a surreal moment that followed months of waiting to find out the result.
With Sugar’s backing, Vijay plans to scale Kishkin into a global brand, aiming to break into a competitive beauty market with a fresh, consumer-driven approach.
For now, though, the spotlight belongs to a candidate who turned adversity into opportunity—and walked out of the boardroom with both validation and investment.
In a season defined by ambition, Karishma Vijay didn’t just compete.
She closed the deal.
