Kamal Ghorui
Indian-origin entrepreneur Karishma Vijay has won the 2026 edition of the UK reality show The Apprentice, securing a £250,000 investment after being chosen as the winner by Lord Alan Sugar.The Apprentice is a BBC business reality show where contestants compete over several weeks through tough business tasks for an investment from Lord Sugar, a British business tycoon who has been the main judge since 2005.Karishma Vijay, the 28-year-old who is based in the UK, beat fellow finalist Pascha Myhill in an all-female final. The last task saw both contestants develop a brand and advertising campaign for their business ideas before pitching directly to Lord Sugar and a panel of industry experts.Reacting to her win, Vijay said, “I actually can’t believe my life right now. Things keep happening. I’m just having a really good week.”She described the moment she found out about her win and said, “I was so blown away, so shocked – but I kept it very cool. Then, I got in my car and I was screaming. It was just insane.”Vijay revealed that contestants have to wait months after filming to learn the result. She said, “Having all that waiting time, it was a lot of anxiety. I’m just happy with the outcome… my life has just really turned around.”She has reportedly decided to use the investment to grow her beauty brand, Kishkin, with plans to scale it further. “It’s going to be a brand that really made it, with young girls queuing up to buy it,” she said.Her achievement meant a lot to her family. Speaking about her background, Vijay revealed that she was raised by a single father in a traditional Indian household where expectations were often low.“They told my dad there’s no way you’re going to be able to raise these two girls as a single parent,” she said. “My older sister is a doctor, and I’m the winner of The Apprentice. What more can a dad ask for?”Vijay also praised her fellow finalist and said, “I have so much love for Pascha. I think she’s incredibly inspiring and the most deserving.”Her win marks a major milestone in her journey as she now steps into a business partnership with Lord Sugar, backed by a £250,000 investment.
