Karishma Vijay Crowned Winner of The Apprentice 2026
The grand finale of The Apprentice 2026 has concluded with Karishma Vijay emerging victorious, securing a £250,000 investment from Lord Alan Sugar. The 28-year-old beauty business owner from Surrey triumphed over fellow finalist Pascha Myhill in an intense all-female showdown, praised by Lord Sugar for their 'outstanding' business proposals.
From Rock Bottom to Triumph: A Personal Journey
Vijay expressed overwhelming gratitude for the win, describing it as a life-changing moment. 'I actually can’t believe my life right now. Things keep happening. I’m just having a really good week,' she said. Reflecting on her past, she revealed a tumultuous period: 'A couple of years ago, I was single, I called off a wedding, ran away from it all – very dramatic, Bollywood movie-esque.' Now engaged and celebrating her victory, she added, 'Now, I’m here with my happy ending and also a lot of money in the bank account.'
She detailed the emotional rollercoaster of the competition, noting that contestants must wait up to six months after filming to learn the results. 'Having all that waiting time, it was a lot of anxiety,' Vijay shared. 'I’m just happy with the outcome. I’m so over the moon. And I’m just so happy to have all these opportunities now, it’s insane. My life has just really turned around.'
Overcoming Adversity and Finding Gratitude
Vijay opened up about hitting 'rock bottom' in recent years, stating, 'The last three or four years, my life has been nothing short of a s*** storm. Everything that you can imagine going wrong went wrong, and it was like, “How am I surviving this?”' She credited The Apprentice for her turnaround, saying, 'I felt incredibly unlucky. Then I found this show. I’m just so eternally grateful for all of it. Had I not hit rock bottom, it would have never been this unreal. I wouldn’t have probably been this grateful if it had come easily to me.'
Upon hearing the news of her win, Vijay recounted, '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 – I can’t believe I’ve gone and done it after not having watched the show, I feel like that’s so cheeky.'
Business Expansion and Cultural Pride
The investment will be used to expand her beauty business, Kishkin. Vijay also highlighted her cultural background, sharing, 'Being from the kind of community I’m from, they told my dad, “There’s no way you’re going to be able to raise these two girls as a man, as a single parent”.' With pride, she added, 'My older sister is a doctor, and I’m the winner of The Apprentice. What more can a dad ask for?'
Praise for Fellow Finalist and Show Legacy
Vijay praised Pascha Myhill, saying, 'I have so much love for Pascha. I think she’s incredibly inspiring and the most deserving. A lot of people were questioning her place in the final and I just won’t have it. She deserves a seat at that table, 100%.' The Apprentice continues to be available for streaming on BBC iPlayer, maintaining its status as a premier business competition show.
