Karishma Vijay Crowned Winner of The Apprentice in Landmark Victory
Lord Sugar has officially crowned business owner Karishma Vijay as the champion of The Apprentice's milestone 20th series. The 29-year-old entrepreneur, who triumphed over 22-year-old Pascha Myhill in Thursday night's final, has vowed to leverage her newfound platform to tackle racism and toxic beauty standards within the beauty industry.
A 'Huge Statement' of Representation and Hope
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Karishma described her victory as a "huge statement," highlighting her Indian heritage and upbringing as the daughter of immigrant parents. She emphasized that her win serves as a beacon of hope for those who feel marginalized or overlooked.
"The winner of The Apprentice is the daughter of an immigrant, and that is a huge statement and a light of hope to people who feel things will never change," Karishma declared. "There are girls that don't look like me that do well and girls that look like me that have to really fight tooth and nail for a single opportunity."
She candidly addressed the Eurocentric beauty standards that have long dominated the industry, stating, "I have been locked out of that list for such a long time because of what I look like. I am not conventionally the beauty standard, the Eurocentric beauty standard that people go for." However, she affirmed her relatable appeal, noting, "I am the girl next door, and people actually buy what the girl next door talks about."
Securing Investment and Personal Stability
During the final, Karishma impressed Lord Sugar and a panel of experts with a dynamic pitch for her beauty brand, Kishkin Skin, ultimately securing his £250,000 investment. This financial boost is set to transform her personal circumstances, after months of sleeping on a mattress at her parents' home in Croydon while struggling to make ends meet.
Karishma revealed that her decision to apply for The Apprentice was driven by sheer "survival mode." Despite amassing a substantial social media following of nearly one million across Instagram and TikTok, she faced challenges converting viewers into consistent customers for her acne-combating beauty elixir.
"When I applied for The Apprentice, it was a massive survival move for me," she explained. "I had no money in my bank account, the rent was due, what's my next move? I couldn't sell anything." Her aspirations extend beyond luxury, focusing instead on comfort and stability. "I don't want to be stressing about rent. I am a very normal person who's had very s*** cards dealt to her, and I have tried my best to turn it around—and now I have won The Apprentice."
Overcoming Adversity and Flipping the Script
Karishma's journey is rooted in her family's experiences of both success and hardship. Her father, regarded as a "legend" in India for his work across various trades in Delhi, faced struggles after relocating to the UK, at times selling watches in Trafalgar Square to support the family. Alongside a challenging job market, they encountered racism, including from customers at her father's convenience store.
Remarkably, Karishma's Apprentice success has even won over former detractors. She shared an anecdote about "the most racist man in Croydon," a 92-year-old who once frequented her father's shop with prejudiced remarks but now plans to attend her watch party. "I must be forgiving to the people that got it wrong who are older," she said. "I'm not saying I fixed racism overnight but one man at a time and we did that. I have brown skin and that is what it is. This is how you flip the script."
A Personal Mission Rooted in Experience
Karishma's passion for her beauty brand stems from her own battle with cystic acne at age 18, during which she tried countless products that failed to deliver results. This emotional struggle, where she avoided mirrors due to distress, fueled her determination to create Kishkin Skin.
During her final pitch, she boldly challenged established brands, telling industry experts, "I bought into your lies," to highlight their shortcomings. Her goal is to offer equal representation and opportunities in the influencer industry, which she describes as "very toxic."
"I'll be doing my own brand trips—I'll be doing brand trips that are inclusive and giving opportunities to people that look like me and don't get the work but need it," she asserted. "They took the risk; they sat in front of a camera and put it all out there for the world to see. And what? The brands don't see their potential."
A Week of Transformative Milestones
This past week has been exceptionally transformative for Karishma. Beyond winning The Apprentice and celebrating her 29th birthday, she also announced her engagement, sharing a "hardest soft launch" on Instagram with her fiancé, a videographer and drone pilot she met four years ago. "There's a big Indian wedding coming!" she exclaimed, looking forward to this new chapter alongside her business success.
With Lord Sugar's investment and a powerful platform, Karishma Vijay is poised to not only grow Kishkin Skin but also champion inclusivity and challenge deep-seated biases in the beauty world.
