Lord Sugar crowns Karishma Vijay Apprentice winner as she vows to tackle racism and toxic beauty standards declaring: ‘Someone who looks like me winning on the BBC is a huge statement’

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Karishma Vijay won The Apprentice, and she plans to use her newfound recognition to fight against racism and unrealistic beauty expectations.

The 29-year-old business owner, who recently won the BBC show, described her victory as significant, particularly because of her Indian background and being raised by immigrant parents. She told the Daily Mail that it was a proud moment for her heritage.

Karishma won the final against Pascha Myhill, the 22-year-old youngest contestant, on Thursday night. Both Karishma and Pascha presented their business plans to Lord Sugar and a panel of judges.

Oh my gosh, I was screaming when Karishma got the investment! Seriously, her pitch for Kishkin Skin was incredible – so energetic and passionate. And Lord Sugar actually gave her the £250,000! I knew she could do it! I’ve been following the show for years, and this was a perfect moment – the 20th series just got its star!

Winning this competition means she’ll finally be able to buy her own home, after living with her parents in Croydon for months. It also gives her a platform to advocate for more diversity and equal opportunities in an industry where people of her background have often been ignored.

Karishma highlighted that the winner of The Apprentice is the child of an immigrant, calling it a powerful and inspiring moment, especially for those who believe change is impossible.

Some girls have an easier time succeeding than others, and those who share my background often have to work much harder just to get a chance.

I haven’t been able to participate in that list for a while because of my appearance. I don’t fit the typical beauty standard – the one that often focuses on European features – and it’s been frustrating.

‘I am the girl next door, and people actually buy what the girl next door talks about.’

Karishma explained she applied for The Apprentice because her business was struggling. She was in ‘survival mode’ after failing to make enough online sales of her acne-fighting beauty product.

Despite gaining a large online following – nearly a million people on Instagram and TikTok – she struggled to turn those viewers into regular customers. This caused her increasing worry about earning enough money to maintain her current way of life.

She shared that applying for The Apprentice was a desperate attempt to save her situation. She was completely broke, facing an overdue rent payment, and felt she had no other options. She didn’t have anything she could sell to make ends meet.

I’m tired of living like this – I need a place of my own, and I’m dreaming of something really nice. I don’t want to keep making do with temporary arrangements like sleeping on a mattress on the floor.

I’m sleeping on a mattress on the floor for now because I want to wait until I have my own home to buy a proper bed. Once I do, I’ll get a headboard, nice pillows, the whole setup. But until then, a bed doesn’t make sense without a home to put it in.

All this moving is really draining – constantly buying furniture just to end up in another rental property where we don’t even own the place. It’s discouraging. I’m determined to provide the best for my family when I’ve worked hard enough to earn it.

I’m not driven by wealth, possessions, or status. Having nice things doesn’t feel like a real achievement to me. What I truly value is feeling comfortable and secure in my life.

I just want to avoid the constant worry about paying rent. I’ve faced a lot of difficult challenges in life, but I’ve always done my best to overcome them, and now, I’m thrilled to have won The Apprentice.

Karishma explained how her family has experienced both highs and lows in business over the years.

Her father is considered a legend in India because of his diverse work in Delhi. This tradition started with her great-grandfather, who earned a living selling dried fruits in Afghanistan.

When the family moved to the UK, her father had difficulty finding steady work and sometimes had to sell watches in London’s Trafalgar Square to earn money.

Karishma explained that, in addition to a tough job search, her family dealt with racism, sometimes even from customers at her father’s store.

Even with the challenges she faced, she mentioned that her time on The Apprentice surprisingly earned praise from someone she described as ‘the most racist man in Croydon,’ who complimented her business and strong work ethic.

She told me about a man who regularly visited her father’s liquor store and was, in her opinion, the most racist person in Croydon.

He’d regularly visit the shop for groceries – bread, eggs, water – and each time, he’d make remarks about my father’s background, pointing out that he was an immigrant, had brown skin, and spoke with an accent.

Someone special is joining my viewing party on Thursday – a 92-year-old who’s a huge fan of The Apprentice! I’m even arranging a taxi for him. I think it’s important to be understanding with older fans if they make mistakes.

I didn’t solve racism instantly, but we made progress by changing hearts and minds, one person at a time. As a brown-skinned person, I embody that change, and that’s how we turn things around.

Karishma won over Lord Sugar with her smart business sense and intelligence, but also by sharing the heartfelt story behind her beauty company.

She developed cystic acne when she was only 18 and tried many different products hoping to clear it up, but nothing seemed to work.

While speaking to top industry leaders, including representatives from Boots, she confidently criticized their products, stating they hadn’t met her needs.

Karishma’s severe acne deeply affected her emotionally. She often avoided looking in mirrors because she didn’t want to see her reflection.

I was a teenager struggling with severe acne, and I’d tried countless products recommended by experts with no success. I talked about this frustrating experience in the last episode.

It wasn’t a laughing matter – they were laughing because they agreed with what I said. I admitted I’d believed their deception, and I was being truthful, even if it upset them.

Having severe acne as a teenager really damaged my self-esteem. It was incredibly upsetting, and I avoided looking at myself in the mirror. It felt like every single day was a bad skin day when you’re dealing with cystic acne.

Karishma’s brand, Kishkin, is her way of making sure everyone feels represented, especially her large online community.

She thinks the world of social media influencers should be more inclusive, offering opportunities like sponsorships and travel to people from all backgrounds and with different body types.

Karishma explained that she started using social media because she felt completely alone and unsupported. At the time, she noticed a lack of representation – no one who looked like her – and the platforms were filled with heavily edited, unrealistic images focused on achieving a ‘perfect’ appearance.

Let’s be real, I’m not blessed with ‘perfect’ features or a naturally small waist, and honestly, you’d be amazed at how much work – and money! – goes into achieving those looks these days. It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to what you see online, but as someone who looks at trends for a living, I can tell you the influencer world can be pretty unhealthy. It’s important to remember that a lot of what you see isn’t reality.

Growing up, I didn’t see anyone who represented me, so I started making makeup tutorials, even though I struggled with acne. It took a while – about two years – to gain a small following, but eventually, people started connecting with what I was doing.

I’m planning my own collaborations with brands, and I want to make sure they include people who share my background and haven’t traditionally gotten these opportunities, but really need them. These talented individuals have already put themselves out there, sharing their stories with the world, yet brands aren’t recognizing their potential.

This past week has been life-changing for Karishma.

She’s had quite the year! In addition to winning Lord Sugar’s investment and turning 29, she recently got engaged.

Oh my gosh, you guys, she finally announced it on Instagram! I was practically glued to my phone waiting! It’s happening – she’s getting married! She posted the cutest pictures of her and him dancing on the beach, and even though you can’t see his face, they just looked so happy together! I’m seriously freaking out with excitement for them both!

She explained that they were back at the beach where they first met while working on a film shoot. He was the videographer and drone operator, and she was the director.

We’ve been together for nearly four years, and he’s four years older. I’m looking for someone a bit more settled and experienced than I am. While he isn’t a business person, I really value his intuition. And we’re planning a large Indian wedding!

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2026-04-17 00:05