The Apprentice winner Marnie Swindells reveals ‘everything came crashing down’ after her show success due to a ‘devastating’ breakup

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Marnie Swindells, who won The Apprentice, says her life fell apart after the show because of a really difficult breakup.

The 31-year-old entrepreneur won the show in 2023, earning a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar to launch her boxing gym, Bronx. Initially, she felt incredibly confident after her win, but she soon faced a number of difficulties.

Following her appearance on the show, her eleven-year relationship ended, her boxing gym was burglarized, and she began receiving threatening messages online.

She shared with The Mirror that things weren’t easy after the show, despite appearances. While winning felt amazing at first, she said that shortly after, she faced a series of difficult challenges all at once.

She shared that when her relationship ended, she was suddenly responsible for both her personal life and her work, which was a very difficult experience.

I was under immense pressure. While I was publicly known as Lord Sugar’s new business partner, I was privately dealing with a painful breakup and significant personal difficulties.

She understands many women can relate to appearing strong on the outside while privately struggling with challenges.

Honestly, things felt awful after the breakup. It was like one thing after another – it really felt like life was just constantly hitting me when I was down. First, I had a sudden change in my living situation, then the gym I went to was broken into, and on top of everything, I started getting horrible messages online. It was just a really tough time.

Despite their differences, she spoke highly of Lord Sugar in the interview, mentioning they talk every week and that he’s a very understanding person.

Last year, Marnie defended her show against criticism, responding to those who said its recent contestants weren’t as good as the stars of Love Island, in an interview with The Daily Mail.

Marnie has over 45,000 followers on Instagram, where she posts revealing photos of herself in bikinis and also promotes her fitness gym.

In a recent interview, the entrepreneur pointed out that things are different now, and outdated views about social media are no longer valid – it doesn’t affect a company’s ability to succeed.

She expressed her annoyance with the constant comparison between The Apprentice and Love Island, questioning why people assume you can’t enjoy both shows.

It’s perfectly possible to be confident and take pride in your appearance while also being a successful professional. You don’t have to choose between the two!

Marnie explained that she felt their business approach was outdated and traditional. She pointed out that modern tools, like social media, prioritize appearance and visual appeal as key factors for success.

Your appearance matters in business, and people naturally try to make a good impression through how they present themselves.

She explained that although social media can be helpful for career advancement, her reason for being on the show wasn’t just to gain more followers.

Marnie admitted that Lord Sugar seemed to believe she was still a contestant on The Apprentice. He advised her to ‘stay focused’ at events, leading Marnie to think he worried people might get too caught up in the excitement and lose sight of their goals.

To be fair, it’s a reasonable point. I’m certain there were people on my show who were just seeking fame. Everyone has their own reasons for doing things.

Naturally, Lord Sugar and viewers will be wary of that. But the real test of someone’s character comes after ‘The Apprentice’ ends and the excitement dies down.

Marnie advised aspiring performers that staying true to themselves is the most crucial thing they can do during the show.

She shared that she’s particularly proud of how she acted and everything she accomplished, because she remained honest and true to her own values throughout the experience.

‘If you go in there and you and play a game and be strategic that is on your conscience forever.’

Marnie also pointed out that it’s important to be self-reliant and comfortable being alone. She explained that the environment can be stressful, making it tempting to rely on the group for security.

Staying true to your own beliefs, even when it’s difficult, is incredibly powerful.

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2025-10-27 00:04