The Apprentice EXCLUSIVE: WINNER Sian Gabbidon chats girl power after final catty boardroom showdown with rival Camilla Ainsworth and reveals how she handles ‘brutal’ Lord Sugar
On Sunday night’s final, Sian Gabbidon was announced as the winner of The Apprentice 2018, and was officially hired as Lord Sugar’s new business partner, receiving a £250k injection in the process.
Before the finale aired, the swimwear designer spoke to MailOnline about her rivalry with runner-up Camilla Ainsworth and explained how having a backbone, and the constant support of her boyfriend, means she can handle ‘brutal’ Lord Sugar.
During the tense final episode, Sian and Camilla once again let rip, with scathing comments bashing their businesses thrown across the boardroom at each other.
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Leading lady: On Sunday night’s final, Sian Gabbidon was announced as the winner of The Apprentice 2018, and was officially hired as Lord Sugar’s new business partner
Addressing the cattiness with the Nut Milk entrepreneur, Sian admitted she didn’t go on the BBC show to make friends, and asserted that it’s sometimes necessary to be ‘ruthless’ to win.
She said: ‘We’re business people and we’re also friends, and what we’re great at doing is turning into business women when we’re on task and in the boardroom, and off camera everyone was friends and we were cool.
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‘But in that boardroom, we were fighting for ourselves and I came into this process on my own.
‘I didn’t come in it to make friends, I came in it to win, and there was no way I was gonna think “Oh I don’t wanna offend anyone” I was like “this is what I have to do” and I do believe that you have to be a bit ruthless sometime.
Rivals: Before the finale aired, the swimwear designer spoke to MailOnline about her rivalry with runner-up Camilla Ainsworth
‘And, I did believe that when I was talking to Lord Sugar I wanted him to see that everything I’ve done was on my own and I’ve spent two years of my life working on this business and putting everything into it, and I wanted that to come across.
‘But, off camera, we’d hug it out and we didn’t even talk about it because we knew what it was and we knew had to do it.’
Despite finding it difficult to be critiqued, Sian claimed she was prepared to handle whatever was thrown at her.
‘It hurts to hear negatives about your business, but I was very confident in my business, in myself, and I had my answers ready.
‘In that boardroom I thought “I’m ready to take on any criticism that anybody had – whether it was Camilla, Lord Sugar, Karen, Claude or in those brutal interviews – I was ready to give an answer.
Ouch!: During the tense final episode, Sian and Camilla once again let rip, with scathing comments bashing their businesses thrown across the boardroom
I’m not gonna go home and cry about it because I’m a businesswoman and I can handle criticism. But with Camilla I thought, no I’ll fight back and I’ll say what I think and I’ll get my point across.’
The designer also claimed that after tearing each other apart in the boardroom, being able to hug it out and still remain friends demonstrates ‘real girl power.’
She said: ‘For it to be an all-girl final, we were proud of ourselves for getting that far, but we came into this process on our own, and this is a competition.
‘It’s not like coming on a show to make friends with people, and we were fully aware of that.
‘So I fully understand the girl power thing and we’ll both say that to this day, but we’re in a competition to win. It’s what you have to do as part of the process, so we did it.
Brutal: Addressing the cattiness with the Nut Milk entrepreneur, Sian admitted she didn’t go on the BBC show to make friends
‘I think if anything it actually shows camaraderie now that we’re still friends, we’ve moved on, we didn’t have an argument when we got outside. We hugged it out and moved on and I think that shows girl power.’
Discussing her future plans, Sian didn’t hold back, passionately expressing her desire to ‘take over the world’. The Leeds-born designer admitted that now she’s won The Apprentice the sky is the limit.
She said: ‘I’ve always just wanted to be successful. Winning this investment and having Lord Sugar as a business partner, the success level has now changed, massively.
It’s no longer like “I wanna earn a decent wage and be happy,” I wanna take over the world now!’
Sian also teased that, with Lord Sugar by her side, she’s already having thoughts about expanding beyond swimwear.
Girl power: The designer also claimed that after tearing each other apart in the boardroom, being able to hug it out and still remain friends demonstrates ‘real girl power’
Fashion empire: Despite winning the final task with her re-branded SYO (Style Your Own) swimwear label, Sian has now reverted the brand back to its original name Sian Marie
‘Together, as a force, we could really do some crazy things with the business. That’s what I want to do, so I’m excited.
‘I think it’d be silly to rule out doing more than just swimwear. As a designer I’m not a one trick pony, I can do anything.’
And the raven haired beauty admitted that she has no plans to take her foot off the pedal after winning the show, asserting that in fact she’s eager to work even harder under the pressure from ‘brutal’ Lord Sugar.
Sian said: ‘We’ve had a catch up. I massively respect Lord Sugar. I love how honest he is and how brutal he is.
‘He says it how it is and as a Yorkshire girl that’s how I’ve been brought up. And I’ve got a backbone, so I can handle him.
Watch out!: Discussing her future plans, Sian didn’t hold back, passionately expressing her desire to ‘take over the world’
‘And if he says “that’s a bad idea, don’t do it” I have to listen to him. I’m looking forward to use bouncing off each other and making a success of the business.
‘I like pressure and there’s gonna be pressure, so there’s no way I’m gonna be sat thinking “I’ve won it now, I can relax,” this is gonna be the first day of the rest of my life now. This is real life. It’s gonna be a crazy future.’
Sian described the gruelling process of taking part in The Apprentice as ’emotional,’ and credited her boyfriend with being her ‘backbone’ throughout.
She also and admitted, without hesitation, that she’s patiently waiting for him to propose after eight years together.
She said: ‘The whole process is emotional. You watch it on television and you think “these fools, they’ve come up with these names up and this that and the other,” but we’re all very strong candidates.
Candid: Despite finding it difficult to be critiqued, Sian claimed she was prepared to handle whatever was thrown at her
‘Everyone forms an opinion which is fine, but to be in it and see how hard it is, you can’t even put it into words. I’m never gonna judge anyone on the show or make an opinion of them again, because I know how hard it is.
‘Don’t underestimate the process because it’s a lot harder than it looks. Early mornings and long days.
‘I have a boyfriend who’s been incredible throughout this process. I’ve been with him for eight years and I’m very happily with him. I’m just waiting for my ring now.
‘He’s been amazing. I’m an only child so I’m really close to them too. And everyone has been a massive support. I couldn’t have done it without him because he’s been my backbone throughout.
‘He’s been great while I’ve been away. We’ve been together for a long time, but in your head you think “yeah he’s definitely the one, no doubt about it.”
Romance: She revealed: ‘I have a boyfriend who’s been incredible throughout this process. I’ve been with him for eight years and I’m very happily with him. I’m just waiting for my ring now.’
‘He’s an entrepreneur too. He’s a bar owner. That’s why I think we’ve managed to be as happy as we are. We both work hard and the bits of time that we get off, we’re out doing things and enjoying ourselves.
‘We don’t even argue. I know people will be like “she’s lying” but we don’t. We don’t have time to argue, we’re too busy.’
And life for Sian is about to get even busier, after winning the £250k investment from Lord Sugar, as they work together on her brand.
Despite winning the final task with her re-branded SYO (Style Your Own) swimwear label, Sian has now reverted the brand back to its original name Sian Marie – with Lord Sugar’s approval, of course.
She explained: ‘The SYO brand was just part of the final task, and was right for the task. But looking at it now in the real world, I want to be the brand.
‘I think it’s a fab opportunity to keep my name in it and I prefer Sian Marie. It was always Sian Marie before. Lord Sugar sees the potential in it, and me.’
Busy bee: And life for Sian is about to get even busier, after winning the £250k investment from Lord Sugar, as they work together on her brand
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