I won The Apprentice and I’m sick of being compared to a Love Island star! Marnie Swindells insists you CAN be sexy and taken seriously in business as she defends influencer-heavy lineup

The Apprentice winner Marnie Swindells has hit back at critics who compared the show’s lineup to the cast of Love Island. 

Marnie, who used Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment to open Bronx boxing gym last year, has more than 50,000 Instagram followers and litters her page with racy bikini snaps alongside promotion for her gym. 

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, the 29-year-old entrepreneur explained that times have changed and old fashioned attitudes towards social media need to be changed as it has no impact on your business ability. 

She said: ‘I’m so bored of hearing The Apprentice/Love Island comparison. Since when did those two things become mutually exclusive?

‘You can be hot, sexy, attractive, care about how you look and be an incredible businesswoman or man! Those two things don’t have to be separated.’ 

Marnie, who used Lord Sugar ‘s £250,000 investment to open Bronx boxing gym last year, has more than 50,000 Instagram followers and litters her page with racy bikini snaps 

Marnie continued: ‘I think it’s a very old school, stuck in the past way of approaching business. Some of the tools and avenues to success social media and social media is all about how you look.

‘So how you look is an important tool in business. Of course that would be reflected in how people present themselves.’

She added that while social media is an important tool for getting ahead she didn’t appear on the show to simply boost her follower count.  

Marnie confessed: ‘I think Lord Sugar might have thought that was when I first came out of The Apprentice. He said to me, ‘make sure you stay focused going to all these events’ so I think he probably does fear that people will get carried away and swept away with the moment. 

‘In fairness to him, it’s a valid concern. I’m sure there were people even on my series that were there for fame. People have different motivations. 

‘So of course Lord Sugar and the public would be cautious of that. But once The Apprentice is over and the glitz and glamour of that has subsided that’s the true assessment of what people are really about.’

Marnie went on to offer advice to the 2024 lineup for The Apprentice. 

Ahead of the series 18 launch on Thursday, Marnie told future stars that the most important thing they can do on the show is retain their integrity. 

She explained: ‘One of the things I’m most proud of is everything that I did in there, I did with a clear conscience. I know that I was honest and true to myself.

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

Marnie shared: ‘I’m s o bored of hearing The Apprentice/Love Island comparison. You can be hot, sexy, attractive, care about how you look and be an incredible businesswoman or man!’ (right, Love Island’s Kady McDermott) 

Marnie opened Bronx Boxing Club in Camberwell in March and the business is ‘flourishing’ and making a profit. She’s using Lord Sugar’s investment to open up a second floor

Marnie added: ‘You also have to be prepared to be alone and be independent. It’s such a tense environment at times it’s easy to get swept into the group dynamic and feel like you’re safer in numbers. 

‘But standing firm and again going back to being true to what you think rather than what’s easiest and most comfortable and is the most powerful thing.’ 

Clearly, Lord Sugar was impressed with her character as well as her business plan as he picked her to be his latest business partner after she beat salon owner Rochelle Anthony in the BBC One show’s second consecutive all-female final. 

Marnie impressed Lord Sugar during the winner-takes-all task after pitching her boxing gym idea to hundreds of industry experts at London venue the Grand Connaught Rooms. 

Speaking about her life doing a ‘360’ after winning show, she mused: ‘Starting a business in its own right is a daunting task but doing it in the public eye with Lord Sugar a billionaire as your new business partner is a lot of pressure!

‘It’s been the steepest learning curve and gone from zero to a hundred but it’s been exciting.’

Marnie opened Bronx Boxing Club in Camberwell, south London in March and revealed the business is ‘flourishing’ and making a profit. 

She’s using Lord Sugar’s investment to open up a second floor and make the space ‘even bigger and better’ while adding a sauna and a weights gym. 

Lord Sugar will no doubt be pleased that they’re also adding a café to the gym space, given his history investing in bakeries and dessert parlours. 

Marnie shared: ‘I think will really change the game for Bronx as a business and where we go. 

‘We can have more members and start developing what we represent which is a community gym that goes beyond boxing.’ 

Season 18 of The Apprentice will hit screens next week, with 18 candidates vying for Lord Alan Sugar’s attentions and investments, alongside his advisors Baroness Karren Brady and Tim Campbell MBE.

The 2024 intake battling for the £250,000 investment and mentorship are as varied and bloodthirsty as ever, with the candidates ranging from a UK Garage artist to two pie company owners to a pharmacist to a yoga teacher.

Speaking about this season, Lord Sugar told The Daily Mail: ‘It’s a good season because we’ve got a whole array of qualifications: doctors, pharmacists, accountants, people with food businesses, we’ve got a lot of good people. 

‘I’m always looking for somebody who’s focused. I’m observing whether they get it. That’s all.’

The series kicks off in style as candidates head straight to the Scottish Highlands, tasked with a corporate hospitality challenge where the men’s and women’s teams compete to put on luxury away days for corporate clients in the hope of impressing Lord Sugar.

Season 18 of The Apprentice will hit screens next week, with 18 candidates vying for Lord Alan Sugar’s attentions and investments, alongside his advisors Karren Brady and Tim Campbell 

Those who make it through the first boardroom will face a host of equally challenging tasks over the series – from a virtual escape room through to creating children’s cereal.

There will also be a hop over the channel to Jersey for the classic discount buying task, and further afield to Budapest for a tourism challenge. 

And of course, The Apprentice wouldn’t be The Apprentice without the ever-popular TV shopping channel task.

The Apprentice returns at 9pm on Thursday February 1 on BBC One and iPlayer 

THE APPRENTICE 2024: MEET THE CANDIDATES

Amina Khan

Occupation: Pharmacist and Business Owner

Location: Ilford

Amina has been a qualified pharmacist for over a decade, in which time she has created a successful skincare and supplements business.  

Flo Edwards

Occupation: Recruitment Consultant

Location: London

Flo revealed that she started her own consultancy, making her ready to tackle Lord Sugar. 

Foluso Falade

Occupation: Project Manager

Location: Manchester

Foluso brands herself the ‘Mary Poppins of business’ and revealed that her aim is to run the first Social Enterprise to win Lord Sugar’s investment.

Maura Rath

Occupation: Owner, Yoga Company

Location: Wexford

Maura is taking the edge as a yoga teacher into her appearance. 

Noor Bouziane

Occupation: Owner, Jewellery Company

Location: Liverpool

Ambitious owner of a premium jewellery company Noor professed that she will generate a wealth of cash for Lord Sugar thanks to the unique nature of her business. 

Onyeka Nweze

Occupation: Chartered Company Secretary

Location: London

Onyeka revealed her plan is to be the first tech business investment made by Lord Sugar in eighteen series.

Rachel Woolford

Occupation: Boutique Fitness Studio Owner

Location: Leeds

Business-minded from a very young age, Rachel has plenty of experience managing her work independently. As well as her hard work in the office, she also shares her fitness triumphs on social media including running the New York Marathon in 2019. 

Raj Chohan

Occupation: Mortgage Broker

Location: Leamington Spa

Raj admits that while she is a grafter, she is determined to have fun while working – as illustrated on her fun-filled Instagram account. A self-confessed ‘dog with a bone’ when meeting her targets, she wants to hit a gap in the market and will do whatever it takes for success.

Sam Saadet

Occupation: Pre and Post Natal Fitness Coach

Location: Essex

Sam revealed her friends call her a real Del Boy for being ‘part-wheeler dealer’ as well as her eye for a bargain. An online fitness coach with a focus on mums and mums-to-be, she’s hoping to prove her business brain to Lord Sugar.

 Dr. Asif Munaf

Occupation: Owner, Wellness Brand

Location: Sheffield

Asif boldly describes himself as ‘Beauty, brains, body and business’ on his CV. The qualified doctor’s business plan focuses on vitamins and supplements.

Jack Davies

Occupation: Recruitment Director

Location: Bristol

As well as his work as a recruitment director, Jack also acts as a food reviewer, meaning he is ready with diverse knowledge and skills for challenges.

Oliver Medforth

Occupation: Sales Executive

Location: Yorkshire

Oliver’s background in selling at markets has him looking forward to the famous sales tasks. He is often seen plugging his wares on social media – particularly his gin range. 

Paul Bowen

Occupation: Director, Pie Company

Location: Lancashire

One of two pie company experts entering the process, Paul prides his business on big name clients such as Manchester City Football Club.

Dr. Paul Midha

Occupation: Owner, Dental Group

Location: Leeds

Paul started his practice using every resource he had. Used to extensive learning from studying as a dentist, Paul is set on Lord Sugar’s investment and all that he can teach him about the world of business.

Phil Turner

Occupation: Owner, Pie Company

Location: Bognor Regis

Phil was awarded ‘Supreme Pie Champion’ in 2020 for his family-owned pie business, which dates back to the 1930s. He’s hoping to prove himself to Lord Sugar and start making him some real dough.

Steve Darken

Occupation: Management Consultant

Location: London

Steve claims that he shares Lord Sugar’s sharp mind and sense of humour. Consulting for ‘some of the biggest companies in the world’, he’s ready to take on the boardroom.

Tre Lowe

Occupation: Music & Wellness Entrepreneur

Location: London

Tre has had his previous tastes of fame, including in the UK garage band named Architechs. His Instagram account is a who’s who of the showbiz world, including snaps with Simon Cowell and Emily Ratajkowski. 

Virdi Singh Mazaria

Occupation: Music Producer

Location: Leicester

DJ Virdi wants to introduce Lord Sugar to world he’s yet to invest in – music. His life is certainly filled with luxury as he shares frequent snaps on flash holidays and in front of pricey motors.