You're HIRED! NHS doctor Leah Totton WINS The Apprentice after impressing Lord Sugar with her plans for cosmetic clinics... beating Luisa Zissman in all-female final
PUBLISHED: 21:07, 17 July 2013 | UPDATED: 22:49, 17 July 2013
Leah Totton has won the ninth series of The Apprentice.
After beating off stiff competition from baking entrepreneur Luisa Zissman in an all-female final, the 24-year-old NHS doctor has secured a business partnership with Lord Sugar, as well as a £250,000 investment in her business plan for a chain of cosmetic clinics across the UK.
Battling it out with the help of their former team-mates, Leah and Luisa went head-to-head over the course-of three days to craft their respective brands, websites, promotional videos and produce launch campaigns for their businesses.
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Success story: NHS doctor Leah Totton was crowned winner of the ninth series of The Apprentice on Wednesday night
Leah was off to a winning start from the outset, securing all of Luisa's first choices of former candidates for her own team as she prepared for her final showdown.
Still remaining positive, Luisa said: 'Leah has taken the strong players, but as long as I can communicate my vision to them, I’m certain that we’ll get it done.
'I think I edge it slightly over Leah from a branding, website building, pitching perspective, so she perhaps does need a stronger team around her.'
You're hired! Leah Totton has won the ninth series of The Apprentice after impressing Lord Sugar with her business plan for a chain of cosmetic clinics across the UK
His final verdict: Lord Sugar praised Leah as 'a very determined young woman', and admitted she was the 'most interesting' candidate of the series
Risky business: Lord Sugar declared he was willing the take a risk with Leah's business model
The finger of doom! For the only time in the series, Lord Sugar's famous point signalled good news
Number one! Leah couldn't believe her luck after beating off stiff competition from 15 other candidates to win The Apprentice 2013
Spending three days creating their brand visions, everything hinged on a final presentation to Lord Sugar and 100 industry experts from the worlds of cupcakes and cosmetic surgery.
While Leah's pitch went absolutely without hitch, the same could not be said for Luisa, who was left in floods of tears after she came unstuck on a question regarding her expected profit in five years’ time.
After a cooling down period, the girls were asked back into the boardroom to prepare as the self-made millionaire delivered his ultimate verdict.
Disappointed: Runner-up Luisa Zissman joked that Lord Sugar was the first man to ever say no to her
Gracious: Despite being disappointed to have lost out, Luisa was happy for her friend Leah, who she described as 'an amazing person'
Before making his final decision, Lord Sugar asked Leah and Luisa to leave the boardroom so he could consult with show aides Karren Brady and Nick Hewer.
Lord Sugar stated: 'Two completely different business models. As far as Leah is concerned, she doesn’t look like she wants to listen. It’s all very well being adamant about what you want to do but she will need to listen.'
Karren, who was impressed by the young professional from Belfast, responded to his concerns: 'I have to say, having observed her closely, she is an incredibly bright young woman.
All-female final: Battling it out wih the help of their former team-mates, Leah and Luisa went head-to-head over the course-of three days to craft their respective brands, websites, promotional videos and produce launch campaigns for their businesses
Positively gleeful! The Northern Irish doctor skipped out of the boardroom after hearing her happy news
'I mean she really does know what she’s talking about. She’s shown that she can take a gift that she has and use that to create a business. I think that shows a really unique skill.'
Lord Sugar reflected on glamour girl Luisa: 'Earlier on in the process, Luisa came across as a bit difficult I would say.'
Karren responded: 'I was definitely worried at one point if there was a business woman behind that persona she puts across, but I think she’s proved she understands the business.
Tense: Spending three days creating their brand visions, everything hinged on a final presentation to Lord Sugar and 100 industry experts from the worlds of cupcakes and cosmetic surgery
She's the boss! Leah got off to a great start by taking all of the former candidates Luisa wanted for her team
'She’s got a proposition that’s investable and that she’s learned from what you’ve told her and she’s changed and adapted her style.'
Summing up, Lord Sugar said: 'We’ve got two very investable candidates here, it’s not going to be an easy decision.'
Leah and Luisa were brought back into the boardroom to hear Lord Sugar tell them: 'Well ladies, this is the most important meeting we are going to have in this process here.
Winning streak: Leah was off to a winning start from the outset, securing all of Luisa's first choices of former candidates for her own team as she prepared for her final showdown
'It’s the most difficult for me, because we do have two very credible business plans. I’d like to give you a last opportunity of explaining to me why you think you should be my business partner.'
Luisa was invited to respond first, stating: 'I think I should be your business partner. The business that I’m pitching, I know will be profitable.
'Also, as a person, I have a lot of business experience of starting and running businesses and I would love to have you as my business partner.'
True professional: Leah impressed during the presentation stage of the final with her flawless speech
But Leah quickly pitched in: 'I think I’m first of all, pitching a fantastic business opportunity, completely unique and it’s extremely lucrative.
'And also, you’re investing in me as a person and I genuinely think I’m a dependable, trustworthy person to invest in. And I really think that this is a fantastic opportunity for you and myself.'
After a tense pause that left both girls visibly squirming, the multi-millionaire technology mogul announced his winner.
Mounting pressure: Luisa seemed to crumble under the pressure of the presentation
He said: 'So, I think I’ve made my mind up now. At the end of the day, the devil in me is wanting to take a risk. Leah, you’re going to be my new business partner.'
Speaking later on You're Hired on BBC Three, he added: 'She’s a very determined young woman, and it’s a very interesting industry, and she’s the most interesting candidate, and she has the most interesting business proposition.'
Leah was absolutely thrilled to be walking away as winner of the show, and vowed to do everything in her power to impress her new business partner.
Cute as a cupcake! Luisa impressed Lord Sugar with her industry knowledge and flawless branding
She proclaimed: 'To have Lord Sugar show this faith in me is absolutely unbelievable, it’s amazing.
'I had much less experience than the other candidates in business coming in to the process and I really can’t believe that I have got this far and that I’ve actually won it!
'I can’t believe it. I’m really going to do everything that I can to prove that he has made the right decision and I won’t let him down.'
Emotions running high: Luisa was left in tears after thinking she had fluffed the presentation and let her brand down
But Lord Sugar had every faith that Luisa's business plan would take off even further: 'In the case of Luisa, she has three businesses already, and the business she was proposing to me is already very much what she is already doing, she’s going to be OK.'
Brunette bombshell Luisa joked: 'Lord Sugar is the first man to ever say no to me...
She added: 'I’m disappointed but I couldn’t think of losing to anyone other than Leah. We are very close and she’s an amazing girl, and I’m so happy for her.'
Hair-raising: Nick Hewer's famous eyebrows got plenty of action throughout the dramatic episode
Girl power! Lord Sugar's aide, Karren Brady, told the self-made millionaire that she was thrilled he would be going into business with a woman
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2367452/The-Apprentice-Winner-Leah-Totton-beats-Luisa-Zissman-final-cosmetic-clinics-plans.html#ixzz2ZLd9QEoj
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