Apprentice winner Carina Lepore rescued father's business and is set to make Lord Sugar a fortune

London café owner Carina Lepore last night triumphed over Scarlett Allen-Horton to be crowned the winner of this year's Apprentice - and Lord Sugar's next business partner. 

But the success of this self-described 'pocket rocket' entrepreneur extends far beyond the boardroom.

For Carina, 30, has spent the last year working tirelessly to salvage her father's dream of owning a bakery after his first venture - a modest but much-loved lunch spot in south London - burnt down in 2016. 

Now the businesswoman is the proud owner of Dough Bakehouse, a trendy, Instagram-friendly café under the railway arches of Herne Hill train station, that serves up smoothies, coffee and fresh bakes to a legion of devoted fans.

Not only that, but she has built up the business while raising her son Lucas, seven, a child model who has posed for Marks & Spencer and River Island. 

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London café owner Carina Lepore tonight triumphed over Scarlett Allen-Horton to crowned the winner of this year's Apprentice - and Lord Sugar's next business partner

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Carina with her father Carlos and sister Rachelle at Dough Bakehouse in Herne Hill, south London

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Carina, 30, pictured in glamorous Instagram snaps, has spent the last year working tirelessly to salvage her father's dream of owning a bakery after his first venture burnt down in 2016.

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The mother has built up the business while raising her son Lucas, seven, a child model who has posed for Marks & Spencer and River Island (pictured together)

With her extraordinary work ethic and ambitions for a national chain (she wants Dough to take on Greggs) it is of little surprise Lord Sugar chose to give Carina the £250,000 investment - even after dubbing her the 'baker who doesn't bake'. 

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Carina credited never losing focus with her win in the BBC reality show, while taking a swipe at some of her fellow contestants motivations' behind taking part.

'I was there for business, I wasn't on there for a TV career... My focus was always on winning the competition. I never pulled focus. I went in to win it and I don't regret anything. I stand by all my decisions.'

Entrepreneurial spirit is in Carina's blood.

Her father, Carlos Lepore, founded Ye Olde Bakery, in Herne Hill in 2009, alongside business partner and fellow baker David Bell. No details are known about Carina's mother. 

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Carina strikes a pose in a festive snap shared recently, left, and in a trendy white outfit, right 

Carina, who was jokingly dubbed 'the baker who's not a baker' during her time on the show, said:'I was there for business, I wasn't on there for a TV career...

'My focus was always on winning the competition. I never pulled focus. I went in to win it and I don't regret anything. I stand by all my decisions.

'All of us have an unbreakable bond because we have been through this crazy experience together.'

Carina's comments come after axed candidate Dean Ahmad laid into controversial contestant Lottie Lion, saying she was on the show for 'other reasons.'

You're hired! Carina Lepore was crowned the winner of The Apprentice 2019 on Wednesday, beating rival Scarlett Allen-Horton to Lord Sugar's £250,000 investment

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Hit back: Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Carina credited never losing focus with her win in the BBC reality show, while taking a swipe at some of her fellow contestants 

Speaking to MailOnline last week, he branded the 19-year-old librarian a 'bit of a nightmare' and added: 'I think the viewers can make their own judgement on her.

'You've got four out of five candidates with business acumen but I think it's quite obvious that some people are on the show for other reasons potentially.'

Fellow teen candidate Ryan-Mark Parsons, 19, was also publicly accused on Twitter of 'just going on the telly to be famous' by 2014 winner Mark Wright.