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Apprentice Kristina overcomes her past
 By
Trevor O’Sullivan
Irish Apprentice star Kristina Grimes has finally spoken about her tumultuous
past and believes it was the catalyst for making her the success she is
today.
The 36-year-old Wicklow-born businesswoman from Harrogate has revealed
that she was sent to a convent at 17 because she was pregnant.
She was hidden away to avoid scandal the fate of many single mums in
religious Ireland at the time.
But courageous Kristina defied the pressure to have her baby son Graeme
adopted.
She said: “Up to the age of 17 I was innocent. My life revolved
around my horses but I ended up getting pregnant which was a big shock
to me. I kept it a secret for five months until I had to reveal it. ”
“My parents were really horrified. We were living in rural Ireland
at the time and my father was the MD of Coca-Cola so he had a name to
live-up to.”
“Girls were sent away to hide their pregnancy. Once they gave birth
they gave-up their babies and went back as if they had never been pregnant.
I was the only one who kept my child. Nobody was going to force me to
give-up my baby.”
But the businesswoman believes that getting pregnant, while still in her
teens, made her more determined to succeed.
She said: “Getting pregnant at such a young age has made me who
I am today. That’s what made me say that no matter what happens
in my life I am going to prove to everybody that I will make it and make
it big.”
Pregnancy at such an early age initially impacted negatively on Kristina’s
career prospects but her fierce resolve eventually led to her carving
out a career in business.
She said: “I definitely lost my youth. There is no doubt about it.
Bringing up a child meant my social life was non -existent. I did all
sorts of rubbish jobs from working in a nightclub to a burger joint. I
did anything to make ends meet for me and my son.
“I put myself through university and then started my career. Gradually
I moved myself up the ladder to a point where my incomings equalled my
outgoings because for such a long time that was a real struggle.”
For the past five years Kristina has worked for a pharmaceutical company
as regional sales manager and heads-up sales for Northern England and
Northern Ireland.
But her career prospects could be about to rocket as she has reached the
final of The Apprentice. From the 10,000 hopefuls who auditioned to take
part in the show she is now in the final two. And for a woman who has
faced such a turbulent few years that’s quite an achievement. |
