Dr Leah Totton has revealed her business partner Lord Alan Sugar ordered her to 'develop a thick skin', as she was thrust into the limelight after winning BBC show The Apprentice in 2013.
The Northern Ireland entrepreneur, who has successfully developed a multi-million-pound cosmetic skin care business since winning the backing of Lord Sugar, admits there was strong resistance to her arrival in the industry both from professionals in the business and equally vocal sceptics on social media.
With her reputation in the cosmetic industry now firmly established, Dr Leah sat down for an exclusive interview with Female First at the opening her third cosmetic clinic in London's Baker Street, and conceded she felt the need to fight to prove herself 'worthy', as rivals made it clear they were resistant to her arrival.
"I didn't understand why there was so much animosity towards me when I started out in this business, but Lord Sugar told me from day one I would need to develop thick skin very quickly", begins Dr Leah.
"There was a lot of talk about my appearance and that was difficult. They called me Dr Barbie and some people seemed to feel I didn't fit the image of what a doctor should look like. That meant I was fair game to be criticised.
"I was 24/25 at the time and maybe people who had been in the profession for many years were resident to a new type of person coming into the industry, but it was unpleasant at the time.
"It was generally plastic surgeons that were criticising me when I started the business and I can probably see why they didn't want me around stepping on what they viewed as their territory. None of those people had ever met me or probably didn't know about my credentials in this field or my level of training, so it was important to ignore the criticism and move on from it.
"Lord Sugar was a big help to me during that period. He doesn't seem to care what anyone writes about him and while I'll never have as thick a skin as he does, I have managed to deal with the criticism that comes my way.
"The secret is to not take things personally when they are thrown at you, but that can be difficult when you find yourself getting criticised in public for the first time."
Dr Leah’s business has thrived since she won The Apprentice, with her clinics' turnover growing to £1.6 million a year, as she opens a third clinic in Baker Street to compliment her other branches in Moorgate, London and Loughton, Essex.
The two-storey, state-of-the-art Baker Street clinic will become the flagship clinic within the chain, and will be offering a variety of new, more advanced treatments including hair transplants, mole removal and female health treatments such as vaginal treatments for stress urinary incontinence. In addition, the clinic will now feature the new 3D-ultimatepro, the innovative new equipment used for fat reduction and body contouring. Other non-surgical treatments also available include facials, Botox, dermal filler and thread lift treatments.
As offering the core services of the business, the Baker Street branch will also cater for the clinics growing celebrity following - Dr Leah’s new site offers high-profile clients added privacy through a secret underground VIP entrance and private cubicles, instead of an open plan waiting room. Chic finishes throughout elevate the level of elegance.
"As a young girl growing up in Derry, I never imaged I would have a clinic in the heart of London's medical district," she added. "This was a dream that I probably never even imagined could become a reality, but it has happened and we should be proud with what we have achieved.
"Our reputation is established now. We have been trading for five years and we have won the best clinic in London award on numerous occasions. Our brand is established and we have a strong celebrity clientele now. We have built an underground entrance for them to use at this clinic and we hope that will encourage them to come and read straight into the treatment room without anyone knowing they are here.
"We also have private waiting pods and they are important because this business needs discretion to be at its heart. While are catering for our celebrity clients, we are also mindful that we have a rapidly expanding list of loyal clients who have helped to business the clinics into the powerful brand they are today and we want to make sure they are catered for as well."
For more information, go to Dr Leah's official website - http://www.drleah.co.uk
Words by Kevin Palmer, who you can follow on Twitter @RealKevinPalmer
Tagged in The Apprentice