Rochelle Raye Anthony, the 39-year-old entrepreneur who rose to fame on The Apprentice, has been hospitalised after a suspected stroke. She revealed the news on Instagram, posting a photo of her hand with a cannula from a hospital bed.
'Dolls, I am in A&E with a suspected stroke,' she wrote. 'I am so sorry for any clients I need to reschedule! Please bear with me.' She added: 'Stress and trauma really are crazy triggers for serious conditions. I have no use of my left arm and left leg.'
Health Update and Business Impact
Rochelle stated she would be off her phone for the foreseeable future and directed clients to contact her business, The Dolls House salon in Milton Keynes. The salon has grown successfully since her appearance on the show.
This is not her first health scare. In 2024, she endured severe pain for two weeks before doctors discovered two large gallstones lodged in her bile duct, requiring specialist removal.
The Apprentice Journey
Rochelle, who calls herself the 'Kim Kardashian of the business world,' finished second on The Apprentice series 17 in 2023. She impressed Lord Sugar with her hairdressing business plan but lost to Marnie Swindels, who proposed an inclusive boxing club.
Speaking to Metro at the time, Rochelle reflected on what she would have done differently: 'I would have had more models with different types of hair textures. That was something that was really important to me, and I had to choose between going onto the metaverse team or actually being in the advert.' She noted that with limited resources, she couldn't get external models or style her hair naturally.
Stroke Symptoms and Support
The NHS uses the acronym FAST to remember stroke symptoms: Face (drooping on one side), Arms (weakness or numbness in one arm), Speech (slurred or unclear), and Time (call 999 immediately). The Stroke Association helpline is available at 0303 3033 100 or helpline@stroke.org.uk.
