Newry make-up artist Gráinne McCoy has missed out on a place in the final of BBC One's The Apprentice, and the chance to win a £250,000 investment, but has been described as "a great team player" by show boss Alan Sugar.
The 31-year-old, who runs her own make-up studio, was one of the five semi-finalists competing for a place in this Sunday's final on BBC One.
As ever, it was survival of the fittest as the panel of business experts cut through the waffle and interrogated the candidates about their business plans, CVs and performance on the show to date.
During her grilling, McCoy was caught out with figures after she failed to defend her conclusion that five out of six is equivalent to 90%.
However, after another tough interview with the show's 'Mr-Nasty-in-Chief' Claude Littner, she remained composed, saying: "I knew it was never going to be perfect."
Sugar and the panel felt that McCoy's multi-stranded business plan, which involved setting up a make-up academy and a brand, was "shooting too high".
"It's a shame, really, because she's been a really strong candidate," said Sugar's associate Karren Brady.
With just two places up for grabs in the final, Sugar chose cake company owner Alana Spencer and novelty gift business owner Courtney Wood as his finalists and showed McCoy, online fashion entrepreneur Jessica Cunningham and children's clothes company owner Frances Bishop the frosted glass door.
Grainne: “I’m not certified yet”
— The Apprentice (@bbcapprentice) December 15, 2016
Lord Sugar: “It sounds like I might need certifying to actually invest in this.” #theapprentice pic.twitter.com/CZPBUOwmCQ
McCoy's time in the boardroom was brief: she was the first to be fired, with Sugar saying he simply couldn't "see" her business concept.
Reflecting on her elimination, McCoy admitted to the Press Association that her business plan was not "up to scratch" but said she is still determined to become "the next Gok Wan in the make-up world".
Speaking afterwards on spin-off show The Apprentice: You're Fired!, McCoy said she was "shocked" to have made it to the final five and was "privileged" to be sitting in the studio on Thursday night.
"I felt it was the right choice of Lord Sugar to fire me first," she admitted, "because, my God, I went in and changed my whole business plan in front of him... I knew I was out the door."
In an interview recorded for the programme, Sugar paid tribute to McCoy, saying: "Gráinne, bright girl. She only spoke when she needed to, and when she did speak she spoke common sense. I found Gráinne [to be] very calm, collected. She adapted to every task that I set and tried to work very, very hard. A great team player.
"The problem with Gráinne's business plan was she was trying to do too many things and it was a bit confusing as to what the real business was. And that's why I think she needs to concentrate solely on one thing and hone in on that."
Responding, McCoy said she was "chuffed" with what Sugar had said and agreed with his advice. The final airs on BBC One this Sunday at 9pm.
