Ruby Bhogal could've gone on a "really nice holiday" with the money she spent competing on 'The Great British Bake Off'.
Ruby Bhogal
The 29-year-old project manager - who was runner-up to champion Rahul Mandal in this year's series of the Channel 4 baking competition - spent a fortune on kitchen equipment during the season, but she admits it was an "amazing experience".
She told Vulture: "It was nice enough that the show gave us a little stipend.
"But yeah, I spent a lot of money. I never did the final math, but let's just say I could've gone on a really nice holiday with that money.
"The thing is, I didn't have a lot of equipment in my kitchen that other bakers usually have. Like, I didn't have a proper stand mixer.
"I was using a wooden spoon or a hand-whisk.
"So I paid for some equipment, but I can't complain.
"It was an amazing experience even if the price was massive in the end."
Ruby says her love for food encouraged her to apply for the show, even though she never dreamed that she would be able to compete on the programme yet alone progress to the final.
She said: "I was out of a job for a few months after moving back to London, and I came across one of the baking books that was in my house.
"It was really by chance and it gave me something to do, and it quickly turned into something I loved.
"I love how food brings people together, and I want to make people happy through food.
"I saw the call for the application on television, and I honestly thought, "Why not? What's the worst that can happen if I don't get through?
"Never in a million years did I ever think I would actually get my foot into that tent, and I managed to make my way into the finals."