The Apprentice star Lottie Lion says she can’t possibly be transphobic because she likes Caitlyn Jenner

Conservative activist and The Apprentice star Lottie Lion

Conservative activist and The Apprentice star Lottie Lion has suggested she can’t possibly hold homophobic and transphobic views, because she likes Caitlyn Jenner.

In an interview with The Sun, Lion was asked about reports that she had said trans women would not be permitted in her countryside ladies’ club.

The Apprentice star: I’m not transphobic, I’m rooting for Caitlyn Jenner.

She told the newspaper: “I said they would absolutely be able to put in an application, but I will judge them based on the criteria every other woman has to meet.

“Are they into shooting? Are they into riding? Are they they partaking in a countryside lifestyle?”

Asked if she has a problem with trans women, she replied: “Absolutely not, absolutely no problem. In fact, I’m rooting for Caitlyn Jenner currently on I’m A Celebrity.”

Conservative activist and The Apprentice star Lottie Lion

Conservative activist and The Apprentice star Lottie Lion

The reality TV contestant was also asked about allegations she referred to two of her Apprentice competitors as “the short gay one” and “the tall gay one”.

She said: “It wasn’t derogatory whatsoever…. it certainly wasn’t me who started that name. Of course I called them that, because we all did.

“If they had a problem with being called ‘the short gay one’ and ‘the tall gay one’ they would have had issues with everybody, not just me.”

Lottie Lion claims she is attacked for being a ‘strong conservative woman’.

The BBC has previously condemned Lion for directing the jibe “Shut up Gandhi” at fellow contestant Lubna in the contestants’ WhatsApp group.

The reality star, who says she is a lifelong Conservative party supporter, dismissed reports that fellow contestants had repeatedly raised concerns about her behaviour – claiming she has been victimised because she is a “strong conservative woman.”

She said: “I wasn’t a white conservative woman I could potentially pull the race card and say I’ve been victimised. But because I’m so socially mainstream I’m the easy one to say, ‘She’s the nasty character, we’ll make her the one everybody hates.’”