{"id":3217,"date":"2026-10-19T06:00:14","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T06:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/?p=3217"},"modified":"2026-10-19T06:00:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T06:00:14","slug":"gladiator-and-powerlifting-champion-karenjeet-kaur-bains-joins-va-innovate-national-schools-challenge-2026-27-judging-panel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/?p=3217","title":{"rendered":"Gladiator and Powerlifting Champion Karenjeet Kaur Bains Joins V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge 2026-27 Judging Panel"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Victoria and Albert Museum has announced that Karenjeet Kaur Bains, the renowned athlete and television personality, will serve as a distinguished judge for the upcoming V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge 2026-27. Known to millions of television viewers as "Athena" from the hit show Gladiators<\/em>, Bains brings a unique blend of high-performance discipline, athletic expertise, and a passionate commitment to social empowerment to the judging panel. Her participation underscores the museum\u2019s ongoing effort to bridge the gap between creative design, practical problem-solving, and the next generation of innovators.<\/p>\n

Beyond her high-profile media career, Bains is a trailblazer in the world of professional powerlifting. She holds the prestigious title of Commonwealth Powerlifting Champion in the junior category and has carved her name into history as the first British Sikh woman to represent her country at both the European and World championships. Her professional life is defined by a relentless drive to break barriers, particularly through her work aimed at empowering South Asian women within the fitness industry. Through her online coaching platforms, she has dedicated herself to helping others achieve their physical goals while navigating and dismantling the societal obstacles that often prevent marginalized groups from participating in high-level sport.<\/p>\n

As the V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge opens its doors for the 2026-27 cycle, the inclusion of a judge with such a diverse background\u2014spanning elite athletics, broadcast media, and community-focused advocacy\u2014signals a shift toward recognizing innovation that is not just aesthetically pleasing, but deeply rooted in human impact. The museum recently sat down with Bains to discuss her role on the panel, the intersection of her athletic career with design thinking, and the qualities she will be looking for in the student submissions.<\/p>\n

The Intersection of Athletic Performance and Design Thinking<\/h3>\n

For Bains, the transition from the weight room to the judging panel of a national design challenge is not as far-fetched as it might initially appear. When asked about her expectations for the student entries, she highlighted that the core of competitive sports is essentially an iterative process of problem-solving. Whether it is refining a technique to improve a lift or developing a new recovery strategy, an athlete\u2019s mindset is perpetually geared toward identifying challenges and crafting efficient solutions.<\/p>\n

\"Introducing<\/figure>\n

"I\u2019m really looking forward to seeing the creativity and imagination of the students and how they approach real-world problems," Bains explained. "As an athlete, I\u2019m always looking for ways to improve performance, overcome challenges, and find solutions to problems, so I\u2019m excited to see how the students apply that same mindset through design." Her role, she believes, is not just to grade submissions, but to act as a catalyst for student confidence. She hopes that by sharing her perspective, she can encourage young designers to look beyond the obvious, think outside the box, and recognize that even at a young age, their concepts have the potential to make a tangible difference in the world.<\/p>\n

Defining the Themes: Simplify, Empower, and Nurture<\/h3>\n

The V&A Innovate challenge this year centers on three specific pillars: Simplify, Empower, and Nurture. For Bains, these are not merely abstract concepts, but core values that have informed her entire professional trajectory. She interprets these themes through the lens of positive impact and human-centric design.<\/p>\n

"To me, these three themes are all about making a positive difference," she said. She views "Simplify" as the pursuit of efficiency and accessibility, noting that the best solutions often strip away complexity to make systems easier to navigate. "Empower," she notes, is about providing the necessary tools, confidence, and opportunities for individuals to reach their full potential. Finally, "Nurture" speaks to the necessity of building supportive environments that foster growth.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on her own journey, Bains noted that her success in powerlifting was never a solitary endeavor. It required the right support systems, an unwavering belief in her capabilities, and a commitment to continuous improvement. She believes that these themes serve as an essential reminder to students that design is not just about the final product, but about the process of improving someone\u2019s quality of life. "I think these themes are a great reminder that even small changes can have a big impact on someone\u2019s life," she added.<\/p>\n

\"Introducing<\/figure>\n

The Role of Design in Performance and Life<\/h3>\n

When questioned about the importance of design in her own life, Bains offered a pragmatic perspective. She argues that good design is fundamentally about understanding human needs, rather than focusing purely on aesthetics. In the high-stakes environment of international sport, the design of equipment, the layout of training spaces, and the integration of technology play critical roles in safety and performance.<\/p>\n

"Design is important because it helps turn ideas into practical solutions that can improve people\u2019s lives," Bains observed. She is particularly interested in how thoughtful design can address issues that people might not even realize they face. This realization has made her a strong proponent of technology that simplifies the complexities of daily life. When asked which invention she could not live without, she pointed to her smartphone. <\/p>\n

"It allows me to manage my coaching business, communicate with clients, track my training, create content, and stay connected with people wherever I am," she said. For Bains, the smartphone is the ultimate example of how innovation can consolidate various functions into a single device, freeing up time and energy for her to focus on her primary goals. It is this marriage of utility and technology that she hopes to see reflected in the entries submitted by the students.<\/p>\n

Advice for Aspiring Student Innovators<\/h3>\n

As the challenge begins, Bains offered a message of encouragement for students in Years 7, 8, and 9 who may be feeling intimidated by the scale of the task. Her advice centers on curiosity, resilience, and the value of collaborative effort. She emphasized that failure is not the opposite of success, but rather a vital component of the design journey.<\/p>\n

\"Introducing<\/figure>\n

"My biggest advice is to be curious, think creatively, and don\u2019t be afraid to make mistakes," she said. "Some of the best ideas come from asking questions, challenging the way things have always been done, and looking at problems from a different perspective." She also urged students to prioritize collaboration, noting that the diverse strengths within a team are often what drive the most innovative solutions. <\/p>\n

Bains warned against the pressure to produce a perfect prototype immediately. Instead, she encouraged students to embrace a test-and-learn mentality. "Most importantly, don\u2019t worry about having the perfect idea straight away. Test your ideas, learn from what doesn\u2019t work, and keep improving. In sport, I\u2019ve learned that progress comes from being willing to learn and try again, and the same applies to innovation. Believe in your ideas and remember that you don\u2019t have to be an adult or an expert to make a difference."<\/p>\n

Registration and Participation<\/h3>\n

The 2026-27 Innovate National Schools Challenge is now officially open for registration. The program is designed to engage students from state schools across England, providing them with a platform to develop design-led solutions to real-world challenges. In addition to the guidance provided by the judging panel, the V&A has released a comprehensive suite of resources, including a theme inspiration pack and specialized toolkits for both teachers and students.<\/p>\n

These resources are intended to guide participants through the entire design journey, from the initial ideation phase to the final submission of their projects. As students across the country begin their work, the involvement of mentors and judges like Karenjeet Kaur Bains is expected to provide valuable insight and motivation, ensuring that this year\u2019s challenge remains as impactful and inspiring as its predecessors. Students and schools interested in participating can find more information and register their entries via the official V&A website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Victoria and Albert Museum has announced that Karenjeet Kaur Bains, the renowned athlete and television personality, will serve as a distinguished judge for the upcoming V&A Innovate National Schools Challenge 2026-27. Known to millions of television viewers as "Athena" from the hit show Gladiators, Bains brings a unique blend of high-performance discipline, athletic expertise, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3216,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[262],"tags":[274,4185,3020,1527,275,4208,126,4187,4046,4186,4183,4184,131,4117,276,4209,4188],"class_list":["post-3217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asian-art-and-culture","tag-asian-art","tag-bains","tag-challenge","tag-champion","tag-culture","tag-gladiator","tag-heritage","tag-innovate","tag-joins","tag-judging","tag-karenjeet","tag-kaur","tag-national","tag-panel","tag-philosophy","tag-powerlifting","tag-schools"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3217"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3217\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orientalplaces.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}