She speaks her mind on The Apprentice and admits she hates taking no for an answer.

But candidate Melica Moshiri has revealed she wasn’t always so open in childhood, and barely uttered a word for years as a young girl.

The ambitious entrepreneur, who has Iranian parents and grew up in the UK alongside her brother and sister, says: ‘Before I was two I started to speak but it wasn’t much.

‘At home my family would speak a mixture of English and Farsi, which may have been a contributing factor.

‘Then when I was two I was bitten on the hand by a dog. It really terrified me to the point that I couldn’t go near dogs until I was 12.

‘From that moment, I think because of the trauma, I didn’t speak at all for several years. I was almost completely mute until I got help.

The Apprentice candidate Melica Moshiri has shared her heartbreaking story of being attacked by a dog as a child

The ambitious entrepreneur, who has Iranian parents and grew up in the UK alongside her brother and sister, says: ‘Before I was two I started to speak but it wasn’t much’

‘My parents knew I couldn’t talk but I think they always had the belief I would be OK and I still had friends.’

When Melica, 32, started Reception year, the teachers at her local school in Worthing were quick to notice she needed extra support.

She says: ‘I was lucky because they ᴀssessed me straight away and realising my speech issues they gave me what is now called an educational, health and care plan.

‘I used to get frustrated that I was automatically put in lower tier classes because I was on this plan.

‘In the end I asked to come off it so I wasn’t held back because I knew I was capable and determined.’

With the encouragement of a teacher she made mᴀssive improvements and went on to study Law at Brighton University and work in recruitment in California for nearly five years.

She is one of 14 remaining candidates asking Lord Sugar for a £250,000 investment for her AI tech recruitment company SkillTorch Ltd.

Despite prioritising career over romance, she admits some bizarre messages have slipped into her DM’s since the long-running BBC series started.

She added: ‘Then when I was two I was bitten on the hand by a dog. It really terrified me to the point that I couldn’t go near dogs until I was 12’

The TV star continued: ‘From that moment, I think because of the trauma, I didn’t speak at all for several years. I was almost completely mute until I got help’

She opened up about the experience on her Instagram account recently as she shared a childhood snap 

She jokes: ‘I’ve had some lovely messages and a few people saying ‘you’re beautiful’ but I’ve also had some very strange ones.

Read More Lord Sugar ‘fires The Apprentice candidate BEFORE the end of the episode’ in shocking show first’

‘I had someone offering me money for something that sounded like an escort agency and I’ve had quite a few messages from someone asking me for foot pictures! I obviously haven’t replied to either.’

Candidates were tasked with organising corporate away-days in Turkey on last Thursday night’s episode.

Some viewers were left shocked after Melica expressed her frustration at being left to lay a table saying: ‘I’m going above and beyond’ which she says was actually about her reference to the experience as a whole – not to that specific job.

But Melica insists: ‘I know in some of the scenes we’re seeing my plonker side but that’s not the only side to me.

‘In that task I wanted to do Sales and some business things and instead I was pushed into the kitchen and table bit.’

When Melica, 32, started Reception year, the teachers at her local school in Worthing were quick to notice she needed extra support

She is one of 14 remaining candidates asking Lord Sugar for a £250,000 investment for her AI tech recruitment company SkillTorch Ltd

Baroness Brady called her ‘unprofessional’ after an earlier task in which Melica was PM and the teams were tasked with making Easter eggs.

After struggling to secure orders from Waitrose – her former employer – she let them know that she had still secured thousands of orders from Tesco.

She says: ‘I just didn’t understand why they didn’t make an order.’

The Apprentice airs Thursdays at 9pm on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.

The Apprentice 2025: Meet the Candidates

AMBER-ROSE BADRUDIN

Occupation: Owner, Convenience Store

Location: London 

ANISA KHAN

Occupation: Owner, Pizza Company

Location: London 

AOIBHEANN WALSH 

Occupation: Owner, Hair and Beauty Salon

Location: County Donegal

CARLO BRANCATI 

Occupation: Hair Transplant Consultant

Location: Middlesborough 

CHISOLA CHITAMBALA 

Occupation: Owner, Virtual ᴀssistant Company

Location: EsSєx

DEAN FRANKLIN 

Occupation: Owner, Air Conditioning Company

Location: EsSєx

EMMA ROTHWELL 

Occupation: Owner, Online Gift Store

Location: Originally from Lancashire, now based in EsSєx

EMMA STREET

Occupation: Corporate Project Manager

Location: London

FREDERICK AFRIFA 

Occupation: Motivational Speaker & Former Athlete

Location: Milton Keynes

DR. JANA DENZEL

Occupation: Cosmetic Dentist

Location: London

JONNY HEAVER 

Occupation: Owner, Tutoring Company

Location: Originally from Kent, now based in Liverpool

JORDAN DARGUN 

Occupation: Animation Entrepreneur

Location: Dublin

KEIR SHAVE 

Occupation: Owner, Telemarketing Company

Location: Leeds

LIAM SNELLIN

Occupation: Owner, Workwear Brand

Location: EsSєx

MAX ENGLAND 

Occupation: Senior Account Manager and Former Tennis Player

Location: Surrey

MELICA MOSHIRI

Occupation: Owner, Tech Recruitment Company

Location: West SusSєx

MIA COLLINS 

Occupation: Meal Prep Entrepreneur

Location: Originally from Cheltenham, currently based in London

NADIA SULIAMAN 

Occupation: Owner, Knightsbridge Salon Chain

Location: Originally from Swansea, currently based in London