Is this the most glamorous line-up yet? Jazz singer, racing driver and former nude model compete to be Lord Sugar's Apprentice
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The 16 wannabes competing to win over Lord Sugar were unveiled on Tuesday ahead of the return of the ninth series next week.
And as the contestants were photographed for the first time, it appears this may be the most glamorous line-up in the boardroom to date.
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Is there a doctor in the house? Northern Irish Leah Totton, 24, is a doctor working in London
Many talents: Natalie Panayi (left) is a trained jazz singer while Luisa Zissman has once posed naked for charity
Among the ladies is blonde Doctor Leah Totton, 24, from Northern Ireland and retail entrepreneur Luisa Zissman, who stripped off in the name of charity.
The mother-of-one, 25, claims she combines the 'sex appeal of Jessica Rabbit with the intellect of Albert Einstein'.
Many of the contestants have many other talents, with recruitment manager Natalie Panayi, 30, also being a jazz singer and trained make-up artist.
Myles Mordaunt, 39, used to be a professional racing driver for a brief time, but now works at a marketing company in Monaco he founded.
Who will it be? 1. Jordan Poulton, 2. Jaz Ampaw-Farr, 3. Kurt Wilson, 4. Francesca MacDuff-Varley, 5. Myles Mordaunt, 6. Natalie Panayi, 7. Alex Mills, 8. Luisa Zissman, 9. Tim Stillwell, 10. Rebecca Slater, 11. Jason Leech, 12. Sophie Lau, 13. Neil Clough, 14. Leah Totton, 15. Zeeshaan Shah, 16. Uzma Yakoob
Inspired by Sir Richard Branson and Bernie Ecclestone, he exclaims: 'I’m business perfection personified.'
Pakistan-born Zeeshaan Shah, 27, appears to have set his sights on world domination after claiming Napoleon is his idol.
He said: 'I take inspiration from Napoleon; I am here to conquer.'
Ahead of the 12 week competition, the contestants certainly had fighting talk.
Historian and property entrepreneur Jason Leech, 29, said: 'Some people might come to this process with a game plan. I just feel my effortless superiority will take me all the way.'
The oldest candidate this year is married mother-of-three Jaz Ampaw-Farr, 41, who runs a literacy company.
She boasts: 'I’m half machine. I can process things at a speed that is out of this world!'
The youngest are restaurateur Sophie Lau and company director Alex Mills, who are both 22.
Howay the lads: Will a man win the show again like last year's winner Ricky Martin?
Sophie, who started her own catering company at 19, said: 'I don’t have a multi-million pound business but what I do have is the raw talent, the drive and the competitive streak.'
Business analyst Jordan Poulton certainly started early, getting his first business experience aged six as he sold kittens in the playground.
He explained: 'I've worked in third world countries and first world countries. I know what it’s like to struggle to feed kids and I know what it’s like to fly in a private jet.'
The winner of this year's series will see Lord Sugar give his apprentice £250,000 worth of investment.
He said: 'This process is not about a job, it is about me ploughing £250,000 into a business. This is an unbelievable opportunity. For me to choose you, you've got to be brilliant.'
Ready to work hard? The 16 candidates are hoping to become Lord Sugar's Apprentice
He also admitted he is tempted to become a contestant on the show to find out what it's like on the other side.
He said: 'If we do a 10th series, I'm going to put a mask on and go the other side for a little while.'
Lord Sugar conceded he wasn't a fan of watching the show back: 'By about the 11th episode I do get a bit sick and tired of seeing myself on screen.'
Returning alongside Lord Sugar, are advisers Karren Brady and Nick Hewer, who will keep a close eye on the candidates during their tasks.
Last year saw recruitment manager Ricky Martin win the show.
The ninth series of The Apprentice begins on BBC1 at 9pm on May 7.
Watch BBC videos here
Helping hand: Lord Sugar will be joined by Nick Hewer and Karren Brady
The Ladies
Natalie Panayi
Age: 30
From: Rickmansworth
Occupation: Recruitment Manager
Describes herself as headstrong, determined and caring.
Trained jazz singer and qualified make-up artist
Rebecca Slater
Age: 35
From: Wigan
Occupation: Medical Rep
Describes herself as 'a pretty tough person'
Lists Mary Porter and Alex Polizzi as her business inspirations.
Sophie Lau
Age: 22
From: Bristol
Occupation: Restaurateur
Describes herself as innovative and intelligent with a competitive streak.
Uzma Yaqoob
Age: 32
From: London
Occupation: Make-Up Brand Owner
Describes herself as confident, creative and spiritual
Francesca McDuff-Varley
Age: 32
From: Leeds
Occupation: Dance & Entertainment Entrepreneur
Describes herself as a 'hard worker... but can be a control freak at times'
Jaz Ampaw-Farr
Age: 41
From: Milton Keynes
Occupation: Literary and Education Company Director
Married mother-of-three says her strengths are tenacity and
Leah Totton
Age: 24
From: London (originally N. Ireland)
Occupation: Doctor
Describes herself as 'caring, kind and ambitious'.
Luisa Zissman
Age: 25
From: St Albans
Occupation: Retail Entrepreneur
Claims to have 'the energy of a Duracell bunny and sex appeal of Jessica Rabbit'
The Men
Alex Mills
Age: 22
From: Cardiff
Occupation: Company Director
Describes himself as passionate, hard-working and determined.
Neil Clough
Age: 32
From: Altrincham
Occupation: Regional Manager - Football Centres
Has played semi-professional football
Tim Stillwell
Age: 23
From: Birmingham
Occupation: Mexican food entrepreneur
Launched his business while in the final year of university
Zeeshaan Shah
Age: 27
From: London
Occupation: Property Company CEO
Grew up in Pakistan and admits his idol in Napolean
Jason Leech
Age: 29
From: London
Occupation: Historian & Property Entrepreneur
Likes gardening and croquet
Jordan Poulton
Age: 26
From: London
Occupation: Business Entrepreneur
Had his first business experience aged six selling kittens in the playground
Kurt Wilson
Age: 26
From: Liverpool
Occupation: Health Drink Entrepreneur and Health & Safety Manager
Says he's argumentative and ambitious
Myles Mordaunt
Age: 39
From: Monaco
Occupation: Marketing Company Co-Founder
Was a professional racing driver for a short period of time.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2317051/The-Apprentice-2013-lineup-Contestants-include-jazz-singer-nude-model.html#ixzz2RyV1lkHf
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