Here come the girls...

A TANZANIAN beauty queen and an award-winning restaurateur are among this year's ladies battling it out to be Sir Alan's new apprentice.

Anita Shah

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Age: 35

Career: Business Strategist

Qualifications: LLB in Law and Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice

Lives: Birmingham

Cricket fanatic Shah is a lawyer and self-confessed perfectionist. She hopes one day to complete a chick-lit novel and launch a new business providing emotional, psychological and spiritual therapy.

She says: "My CV is strong. I am articulate. I can deal with questions and make impactful statements. Many lawyers can't. People want to chat with me."

Debra Barr

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Age: 24

Career: Senior Sales Consultant

Qualifications: BA in English Literature

Lives: Surrey

Barr was awarded "mouth of the year" at her office Christmas party. She has had to fight illiteracy in her youth having struggled through her primary school years when aged 10 she had the reading age of a six-year-old.

She says: "When I set my sights on something I have to make sure I get it. I am very cautious and only let the people I can trust see the softer side of me."

Kate Walsh

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Age: 27

Career: Licensing Development Manager

Qualifications: BSC in Psychology and Management

Lives: Hampshire

Indie fan Walsh lists cooking, snowboarding and gym workouts as her passions. She admires the ballsy approach to business of Sex and the City's Samantha.

She says: "My CV speaks for itself. I've always excelled academically and I have really achieved within a corporate environment across sales, marketing and a number of different aspects of business."

Kimberly Davis

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Age: 33

Career: Marketing Consultant

Qualifications: BA in Music Management

Lives: London

Born in the Bronx, New Yorker Davis is an accomplished musician. At the age of five she started her own lemonade and ice-tea stand. She has performed Mozart at Carnegie Hall, danced on stage at Disney World and has toured the US east coast playing violin.

She says: "I bring honesty and integrity to the table, I don't lie, cheat or backstab. I am not the stereotypical New Yorker and it's a stereotype I've faced."

Lorraine Tighe

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Age: 36

Career: National Accounts Manager

Qualifications: MHC in Business Studies

Lives: Kent

Mother-of-two Tighe left school aged 16 and has gone on to be the top sales person in every company she has ever worked for. She admires Victoria Beckham for her resourcefulness.

She says: "I've fought against all the odds. I'm a single mum with no education and I've had a very hard time. It is tough, but to have the confidence I have I should be very proud of myself."

Mona Lewis

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Age: 28

Career: Senior Financial Manager

Qualifications: A-levels

Lives: Kent

Born in Karachi, the former beauty queen and mother-of-one would love to have been the brains behind Tesco. She chose to apply for The Apprentice based on her desire to step out of her comfort zone and change the lives of herself and her son.

She says: "I knew I would be selected, not to sound big-headed... I've succeeded in the companies I've worked for because I work hard and I'm honest."

Paula Jones

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Age: 29

Career: Human Resource Consultant

Qualifications: Masters Degree in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management

Lives: Walsall, West Midlands

Jones is a self-confessed scatterbrain and admits to shy away from conflict. At the age of 18 she represented the Army at county level in shooting.

She says: "I am the girl with a plan. I have great wit and strength of character, and I am resilient to the core."

Yasmina Siadatan

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Age: 27

Career: Restaurateur

Qualifications: BSc Economic History with Population Studies

Lives: London

Siadatan was born in Hull and spent time in Los Angeles and Iran before settling in London. She first experienced the world of business in her dad's restaurant and describes herself as dominating yet adaptable.

She says: "Business is about a simple formula. Make more than you spend. That's what I do, I keep business simple and it works, I'm good at it."

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