Maria O’Connor, 20, is a restaurateur who lives in Kent. Why should she be Lord Sugar's next Apprentice?
Well, she says: “If you chuck me in the deep end I’ll swim, I won’t sink.”
Her Apprentice candidate profile reads:
Bubbly Maria opened her own Greek restaurant at the age of 19 and is inspired by Gordon Ramsay. She admits that she is headstrong and cunning when it comes to business, and says that her persuasive charm helps her always get what she wants. She enjoys shopping, socialising and is an adrenaline junkie. Maria wishes she was the brains behind cotton buds as they are cheap to make but are used in every household.
Meet this year's contestants in the slideshow below...