THE Apprentice star Melica Moshiri didn’t speak AT ALL for several years after a traumatic attack as a child.
The candidate – who is starring in Lord Alan Sugar‘s BBC series – was left MUTE after a vicious dog attack.
Entrepreneur Melica was bitten when she was two years old – and didn’t find her voice again until several years later after her parents seeked help.
Melica, who has Iranian parents and grew up in the UK, told MailOnline: “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.
“My parents knew I couldn’t talk but I think they always had the belief I would be OK and I still had friends.”
Melica finally got help when she started school and was given extra support by teachers.
She was put on an educational, health and care plan.
The 32-year-old went on to study law at Brighton University.
She is now one of 14 remaining candidates competing for a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar for her AI tech recruitment company SkillTorch Ltd.
