Melody Hossaini

Melody Hossaini is an Iranian-born British businesswoman, best known as a contestant on the seventh series of the UK version of reality TV show The Apprentice.

Early life

Hossaini and her family fled from Iran when she was a child, and after living for a few years in Sweden, they settled in the UK. Hossaini started school in the UK at the age of 13, and was educated at Great Wyrley High School, a state comprehensive school in the large village of Great Wyrley in South Staffordshire, England.^[1] She says that she felt culturally different from the other pupils, some of whom "had not even visited London", while she had lived in several countries. Nevertheless, she performed well in her GCSEs and A-levels before going on to Oxford Brookes University, where she obtained a 2:1 LLB Hons. Law degree. She has lived in four countries and speaks five different languages.^[1]

Enterprise

Melody Hossaini is the Founder and CEO of social enterprise, InspirEngage International.^[2] Starting her career aged 13, she now specialises in Skills Training to support individuals into employment and enterprise, through delivery of tailored 'InspirEngage Skills Bootcamps'.^[3]

The Apprentice

Melody Hossaini was the first ever Social Entrepreneur to compete on The Apprentice. She began the series confidently, coming up with the team name 'Venture' and winning as Project Manager on the first week and avoiding the boardroom for a number of tasks.

Hossaini became the target of an online campaign of abuse during the airing of the series who thought wrongly she was Muslim. She was branded a "bitch" by the bullies who thought she was Muslim and failed to respect their faith with other comments including "You don't deserve your surname." and "Melody is a bitch for eating sinful food". In reality though Hossaini practices the Zoroastrian religion which places an emphasis on good deeds, thoughts and words.^[4]

Hossaini made it to week ten, before being fired by Lord Sugar 'with regret'.

References