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GiRTh · 23-05-2013, 11:23 AM

Being fired didn’t hurt as much as ‘drag act’ taunts

Quote:

Apprentice candidate Uzma Yakoob has told how cruel Twitter users compared her to a man in drag.

The 32-year-old entrepreneur said: “I am human so I do look at the comments. It’s not nice when people criticise your looks.

“But you get a lot of unkind comments when you put yourself in the public eye and you have to learn to ignore it.”

Several online tormentors suggested Uzma looked like a character in 2004 cop comedy White Chicks, in which two African-American FBI agents, played by Shawn and Marlon Wayans, disguise themselves as white women.

She added: “I’m in the make-up industry and change my look all the time. People can be mean and unkind, but I don’t need to stoop to their level by responding.”

Even so, Asian Uzma admitted she was mortified when she watched the show later and saw that make-up artists had made her skin look unnaturally light.

She told TV Biz: “Before we went in to the boardroom, the make-up artists touched up our faces and I remember having a gut feeling and thinking, ‘I’m not going to let them touch me’.

“I really wish I’d listened to it. When I watched the show, every time I went in to the boardroom my make-up looked a little bit lighter than it usually is, which was really annoying. Other than that I am very proud of myself.”

Uzma found herself facing Lord Sugar alongside Neil Clough and Kurt Wilson after they lost the task of opening a farm shop in East London.

Team Endeavour, who opted to sell premium milk, made £539.67 profit, but Evolve topped them with £631.52 from selling pricey buffalo steaks.

And Uzma — who was in the final three for a third time — was given the axe after Neil described her as the “weakest link” in his team.

Lord Sugar ended her TV hopes by telling her: “Third time in this final three, and a couple of times people have said you don’t contribute.

“Uzma, no smoke without fire, I say. I’m sorry, Uzma, you’re fired.”

But Uzma told TV Biz: “What you didn’t see in the last task was that I was the second highest seller. It was unfairly edited, which was so annoying. It looked like I did nothing.

“Neil had a game plan and he knew from the beginning who he was going to choose. I think he will trip up and fall flat on his face, as when it comes to the crunch there is no space for games. He’s a lovely guy but he lacks business skills.”

Panellist Karren Brady had previously told Lord Sugar that Uzma alienated the other women on the show, something that she insisted was completely untrue.

Londoner Uzma said: “Karren tried to suggest I have issues with other women, which is ridiculous. I’m in a female-dominated industry, working, teaching, mentoring and creating products for women.

“I’m around them all the time and I have to understand them. I know there will be conflict, but to say I have issues with other women is so wrong. Since the show I’ve had a handful of candidates approach me for business advice — they’ve taken me back to the boardroom!”

Uzma insisted she wasn’t upset about being axed from the show, and said: “I may have been fired, but being fired by Lord Sugar is actually quite an achievement.

“It does feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders now it is over — not because I couldn’t do the challenge but because I haven’t argued so much before.

“There were times when I had to raise my voice in a meeting to get my point across and I have never experienced that in my life — it’s so unprofessional.”

And she added: “It’s a shame I’m out as, with Lord Sugar’s network and my skills, I think we could have conquered the make-up industry and given L’Oreal and Estée Lauder a run for their money.”

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