The new season of Donald Trump‘s famed celeb-business series, Celebrity Apprentice, has yet to start and already we’re hearing murmurs of what’s to come on this season’s show. With a mix of famous singers (including a rapper) and entertainers, reality TV stars and an athlete, there’s no doubt there will be personality clashes. But who will be the last one sitting in the boardroom–NeNe Leakes, Star Jones, Lil’ John, LaToya Jackson or maybe the legend Dionne Warwick?
Check out the professional strengths and weaknesses that BlackEnterprise.com outlined of these five contestants, one of which may take home the ultimate prize of $250,000 for their respective charity. Tune into the season premiere this Sunday, March 6, at 9/8c on NBC.
- NeNe Leakes
- Widely recognized as the boisterous (and drama-filled) housewife on Bravo‘s highly rated reality television show, Real Housewives of Atlanta, Leakes has been able to capitalize on her unapologetic personality. Since the show’s debut, Leakes has gained fame on and off the small screen; winning Bravo’s A-list Award for Fan-Favorite, People‘s Diva of the Season, and voted as one of Entertainment Weekly‘s Entertainers of the Year, to name a few.
- Strength
- Making a Name for Herself: You may not have heard of Ms. Leakes before Real Housewives of Atlanta, but she’s often referred to as the star of the network’s highest rated reality show. Since it’s fall 2008 debut, the outspoken housewife has made countless appearances on television talk shows and other media outlets, even becoming the entertainment correspondent for 11 Alive, a local news outlet in Atlanta. If she can do this for herself, imagine what she can do for a product.
- Weakness
- Hot Tempered: Whether it’s with her on-again-off again friend Kim Zolciak or her on-air fight with Star Jones, viewers see Leakes has quite the temper. She can take it to another level. Her outbursts may hinder her on tasks and even in the highly intense boardroom.
- Star Jones
- Jones is mostly known for her nine-year run as co-host for the Emmy Award winning talk show The View, but she has a television career that spans back to her 1991 debut as volunteer commentator on CourtTV. She was named the NBC Legal Correspondent for the Today Show and NBC Nightly News only six months later. The next twenty years includes her hosting her own syndicated show, Jones & Jury; acting as host and executive editor of The Star Jones Show on truTV; as well as stints on E! Entertainment Television and CBS‘s Inside Edition. Outside of Jones’ roles as television personality or contributing writer (The Huffington Post and Global Grind), she’s an attorney and former prosecutor with an impressive conviction rate of 31 out of 33.
- Strength
- Modern-day Renaissance Woman: With her extensive on-air experience coupled with her law credentials, the best-selling author just might be able to talk her way out of any situation (or sell anything to anyone).
- Weakness
- Not Keeping a Tight Lip: Jones took to the airways when her dispute with Barbra Walters ensued. It was apparent she did not have a proper exit strategy set in place, after her contract with The View wasn’t renewed.
- Jonathan “Lil Jon†Smith
- The Atlanta-based rapper and producer made a name for himself as the founding father of the Southern Crunk movement, a fusion of lively, rhythmic hip-hop beats crossed with techno and/or house music. Lil Jon’s signature diamond-encrusted chalice and outlandish ad-libs–think, “yeaah,†“okay,†and “whaatt‖became mainstays in the music scene in the early 2000’s. He’s crafted hits for artists such as Usher, Ciara, The Ying Yang Twins and Pitbull, as well as solo projects, which include the widely-popular track Get Low.
- Strength
- Brand Ambassador: Smith’s non-music ventures account for an estimated $11 million, according to Forbes‘ last count. He’s taken the Crunk movement from the South and propelled it to national and international recognition. It’s no longer just a type of music, but a lifestyle with a certain dress, dance and demeanor attached. The rapper released Crunk!!! Energy Drinks and Crunk!!! Energy Stix in the early 2000’s; later releasing a wine label, Little Jonathan, which the chardonnay won a silver medal at the 2009 Los Angeles Wine and Spirits Competition.
- Weakness
- Money Management Issues: His record label, TVT Records, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008. Smith attributes the stress of the bankruptcy as his reason for taking a break from the music industry.
- Dionne Warwick
- It’s her calming classic voice that makes the musical icon a mainstay in the music business. With nearly 50 years of musical experience, the Grammy award-winning artist has accrued over 60 charted hits and sold over 100 million records. Warwick had over 18 consecutive Top 100 singles (A House Is Not a Home, Alfie, Walk on By, and Promises, Promises, to name a few) less than a decade after she began singing professionally. Warwick has worked with a cache of notable musicians from Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder to Luther Vandross and Jeffrey Osborne.
- Strength
- Money magnet: She’s used her talents to sell millions of records as well as dollars for her philanthropies.
- Weakness
- One-hit wonder: We’re sure Warwick can use her transferrable skills to win tasks, but with limited experience outside of flexing vocal abilities and performing, will she be able to win the big prize?
- LaToya Jackson
- As one of the younger children in the world-renowned musical family, The Jacksons, the Grammy-nominated recording artist is no stranger to the inner workings of the music industry. It’s that knowledge and natural talent that led her to both national and international success with hits such as Just Wanna Dance reaching #13 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Chart and Heart Don’t Lie, which made #56 on the Billboard Hot 100 and garnered MTV airplay. Jackson appeared on CBS’s Armed and Famous and Celebrity Big Brother, UK edition.
- Strength
- Power player: Jackson has conducted business both stateside and on other continents. Jackson was paid a large sum of money in 1992 to join the Moulin Rouge in Paris. She did skip out on the entire year stated in her contract, but was able to raise the club’s profile and her own notoriety. Most recently, in 2010, Jackson launched a luxe moisturizer Dream Cream from German beauty company Alessandro International. The Swarovski-bedazzled 100ml jar costs about $226 a pop.
- Weakness
- Wearing her heart on her sleeve: Reports allude to the singer breaking the age-old rule of business when it comes to showing emotions. Insiders state NeNe Leakes made Jackson cry during an on-air dispute.