From Arranged Marriage Runaway To Model Ambassador

June 28, 2011 - PRLog -- As a runaway from an arranged marriage who went on to work for a Saudi Princess before being talent spotted for a glamorous career as a fashion model, Cheshire woman Eyerus Lee has seen her fair share of the world.

Today Eyerus - pronounced Yarris - is officially employed as a technical administrator with Cheshire technology management company Arena Instrumentation, but in reality leads the life of unofficial roving ambassador for the fast growing company.

“I love the company and the people within it because everybody is passionate about delivering the very best service possible to the customer,” said Eyerus from her desk at the Ellesmere Port HQ of the company.

“Wherever I go I tell people about Arena, its latest achievements and how wonderful it is as a company,” added 33 years old Eyerus who has sung the praises of Arena on trips across the world in destinations as varied as the USA, Japan, the Middle East, Canada and many parts of Europe.

“I’m happy to tell people because people within this business helped me start my new life here in Cheshire,” added Eyerus, who was born in Ethiopia, not far from the capital Addis Ababa.

“I come from a big family and was very happy until I reached the age of 15,” she recalled. “My father was very traditional and I was told I was going to be married. Arranged marriages were a tradition at the time but not for me.

“I decided to run away. I gathered what little money I had and left my home. I headed east and ended up in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.”

Thankfully, the young runaway was befriended by a kindly Saudi woman who wanted to help her. She turned out to be a Saudi princess.

“She took me into her home and gave me shelter,” explained Eyerus. “Her husband felt I would be a suitable companion for her so I stayed. Eventually they gave me the job of nanny and I helped care for her children.”

When Eyerus met her first husband, a Brit who worked for Saudi Arabian Airlines, her adoptive family did not approve. So Eyerus went on the run again - this time accompanying her man home to the UK.

While trying to find work, Eyerus was approached by a model agency representative, who offered her the chance to do a photo-shoot. She was snapped up by model agencies in Liverpool, London, Middle East and Ethiopia and her photos began appearing on the pages of a variety of fashion magazines under her modelling name of Jery.

“I even did a spell on the Shopping Channel,” recalled Eyerus.

Sadly her marriage floundered after her husband’s return to work in the Middle East and Eyerus decided to try to find an occupation which would fit-in with her duties as the mother of a young son, Benjamin.

Eyerus remains good friends with her ex-husband who sent a gift, card and best wishes for her recent wedding to her second husband.  

“When I applied to Arena for work they were so helpful. They not only gave me a chance of a new career, they also sent me to college to brush up on my English. They have been so kind to me – it’s thanks to them that I’ve been able to start a new life here.”

Eyerus, is now so much a part of the company that her photos appear on a variety of corporate brochures and she was recently called upon to model for a series of photographs on the company’s website.

“In one of those shots, I’m holding a globe to illustrate Arena’s recent decision to open  bases in Sweden and Denmark,” explained Eyerus whose next photo-shoot followed her wedding in April to fiancé Dr Chris Lee in Cheshire.

“We met in McDonald’s in Chester where Chris was having a quick bite to eat with his children.  One of his children reminded me so much of my own son, who wasn’t with me at the time, that I had to apologise for keep looking at him. We got talking and found we had lots in common, including both being fans of Manchester United.”  

“My wedding day was the happiest day of my life,” said Eyerus. “All my friends were there, including my Arena family.”

Eyerus's MD at Arena, David Dawe, said: "It has been a pleasure to help Eyerus to repatriate to the UK. She has brought a sense of calm reflection to the company and has demonstrated that, with the right attitude, anything is possible - which is a perfect strategy for the business as a whole."

For further information click onto: www.arena-instrumentation.com