First published 21 Nov 2008;
Talented twins Noor and Zayna Ellemore were A-grade students as they were growing up and even won an award for helping children in their local community.
When the girls moved from their hometown of Sunderland to London three years ago, their family believed that the girls’ high-flying modelling careers were funding their riverside flat and sports car. But three months ago, the 22 year olds revealed the shock news that they were £500-an-hour hookers. Incredibly, their mum has now forgiven them and their gran, Pat, has even told Closer she’s proud of them.
'Our family was horrified when they first found out about our work'
“Our family was horrified when they first found out about our work,” says Zayna. “But now they’ve seen how much we’re earning and what a gorgeous flat we live in, they’re fine about it.”
The twins, who were brought up by their mum Donna, 41, after their dad died, had dreamed of becoming drama teachers. They went to university, but quit after just a year to become glamour models.
“Mum didn’t like it, but we were fed up of being skint,” says Zayna. It was on a glamour shoot that the girls, who are both single, were asked to do escort work. They leapt at the chance, even though they knew that they’d be expected to sleep with their clients.
“We know people who are escorts and they’d told us about what they did,” says Zayna. “It sounded easy and
a good way of earning money.”
Noor adds: “Our first client was an Italian businessman, who we were asked to meet in a hotel in Stansted. He couldn’t speak much English. We were nervous, but we pretended we were just acting. “The sex wasn’t fulfilling, but we just thought of the money. We didn’t feel dirty or ashamed.”
The twins have been doing escort work for three years now. They rent a luxury £400,000 flat together and share a sporty Peugeot 207.
'We take home around £50,000 a year each'
“We take home around £50,000 a year each and we can earn up to £1,000 per session,” says Zayna. “We’ve learnt to switch off our emotions when we work and we don’t think about it afterwards. We meet clients in hotels,” adds Zayna. “The escort agency vets the clients and we always text the agency before and after we see anyone to let them know that we’re safe. And we always use condoms.”
'We don't think its gross to see each other having sex'
Shockingly, the twins often see clients together. “We take it in turns to sleep with them. It isn’t embarrassing – it’s just a job,” says Zanya. “We don’t think it’s gross to see each other having sex – we try not to look at each other all the time, but we’re used to it now.”
Three months ago, the twins were forced to confess their secret life to their family, after a family friend discovered their pictures on an escort website.
Zayna says: “Mum and Nana were shocked and disappointed. They thought we were just modelling. Mum cried and didn’t talk to us for weeks, but Nana came down to see us. She told us to get a proper job, but we insisted we wouldn’t stop until we’d secured our futures.”
Now, both Donna and Pat, 69, have reluctantly accepted the situation. “They say that as long as we’re happy, they won’t fall out with us,” says Noor. “Our job wouldn’t be everyone’s choice, but at least we’re not on benefits.”
Pat adds: “I was shocked, but you can’t deny they’re doing really well for themselves. They earn good money. I’m proud of everything they’ve achieved.”
By Rachel Dobson