Who is Elvira Jain? Meet The Model, Entrepreneur and Mum Shaking Up The UAE’s PR scene
The founder of PR firm Maison Ellyse shares her journey from her beginnings as an international model to becoming the founder of a thriving PR and communications agency that focuses on wellness, fashion, beauty, hospitality, and F&B
At just 33, Elvira Jain has already navigated the worlds of modelling, entrepreneurship, and strategic communications, revealing a life story combining ambition and adaptability. She was born in Chisinau, Moldova, and credits her upbringing—amidst a family of inventors and intellectuals—with fueling her enduring curiosity and entrepreneurial mindset. Her grandfather was a celebrated agricultural inventor and her grandmother a literary cinema critic, two individuals who have been central to Elvira’s journey and expansive mindset.
“As a child, I wanted to be an actress in Mexican soap operas, which led me to learn Spanish fluently,” she smiles. But life had other plans. At 16, she was discovered by Moldovan fashion designer Valentina Vidrașcu, catapulting her into the modelling world. By 18, Elvira had launched her own modelling agency, the only Moldovan agency, in fact, to have its models featured in international publications. Impressively, she later sold on this early venture at the age of 22.
Elvira’s pivot from modelling to founding Maison Ellyse, her PR and communications agency, suggests her hunger for fresh challenges, but her trajectory was not without its difficulties. “I was opening a beauty clinic, passionate about wellness and anti-ageing, but due to a last-minute compliance issue, the project fell through,” she recalls. Rather than let the setback define her, she leaned into the network she had cultivated along the way. “While in Miami, I kept receiving PR enquiries and thought, why not start an agency? I had the contacts, the experience, and the drive.”
Today, Maison Ellyse is a key player in the UAE’s competitive PR scene, with a particular focus on the wellness, beauty, aesthetics, F&B, hotel and fashion sectors. Elvira’s personal research into anti-ageing and wellness gives her agency its edge. “We don’t just handle PR; we understand the industry deeply, analysing businesses from various perspectives and focusing on growth strategies,” she explains. Her hands-on approach has garnered the trust of seven aesthetic clinics under her PR portfolio.
Attitude and gratitude have been central to Elvira’s success. From her early days as a model to her trajectory as an entrepreneur, she focused on delivering excellence. “Whatever you do, you must do it well and fully commit,” she insists. Now, her vision for Maison Ellyse includes strengthening its regional presence and expanding internationally.
Balancing her professional and personal life is a skill Elvira has honed with precision. “When I’m home, I focus on my kids and husband, putting work aside until later in the evening,” she shares. Still, her mind is never far from her clients. “I’m always brainstorming ways to help their businesses grow. I love the game of mergers, acquisitions, and valuations.”
If she could offer her younger self a piece of advice, it would be to stay focused and trust the process. “Things happen when they’re meant to, but focus and control are key,” she reflects. For Elvira, life’s ultimate goal is to create value—both for herself and the world around her.
As for the future? She prefers action over words, as she puts it: “First do, then say.”
Lead image credits: Photographer: Ziga Mihalcic; Stylist: Vasil Bozhilov; Make up: Olga Dushanalieva; Hair: Natalia Kovaleva; Creative direction; Marta Dubnitskaya.
