How I Got Here: The Maverick Mind Behind Rebel Jewelry

By Karen Dybis | October 27, 2026

Marie Helena Abou Jaoude Mrad certainly made the right choice when she chose Rebel as her brand name: It epitomizes her childhood, early career, and decision to start a jewelry company with no previous experience.

“It represents my personality, my independent nature, and a deep-rooted curiosity to explore the unknown rather than just follow the crowd,” Helena says.

Her latest collection and category expansion also reflect that spirit. For example, All Roads Lead to You speaks to themes of self-discovery and connection—a nod to why she started Rebel in 2017 and revamped the brand in 2023 as a tribute to her grandfather.

In October, she debuted Baby Rebel, miniature, baby-friendly versions of Rebel’s signature jewelry. They’re pieces parents can share with their children as expressions of love and to build a child’s jewelry collection, a tradition Helena experienced in her Lebanese family.

Baby Rebel Classic Studs — *Baby Diamond and Enamel Studs ($1,200) and Classic Diamond and Enamel Studs ($1,600) in 18k yellow gold*

Baby Rebel came out of Helena’s experience in 2025 of becoming a mother to her daughter, and she and her husband are expecting their second child at the end of this year.

As if that isn’t enough, Helena is starting her own podcast this fall. The Rebel Table is dedicated to people sharing stories behind their artistry, focusing on designers and others in the jewelry industry.

“When I first launched Rebel, I did not have a community or a place to share my story, so I made it my goal to create that space when the time is right,” Helena explains.

Helena was born and raised in Lebanon, and her childhood was filled with family, culture, and community. She worked alongside her brother and her parents in the family’s restaurant, which her parents opened in 2009.

“My love for jewelry started very early. On special occasions, I would always ask to borrow my mother’s jewelry. Every year on my birthday, my parents kept a sweet tradition alive by gifting me a small piece of jewelry,” she shares. “That tradition sparked a lifelong love affair with fine jewelry. And, today, I am so happy to carry it on with my own daughter.”

Rebel Guiding Flame Ring — *Guiding Flame Ring ($8,500) with 0.61 ct. champagne-colored diamond and enamel in 18k yellow gold*

Working at the restaurant from age 13 forward was demanding, Helena says, but she values the lessons she learned there as well as the hours she spent with her father.

“People often underestimate how demanding the hospitality industry is. You work while everyone else rests. Days off are rare. And you always have to keep a welcoming smile,” she says. “That experience taught me incredible resilience, patience, and an attention to detail.”

Helena graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Laws from Université La Sagesse in Beirut, and she knew she wanted to translate her education into a global practice. She got a United Nations internship while in law school, and followed that up with a job at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. She also worked with an international NGO called Data-Pop Alliance.

“While I had hoped to pursue a master’s degree in international security, life had other plans when the Beirut port explosion and economic collapse reshaped our world,” she says.

Rebe Be Present Necklace — *Be Present Necklace ($5,980) with 0.47 ct. t.w. white diamonds in 18k yellow gold*

She came into jewelry unexpectedly. She was working at her parents’ restaurant when a customer asked her about her watch—a Cartier her mother owned, which Helena was wearing. He explained he worked in the jewelry industry and invited her to visit his showroom. Helena asked during that visit if he knew of any manufacturers that might work with her as an independent designer.

“It felt like an unmistakable sign from the universe. That manufacturer has been working with me ever since,” Helena adds. “In 2017, I invested every dollar I had saved into creating my first fine jewelry pieces, launching an online store back when online fine jewelry shopping was brand new in Lebanon.”

She moved to the United States in 2019 and paused her jewelry business. With her husband’s encouragement, she brought Rebel back to life to honor her grandfather’s memory.

“Jewelry, to me, is a conversation-starter and the best way to cherish memories. It carries a relatable substance that brings people together,” Helena says. “My collections are sequenced like chapters in a book, sharing a similar theme: to embrace change, seek adventure, explore new places, and remember that light always emerges at the end of any tunnel we walk through.”

(Photos courtesy of Rebel Jewelry)