Moroccan Designer - Mimia Leblanc

On shining bright and her heady rise in the world of jewellery Hello! brings you Her childhood, her family and her friendship with couturier Zuhair Murad

- ABDELLATIF KHIZRANE

The Moroccan jewellery brand, Mimia LeBlanc, epitomises glamour, confidence and a certain playful quality. With feminine but edgy creations featuring fleur de lys and star motifs, Mimia LeBlanc pieces have become a favourite in the world of fashion and social media.

Behind the brand is Miryam Labiad, a woman who is as audacious as she is beautiful, with a feline grace worthy of a Hollywood star.

Posing for Hola! in Beirut, the vibrant city she has made her home, the Casablanca-born beauty with the heart of a Berber talks to us about her beloved Morocco, the adored grandmother who inspired her and her adventures in Paris and New York. Miryam also opens up about her friendship with Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad, her destiny and dreams.

Mimia is a really pretty name. Where does it come from? “It’s my parents’ nickname for me so it symbolises love and affection.”

And why LeBlanc? “I use the handle LeBlanc on my social media, it means Labiad. For my jewellery brand I decided to put Mimia and LeBlanc together.”

Is white your favourite colour? Is that because you’re from El Jadida, a white city 100 kilometres from Casablanca? “For me white is the colour of purity, of new beginnings, of light and strength. I’m influenced by my childhood in El Jadida, known for its beautiful beaches and historical monuments, many of which were built during the era of Portuguese expansion. I go there once a year to replenish myself and enjoy the weather.

“Dressing in white gives me serenity and self-assurance. I adore it because it reminds me of my maternal grandmother, who was Berber. She was such a chic, elegant woman and very charismatic, always dressed in a white burnous [Berber cloak]. It suited her so well!”