14 Facts About Nina Helou

Nina Michel Helou was a Lebanese lawyer and former First Lady of Lebanon from 1964 to 1970.

Nina Helou was the second woman lawyer to be registered with the bar association of the Mandate for Syria and Lebanon, during French administration.

Nina Helou's practice was mainly focused on women and women's issues.

In 1964, Helou became the First Lady of Lebanon and during her tenure, she oversaw the completion of the Baabda Palace and the renovation of the Beiteddine Palace, as well as a city-wide beautification project.

Nina Helou was devoted to social welfare programs and charitable organizations, particularly the Lebanese Red Cross.

Nina Helou Trad was born in 1904 in Beirut, capital of the Beirut Vilayet, Ottoman Empire to Michel Trad and his Colombian wife.

Nina Helou was the niece of Petro Trad, who served as President of the French Mandate of Lebanon in 1943.

Nina Helou graduated in 1931 with Blanche Ammoun, though Ammoun did not ever practice law.

Nina Helou focused her practice on helping Lebanese women with legal issues.

Nina Helou joined the firm when he completed his studies and they began both a working and romantic relationship.

Nina Helou was the founder and inaugural president of the University Women's Association of Lebanon.

In 1961, Trad-Nina Helou was appointed to serve on the Beirut City Council and proposed a beautification project for the city to preserve its historical monuments and promote tourism.

Trad-Nina Helou died from cancer in 1989 and her funeral, attended by many dignitaries, was held on the 1st of April at the chapel of the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik.

Nina Helou's husband published Nina, ou la quete de l'impossible in 1991 about her final struggle with disease.