Growing up in Russia, I was surrounded by a culture that valued traditional family roles. While the expectation was for women to become mothers, a different path tugged at my heart. As a teenager, I felt a strong yearning to explore the world, travel, acquire a degree and build a career for myself.
Motherhood was always part of that dream and life equation—I just wasn’t sure of when. Throughout my twenties, I felt certain that prioritizing my own goals and individuality was an essential part of my story, and I hoped motherhood could come along for the ride. I wanted to do both.
After all, why choose? I dove headfirst into university life in Moscow, juggling classes with a part-time job—a feat requiring countless hours battling Moscow traffic. Graduation brought liberation, and I embarked on a journey to fuel my wanderlust. My travels eventually led me to London, where I pursued a second master’s degree and landed a fulfilling full-time job. Life felt perfectly on track.
I thought, “what’s next?” Though I had lived in Russia and Europe, I was curious about what a life in the United States would look like. This curiosity led me to pursue a third master’s degree in New York City. It was then my life’s direction started to shift.
My final years of grad school introduced me to a wonderful man who is now my husband. Life was beautiful—and it felt like everything was aligning perfectly. I was cultivating a career, in a loving relationship and leading a successful life created on my own terms. I felt accomplished. The timing for starting a family felt so right.
But life is unpredictable, and often tragedy comes when you least expect it: I lost my first pregnancy and suffered the heartache of miscarriage.
This was three years ago, and the grief felt like an avalanche then, burying the expectations that had always surrounded motherhood. Growing up, becoming a mom wasn’t a suggestion, it was a foregone conclusion. Pregnancy seemed as natural and intuitive as breathing. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine my path to motherhood wouldn’t be a straight shot.
The news of the miscarriage washed over me in a wave of crushing loneliness. The grief and heartbreak felt like a foreign language, impossible to articulate to those around me. The silence surrounding miscarriage, coupled with the ease with which others seemed to become parents, only deepened my isolation.
I began to question, was this a rare experience? Was I alone in this profound loss?
As I processed the loss of my pregnancy, I began to realize how much being a mom really did mean to me. I wanted to have a career, but I also wanted to have a child. I was frustrated with myself. Did I wait too long? Was I wrong to prioritize myself? Did I make the wrong choice?
Through all of these questions, my family and community gave me the support I needed to grapple with my loneliness. Through sharing my experience and talking about my sadness with others, I started hearing countless stories that mirrored my own. The more I talked to parents about their path to parenthood, the more clearly I began to see the seemingly endless list of challenges people faced along the way. I was learning there was no perfect path, no right or wrong way. My husband and I decided we wanted to try again.
I was still in emotional pain. I felt restless, anxious. But I was brave. And as I continued to grieve, my husband encouraged me to find a way to channel this energy into something beautiful.
I didn’t know exactly where to start. I kept thinking about how grateful I was for my loved ones during this painful time. I thought about all the stories I had heard about the ups and downs of creating a family. Even though it wasn’t unfolding in the way I had envisioned, I still felt called to motherhood. I was regaining my sense of determination and, once again, forging my own path.
A memory of my sister surfaced. She had recently uprooted her family—husband and two young daughters—to a new city, miles away from familiar faces. The transition was undeniably challenging, yet she persevered. I vividly recall her saying the sheer power of her love for her children fueled her strength throughout those difficult moments.
I was so moved by her love and the depth of her bond with her children. I wanted to find a way to give her a daily reminder of love while also celebrating how hard she was working to be a good mom.
I decided to design a custom diamond and gold bracelet with two charms representing her two daughters. I loved the idea of something tangible and beautiful to help her feel more connected to them. My sister loved the bracelet and still wears it to this day.
I noticed myself thinking about that bracelet more and more. I thought about the other women whose stories I had learned, how their journeys deserved to be celebrated in a similar way. I thought about how excited I would be to wear a similar bracelet to celebrate my journey.
This was the beginning of my jewelry brand, OliviaR.
With a background in business, starting a brand was another path I had always been curious about. I was not, however, interested in creating a business just for the sake of doing so. I wanted to wait for an idea that was authentically me and made me genuinely excited.
And suddenly, I had the idea for a line of fine diamond jewelry that celebrated parenthood and deep family ties.
The thought of this project excited me greatly. I was slowly getting myself back on track. My heart was healing, and I was finding new ways to move forward. My husband and I were planning for the next pregnancy—everything from discussing IVF treatments to attending countless doctor’s appointments. Though I was determined, it was still difficult to shake the anxiety that followed as we tried with no success for several months.
I invested more time and energy into developing OliviaR in an effort to move through these emotions. Although I have always loved fashion and jewelry, I did not know the first thing about starting a jewelry brand from the ground up.
I started doing my research and began working on designs for the jewelry. I learned about jewelry manufacturing and found a company that could bring my ideas to life. I worked on every facet of the brand—from design to mission statement to diamond connoisseur and beyond.
The more I developed this passion project, I started to feel more like myself again. I was finding my new path forward.
And just like that, I found out I was pregnant for a second time.
After a surprisingly smooth pregnancy, I gave birth to my daughter Olivia in May of 2023. As I eagerly awaited her arrival, my jewelry brand was slowly blossoming into a business. I suppose I always knew being both a mom and an entrepreneur were somewhat inevitable for me, however, I never would have guessed the two would be so inextricably connected.
The birth of my daughter and the birth of my brand happening concurrently has served as a powerful reminder that my identity contains multitudes; I am a mother, and I am a business owner. I want my daughter to grow up having a mom who encourages her to chase whatever dream she wants. I want to set a good example for her, and I want her to see that she can have both a family and a career.
This is why OliviaR is more than just a brand. OliviaR jewelry celebrates the courage it takes to navigate the inevitable challenges of being a parent. We strive to honor the foundation of pure love families are built upon—even in times of doubt. At OliviaR, we understand that everyone’s journey to parenthood is unique. Whether you are celebrating the excitement of a long-awaited pregnancy, remembering a loved one who may be far away or simply cherishing the miracle of family, our jewelry serves as a tangible reminder of the love and hope that endure through it all.
