Rebelle News

We’re down to our second-to-last Where Are They Now of 2025, and this month we’re catching up with the unstoppable Thayer Gray. Buckle up for a good one as Thayer tells us everything she’s conquered since the Rebelle and how a woman who once worried about folding a tent ended up driving Baja and beyond!

When Kristin Shaw signed up for her first Rebelle Rally in 2022, she had no idea how much the experience would reshape her career and confidence. Three years and three rallies later, she is living what she calls her “dream come true,” writing for top automotive outlets, testing vehicles off-road, and saying yes to adventures she once would not have dared to try.

Katie Abraham entered the Rebelle Rally in 2022 looking for a challenge. What she found was a spark that shifted everything: her career, her confidence, and her sense of direction. Since that first rally, Katie has stepped into the off-road industry full time, co-driven in desert races, and started teaching recovery and driving skills to others. She’s building a life rooted in adventure, purpose, and saying yes to what scares her.

For Keri Porter, the Rebelle Rally opened more than just a roadbook—it opened the door to a new chapter. Since first competing in 2018, she’s retired from her job as a school bus driver, launched Discover 4×4 Adventures with her husband, and now travels full-time teaching off-road skills and leading adventures that welcome all experience levels.

For OG Rebelle Rachel Micander, the 2016 Rebelle Rally wasn’t just about off-road competition—it was a turning point. Since finishing 9th in the inaugural event, she’s earned a Master’s in Geology, co-authored a book on Nevada’s landscapes, and fueled her passion for cars by restoring a ’95 BMW M3 and helping grow her local car community.

For Racquel Black, the Rebelle Rally was more than just an off-road competition—it was a space to sharpen the skills she already carried with her. Growing up on the Navajo Nation meant resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving were second nature. But in the desert, surrounded by a team of strong women, she learned just how valuable those skills were in ways she hadn’t expected.

For LeeWhay Pasek, the Rebelle Rally wasn’t just about competition—it was a turning point.
“At Tech Inspection in 2021, my rookie year, I sent a down payment on 200+ acres of raw land in New Hampshire just before we shut down our electronics.”
Since then, she and her family have built up a homestead, farm, and orchard. This spring, they’ll add another 350+ fruit and fodder trees and three goats to their property. “It has been an adventure.”