The US Presidential elections are always a landmark moment. But the 2020 edition was extremely special as it took a giant leap for women empowerment.
As Kamala Devi Harris took oath to become the Vice President of the United States, she broke the glass ceiling in the process.
She not only became the first woman, the first black person, and also the first woman of Indian origin to do so; her meteoric rise to the White House only speaks volumes of her administrative capabilities and popularity.
As a former Californian attorney general and U.S. Senator, Harris has broken barriers throughout her career–setting new examples for women to follow and conquer.
'Momala' Harris All The Way
Madam Vice President Kamala Harris married husband Douglas Craig Emhoff in 2014, assuming the position of a step mum to his two children: Ella, 21 and Cole, 26.
And as always, 'perfectionist' Harris stepped up her parenting game too. So much so that she is lovingly called "Momala" by her step children.
In fact, in a video introducing Harris at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, her step daughter Ella Emhoff said, "To me and my brother, you’ll always be 'Momala,' the world’s greatest stepmom. You’re a rock, not just for dad, but for the three generations of our big, blended family.”
Now that you know a little bit about her, let us tell you the nine more things you probably never knew about Madam Vice President, Kamala Devi Harris.
9 Things You May Not Have Known About Kamala Harris
1. Her mum chose her name
Harris was born in Oakland, California in 1964, and is the eldest of two children born to Donald Harris, an economist from Jamaica and Shyamala Gopalan, a cancer researcher from India.
Her mum chose her name as a nod to her Indian roots. Kamala means “lotus” and is another name for the goddess Lakshmi. Kamala Harris’s middle name, Devi, is also representative of the divine female.
2. Harris went viral in 2017
Harris went viral in 2017 for her sharp questioning of then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the Russia investigation. Session said, "I am not able to rush this fast. It makes me nervous," after just three-and-a-half minutes into Harris' persistent questioning.
3. Harris And Her KHive
You may have heard all about Beyoncé’s Beyhive (what her loyal group of fans call themselves). But did you know that Kamala Harris' loyalists call themselves KHive?
It is the informal online community of supporters that was formed to defend Harris from racist attacks and misinformation. KHive was formed prior to and during the 2020 Presidential election.
4. She loves to cook
Kamala Harris is an enthusiastic cook who bookmarks the recipes from the New York Times cooking section. A simple roast chicken is her go-to dinner entree.
Her husband, Emhoff–in an interview with Vogue–shared that she cooks elaborate meals for the extended family over the weekends.
"Kamala spends a considerable amount of time thinking about the menu, grinding the spices and driving all over the town, looking for that one ingredient, which we need," said Emhoff about his wife's love for cooking.
In November 2020, she cooked Masala Dosas with Mindy Kaling for a YouTube video.
5. Early riser and healthy eater
Harris typically wakes up around 6 am and then works out for half an hour on the SoulCycle or the elliptical. She kickstarts her day with a bowl of Raisin Bran with almond milk and has tea with honey and lemon before leaving for work.
6. She visited India frequently as a child
Her maternal grandparents encouraged her to pursue a civil service career as an adult.
Her grandfather PV Gopalan—who fought for India's independence as a high-ranking government official, and her grandmother, Rajam Gopalan, used to travel to rural areas of India to teach impoverished communities about birth control.
7. She ran for President in 2019
Harris announced her candidacy for president on Good Morning America on January 21, 2019. But she withdrew it towards the latter end of the year due to low polling numbers and lack of funding.
Then on August 7, 2020, Joe Biden announced her as his running mate and there's only been up from there for Madam Vice President.
8. Mum behind her life's motto
Harris' family is her biggest source of strength and inspiration. In fact, her motto in life was inspired from her mother's teachings who always said, "You may be the first, but you make sure that you are not the last."
9. She loves reading
While Harris was running as a Democratic candidate for president in 2019, she was the first to respond to Book Riot’s request for her favourite books and/or those that have been most influential in her life. She listed these five books:
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
- Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
- Native Son by Richard Wright
- The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
Harris isn't the one to conform to norms. She's always carved her own niche and that is clearly the message with which she has arrived in Singapore.
ICYMI, US Vice President Kamala Harris has already landed and already met top officials in Singapore today (August 23, 2021)– the first working day of her trip to Southeast Asia. In fact, this is her first trip to the island after assuming her new role in November 2020.
The two countries have also announced a series of new agreements aimed at combating cyberthreats, addressing covid pandemic, and tackling climate change, among other things.
What a way to kick off the trip, we say!
Lead/Featured image: Facebook / Kamala Devi Harris
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