The Team Behind ‘Momala'
YOU South Africa|10 December 2020
America’s vice president has an adoring family who’ve supported her all the way to the White House
Charlea Sieberhagen-Grey
The Team Behind ‘Momala'

A LOT is being made of her race and gender – but these aren’t the only reasons Kamala Harris is shattering barriers.

Standing on stage with her Jewish husband, two stepchildren, sister, niece and great-nieces, addressing Americans for the first time as their first Asian, black and female vice president-elect, she showed them what a truly modern family looks like.

“To my husband Doug, our children Cole and Ella, my sister Maya, and our whole family, I love you all more than I can express,” she said in an emotional acceptance speech in Delaware, as she and president-elect Joe Biden celebrated their historic victory.

Many people’s ears pricked up at the words “our children” – but it sums up just how close her relationship is with her husband’s kids from his first marriage.

In an article she wrote for Elle magazine last year, Kamala (56) explained that when she married Doug Emhoff in 2014, she, Cole (26), a production-company assistant, and Ella (21), an arts student, agreed they hated the term “stepmother” so decided to use “Momala” instead.

And it’s a role she takes seriously.

“I’ve had a lot of titles over my career, and certainly ‘vice president’ will be great,” she said in her first speech as Biden’s running mate. “But ‘Momala’ will always be the one that means the most.”

This story is from the 10 December 2020 edition of YOU South Africa.

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This story is from the 10 December 2020 edition of YOU South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

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