Usha Vance - the lawyer who is now America's 'second lady'
Usha Vance is an attorney, a graduate of Yale University, and the Hindu daughter of Indian immigrants. She has recently taken on the role of the United States' "second lady."
She found herself in the limelight when her husband, JD Vance, was selected as Donald Trump's vice-presidential candidate for the 2024 election.
Shortly after, she left her position as a lawyer and took the stage to present him at the Republican Convention.
There, she offered a glimpse of her husband, describing him as a "working-class individual" who had triumphed over difficulties from his childhood to go to Yale Law School.
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A straightforward guy who embraced her vegetarian lifestyle and took the time to learn how to prepare Indian dishes for her mother.
A resilient Marine who had seen combat in Iraq cherished nothing more than spending time with puppies and enjoying the film Babe.
This duality was also reflected in how they portrayed themselves as dedicated Republicans, while prioritizing their roles as parents above all else.
Mrs. Vance spoke about her husband's main goal in life, which was to have a family. In return, he praised her by saying she is not only an amazing lawyer but also an even greater mother.
Childhood and Family History
Mrs. Vance, 38 years old, grew up in San Diego. Her parents immigrated to the United States from India in the 1970s.
Her mother works as a biologist and holds the position of provost at the University of California, San Diego, while her father is an engineer, as stated in Mr. Vance's campaign.
During her opening remarks at the Republican Convention, she highlighted how her middle-class background contrasted significantly with her husband's childhood spent in poverty in Ohio.
"Mrs. Vance remarked that the fact JD and I were able to meet, and eventually fall in love and get married, really speaks to the strengths of our wonderful country. It also highlights JD himself."
During a June interview with Fox News, where she was accompanied by her husband, Mrs. Vance discussed her upbringing in a religious family.
"My parents are followers of Hinduism, and this is one of the reasons they’ve been such wonderful parents and truly admirable individuals. I've witnessed firsthand the impact of their beliefs."
Mr. Vance shared with the news outlet that his wife played a significant role in helping him reconnect with his Christian beliefs.
Mrs. Vance earned her bachelor's degree from Yale University and went on to complete a Master of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, where she was awarded the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
She then went back to Yale to attend law school, where she met her future husband.
How the two first crossed paths
In his 2016 memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," Mr. Vance shared that he and his writing partner became acquainted during a class project, and he quickly developed strong feelings for them.
"In a setting that often felt unfamiliar, Usha's company made me feel welcomed and at ease," he expressed.
In a 2017 interview with NBC, Mrs. Vance expressed her appreciation for Mr. Vance, who was merely a friend at the time, noting that he was "very hardworking" during their collaboration on a legal brief in law school.
"He would arrive for the 9am meetings I scheduled for us to collaborate on the brief," she mentioned.
The couple finished their studies in 2013 and tied the knot the year after.
They reside in Cincinnati, Ohio, and are the parents of three kids: Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel.
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After completing law school, Mrs. Vance spent a year working as a clerk for Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who is currently on the Supreme Court, while he was a judge on the appeals court in Washington. She then spent another year as a law clerk for Chief Justice John Roberts.
During that period, Justice Roberts wrote a 5-4 decision that supported Mr. Trump's travel ban aimed at several countries with predominantly Muslim populations.
In a different decision, he was part of the 7-2 majority that supported a Christian baker who declined to create a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
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Until recently, Mrs. Vance worked as an associate at the large law firm Munger Tolles & Olson, which has 200 attorneys. Her specialization was in civil litigation and appeals.
The company has worked with clients like Berkshire Hathaway, Bank of America, and PG&E.
According to court documents, among her clients were a branch of the Walt Disney Company and the University of California Regents.
A representative for Munger stated that she was a fantastic lawyer and a great coworker.
What JD Vance has expressed regarding his spouse
Reflecting on their time as law students during a 2017 interview, Mr. Vance recalled, "What stands out to me about Usha is her remarkable confidence and willingness to take initiative."
In his autobiography, he acknowledged that his wife played a significant role in his achievements and overall joy.
"At my best, I’m like a ticking time bomb - I can be calmed down, but it requires expertise and careful handling," he expressed.
"It's not only that I've figured out how to keep my impulses in check, but Usha has also discovered how to handle my behavior."
In 2020, he mentioned during an episode of the Megyn Kelly Show podcast that he gains from having a “strong female presence” supporting him.
"Usha really helps keep me grounded. Whenever I start to feel overly confident or proud, I just have to remember that she's achieved so much more than I have," he said.
