10 Facts to Know About Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris is the first Black woman to run on a major party’s presidential ticket in U.S. in… 244 years! Let’s hope this is the beginning of change and we won’t have to wait another 244 years for another Black woman to step into Kamala’s shoes.

• She really is a pioneer – only two other women have been nominated as vice-presidential candidates for a major party: Sarah Palin by the Republican party in 2008 (oh god, we remember that) and Geraldine Ferraro by the Democrats in 1984. Neither ended up on the winning ticket.

• Kamala’s successful career is not a surprise – she really had the bar set high! She comes from an ambitious family: Her father, who was Jamaican, taught at Standford University, her mother, the daughter of an Indian diplomat, was a cancer researcher. Her younger sister, Maya, became a public policy advocate and organised her campaign. What a talented bunch!

• Apart from her career, Harris is also considered to be an excellent and passionate cook. On her Instagram you can find videos and photos of home-roasted turkey or casseroles, with a touch of Indian or Mediterranean flavor. She also participated in a cooking show on YouTube!

• Politics and cooking aside, Kamala also has another passion: Music. Her favorite genres are hip hop and rap. In 2017 she released a playlist on Spotify that included "Love on Top" by Beyoncé, "Waterfalls" by TLC, "Juicy" by The Notorious B.I.G. and "Humble" by Kendrick Lamar.

• Harris also stands up for others. She performed California’s first same-sex wedding ceremony for Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, plaintiffs in the landmark court case that challenged Proposition 8.

• Kamala is also an author – she wrote two non-fiction books and one children’s book. Apparently there is nothing this woman cant’ do!

• She is extremely close with her mother and sister. After separating from her husband, Kamala’s mother raised her and her sister mostly by herself and the trio created a unique and beautiful bond. They even made a nickname for themselves: “Shyamala and the girls”.

• Kamala’s mother is her greatest inspiration. She always said that “You may be the first to do many things, but make sure you’re not the last”.

• Harris helped develop a program with the San Francisco Department of Public Health to help emergency rooms spot evidence of child sexual abuse. She also co-founded the Coalition to End the Exploitation of Kids.