It was Usha Vance’s day: Why we can’t stop talking about America’s Indian-origin Second Lady

When the world tuned in to witness Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration, it wasn’t just the returning President who grabbed the attention. Usha Chilukuri Vance, America’s new Second Lady and wife of Vice President JD Vance, unexpectedly made heads turn.

Holding the Bible in one hand and their daughter Mirabel Rose in the other, Usha stood beside her husband as he placed his left hand on the religious text, and raised his right hand to take the oath of office. The Indian-American Second Lady beamed with pride as Vance repeated the oath after Justice Kavanaugh, never taking her eyes off him.

Her proud expression, radiant smile and poised demeanour made a lasting impression on everyone who watched and sparked curiosity.

So, who is Usha Vance, and what role will she take on as the US’ first non-white Second Lady? Here’s everything we know about her.

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The dazzling lady in pink

It wasn’t just Usha Vance’s charming personality that caught everyone’s attention—it was also her stunning bubblegum pink Oscar de la Renta ensemble that stood out.

The luxury fashion house shared details of her look on Instagram, writing, “For the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies, Second Lady Usha Vance wears a custom peony cashmere coat with scarf wrap and complementing tea-length dress.”

The cashmere trench coat featured padded shoulders, full-length sleeves with folded cuffs, and a flowy silhouette. Its standout detail was a wrap-style scarf neckline, which Usha artfully twisted around her neck. She cinched the coat at the waist with a matching pink belt, creating a polished and elegant look.

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Underneath, the 39-year-old wore a matching tea-length dress. To complete the outfit, she opted for taupe suede knee-high heeled boots and flower-shaped earrings adorned with pearls.

Her salt-and-pepper hair was styled in a sleek, side-parted bun, while her minimal makeup included feathered brows, pink lips, kohl-lined eyes, and a soft flush on her cheeks.

Before the inauguration, Usha had already made a stunning appearance at Trump’s pre-inauguration bash. For the event, she donned a black gown by Oscar de la Renta.

Trump’s big shoutout to Usha

During the oath-taking ceremony, newly sworn-in President Donald Trump couldn’t help but shower praise on his Vice President’s wife while introducing his deputy.

“I watched JD over a period of time. I endorsed him in Ohio. He was a great senator and a very, very smart one,” Trump remarked, before adding with a grin, “the only one smarter is his wife.”

The clever mention of JD Vance’s Indian-origin wife drew laughter from the crowd. Turning towards JD, Trump quipped, “I would have chosen her, but somehow the line of succession didn’t work that way, right?” JD Vance laughed and nodded in agreement.

Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha joined President Trump and First Lady Melania for an inaugural ball dance.

I’m crying 🥹❤️🇺🇸

pic.twitter.com/vqLtMpB2sy

— Jane Carrot (@JanecheersJazz) January 21, 2025

Born in 1986 to Indian immigrant parents, Usha Vance grew up in an upper-middle-class suburb of San Diego. Once a litigator at a prominent national law firm, the 39-year-old Second Lady boasts an impressive academic and professional background.

According to The New York Times, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Yale University and a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Cambridge.

Usha’s legal career included a year clerking for Brett Kavanaugh when he was an appeals court judge in Washington, followed by another year as a law clerk for Chief Justice John Roberts, as reported by AP.

She later became a trial lawyer for the prestigious law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson, where she handled “complex civil litigation and appeals” across sectors such as higher education, local government, entertainment, and semiconductors. However, she stepped back from her legal career after JD Vance secured the vice-presidential nomination.

Her academic journey also included four years of rigorous extracurricular activities at Yale, after which she continued her education as a Gates fellow at Cambridge. While there, she engaged with left-wing and liberal groups. Notably, she was a registered Democrat in 2014 but later switched her political allegiance to the Republican Party.

A ‘spirit guide’ to JD Vance

Usha Vance has contributed significantly to her husband’s achievements.

She assisted Vance in organising his thoughts on the social decline in rural white America, which inspired his best-selling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which was adapted into a film directed by Ron Howard in 2020, as per ANI.

In the memoir, JD described her as his “Yale spirit guide,” helping him navigate life at the elite university where they met. “She instinctively understood the questions I didn’t even know to ask, and she always encouraged me to seek opportunities that I didn’t know existed,” he wrote, as per CNN.

The couple tied the knot in 2014 in Kentucky, with a Hindu priest officiating a separate ceremony. Together, they have three children: Ewan Blaine, 7, Vivek, 4, and Mirabel Rose, 3.

Speaking to ANI, AI Mason, a US-based real estate investment advisor and well-known entrepreneur, shared his thoughts, “Usha Vance is a highly accomplished attorney and daughter of Indian immigrants, and her husband brings youth and diversity to the Trump ticket,” he said.

“She knows the Indian culture and all about India. She can be a big help to her husband in navigating great ties between the USA and India,” added Mason, who is also a friend of the Trump family.

With the inauguration festivities concluded, the Vance family will soon relocate from their home in Cincinnati’s East Walnut Hills neighbourhood to the United States Naval Observatory, the official residence of the Vice President.

Since 1977, Vice Presidents and their families have resided in the white nineteenth-century house at Number One Observatory Circle, just a few kilometres from the White House.

While the role of Second Lady is largely ceremonial, it is clear Usha Vance will remain a steadfast source of support for her husband as he embarks on this new chapter.

With input from agencies