All About Kamala Harris' Nieces and Nephews

Mar. 15, 2025

Kamala Harris and Meena Harris in December 2019 ; Jasper Emhoff and Arden Emhoff wave after speaking during the Democratic National Convention on August 21, 2024.Photo:Meena Harris/X ; Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times/Getty

Meena Harris/X ; Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times/Getty

Kamala Harrisis known as “Momala” to herstepchildren, Ella and Cole, but to her nieces and nephews, she’s “auntie.”

The vice president has one sister,Maya Harris, who is the mother of Meena Harris. Kamala is also an aunt to nieces and nephews on her husband,Doug Emhoff’s, side, including his brother Andrew Emhoff’s daughter Arden and son Jasper. Doug also has a sister, Jackie, who has children as well, though they are private.

Kamala’s nieces and nephews participated in the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 21 in support of their aunt, taking the stage with Kamala’s godson, Alexander Hudlin, to share some stories about their relationship with her growing up.

“Kamala Harris is our auntie,” Jasper said, while Arden continued, “She’ll be a president who cares for all of us.”

In addition to being an aunt, Kamala is also a great-aunt to Meena’s daughters, Amara and Leela.

From their careers to how they’ve supported their aunt, here’s everything to know about Kamala Harris' nieces and nephews.

Meena said she grew up in a “special” environment of all women

Meena Harris attends the PatBO fashion show during New York Fashion Week on September 09, 2023 in New York City.Cindy Ord/Getty

Cindy Ord/Getty

Meena has been open about growing up in an all-women household from her mom and aunt to her grandmother,Shyamala Gopalan, whom she told hostKelly ClarksononThe Kelly Clarkson Showin March 2023 was more like a second mom to her.

She described what it was like having “incredible women of color running around” and how they inspired her to be ambitious.

“They were all in service and had purpose,” she said. “I appreciate that even more as an adult just how informative that was for me and I think about how I’m raising my own children, not only how I can carry that legacy forward but also that my kids in many good ways are growing up in a different environment.”

In an August 2020 interview withCNN, Meena shared that she didn’t realize how unique her experience was until she became an adult.

“I grew up in this family of incredibly strong powerful women and that’s what I thought was normal. I wasn’t aware of the fact that is not how the world actually is. I think that was incredibly special,” she said.

Meena was a lawyer and is now a CEO and producer

Meena Harris and Maya Harris in November 2021.Meena Harris/Instagram

Meena Harris/Instagram

Her company has since been behind co-producing Tony Award-winning musicalA Strange Loopand a number of Meena’s own books, includingThe Truth About Mrs. Claus. Meena toldDrew BarrymoreonThe Drew Barrymore Showin November 2022 that she originally chose a career in law because her role models — including her aunt and mom — were making changes through their work, but soon realized it wasn’t the right path for her.

“[I realized] there are other ways that I can make a difference in the world and that I can contribute,” she said. “Really understanding that I’m different and I’m creative and I’m a storyteller and coming into that after the age of 35, it’s really special.”

Jasper graduated from U.C. Berkeley

Jasper Emhoff speaks on stage during the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 21, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.Andrew Harnik/Getty

Andrew Harnik/Getty

Jasper grew up in Santa Cruz, Calif. Like his cousins, Jasper is also building an impressive career for himself after graduating from the University of California, Berkeley in May 2023 with a degree in computer science, per hisLinkedIn.

Since graduating, Jasper started working as a machine learning engineer at Stealth Startup.

Meena wrote a children’s book about her mom and aunt

Meena Harris and Kamala Harris in November 2019.Meena Harris/X

Meena Harris/X

Kamala has a close relationship with her great-nieces

Kamala Harris and her great-nieces, Amara and Leela, in November 2020.Meena Harris/Instagram

Kamala has embraced her identity as a great-aunt to Leela and Amara. The two little girls have made headlines for dressing up like the vice president,including donning fur coats to Kamala’s inaugurationin January 2021.

Meena shared in a since-deleted Instagram post that the two girls wore coats designed to “look just like Auntie’s,” referencing the ones Kamala and her sister wore as kids.

The two girls joined actressKerry Washingtonon stage on the last night of the DNC to help teach the room how toproperly pronounce Kamala’s name.

Amara started off the explanation, sharing that the best way to say the first part of her aunt’s name was “comma, like a comma in a sentence.” Leela rounded it out, explaining that the second half was was “luh” as if you were singing the scales of a song.

Jasper and Arden spoke out in support of Kamala at the DNC

Jasper Emhoff and Arden Emhoff speak on stage during the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 21, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.Andrew Harnik/Getty

Kamala’s nephew Jasper and niece Arden made a rare public appearance when they spoke in favor of their aunt at the DNC in August 2024.

Arden shared how “even as a kid, Auntie made me feel that I was seen, that my words are important, that I am important and loved," while Jasper spoke to how Kamala always makes time “for what matters” even though “no one is busier than my auntie.”

source: people.com