(Photo : X.com)
Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of J.D. Vance, is set to be the first Indian-origin 'Second Lady' of the US.

• Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of J.D. Vance, is set to be the first Indian-origin 'Second Lady' of the US.
• Born and raised in San Diego, Usha is a successful corporate lawyer and litigator.
• Usha played a key role in Vance's Senate campaigns in 2016 and 2022, leading to his election as Ohio senator and Vice-President.
• Usha's elevation is a significant milestone for the Indian-American community, reflecting their growing influence in US politics.

Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of Donald Trump's running mate J.D. Vance, is set to make history as the first Indian-origin 'Second Lady' of the United States. The 38-year-old Indian-American lawyer's roots trace back to Andhra Pradesh, India. Her elevation to this prestigious position has sparked celebrations in her ancestral village of Vadluru in West Godavari district. The villagers expressed their joy by bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets after the victory of the Republican ticket of Trump and Vance in the US Presidential elections.

Usha's parents, Radhakrishna Chilukuri and Lakshmi Chilukuri, migrated to the US in 1980. Usha, one of their three children, was born and raised in San Diego, California. Her mother, a marine molecular biologist and biochemist, is the Provost of the Sixth College at the University of California, San Diego University. Her father, also known as Dr. Krish Chilukuri, is a lecturer in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the San Diego State University.

Usha's Journey to Success

Usha's journey to becoming the Second Lady of the United States is a testament to her hard work and dedication. She holds a bachelor's degree in History from Yale University and a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Cambridge. She later joined Yale Law School, where she met her future husband, J.D. Vance. Their friendship blossomed into love, and they tied the knot in 2014. The couple has three children - Ewan, 6, Vivek, 4, and Mirabel, 2.

Usha has had a successful career as a corporate lawyer and litigator. She served as a Law Clerk to two Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and argued civil cases in the education, medical, and defense sectors. She was also associated with the Supreme Court Advocacy Clinic, Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic, and Iraqi Refugee Assistance Projects. She is currently working as a litigator in the National Legal Agency.

Interestingly, while studying at Cambridge, Usha worked with left-wing and liberal groups and registered her name as a Democratic Party member in 2014. However, four years later, she registered with the Republican Party for voting from Ohio. Usha played a key role in Vance's Senate campaigns in 2016 and 2022. She was instrumental in her husband's election as Ohio senator in 2022 and was also responsible for his campaign for the office of Vice-President.

A Milestone for the Indian-American Community

The news of Usha's elevation has been received with pride and joy in her home state of Andhra Pradesh. Nara Lokesh, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Information Technology and Electronics, said, The Second Lady designate, Usha Vance has roots in AP. We're proud as people of AP Origin continue to make their mark in various spheres across the world."

Usha's journey is not just a personal achievement but also a significant milestone for the Indian-American community. It is a testament to the growing influence and recognition of Indian-Americans in the political landscape of the United States. This event is reminiscent of the historic election of Kamala Harris, the first woman and first person of South Asian descent to hold the office of Vice President in the United States.