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Vice President Kamala Harris was once called a “childless cat lady” by Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance – a claim that has been denounced as sexist by the childless community, her husband’s ex-wife, and even Jennifer Aniston.
And it’s simply false. The likely Democratic presidential candidate actually has two stepchildren thanks to her husband Doug Emhoff, whom she married in 2014. Emhoff had two children, Ella and Cole Emhoff, with his first wife Kerstin – and the couple affectionately call Harris their “Momala.”
“Kamala has been a mother to Doug and me for over 10 years, since Cole and Ella were teenagers,” Kerstin Emhoff told CNN. “I love our blended family and am grateful to have her as part of it.”
Here’s what you need to know about Harris’ family.
Who is Ella Emhoff?
Ella Emhoff is a 25-year-old model, fashion designer and artist.
She graduated from the Parsons School of Design in New York in 2021.
That same year, she dazzled at Joe Biden’s inauguration – in a checked coat by Miu Miu – and signed a modeling contract with IMG a few weeks later.
Nicknamed the “First Daughter of Bushwick,” the Brooklyn bohemian neighborhood where she reportedly lives, Ella has cemented her place in the art world.
The artist specializes in knitwear and posts videos of her creative process on Instagram. She even founded the Soft Hands Knit Club, where she teaches others her knitting skills at various locations around the city.
“Knitting and textile art in general has always been and will always be a therapeutic practice for me. I see it as something that calms my anxieties,” she said Cultivated Magazine in 2023.
Ella has also tried her hand at politics and was active in the Biden-Harris election campaign in 2020.
She recently echoed pop star Charli XCX’s statement that her stepmother is a “brat,” writing in her Instagram story: “@charli_xcx gets it.”
On Thursday, Ella also poked fun at Vance’s comment that Harris was “childless.” She posted an Instagram story and wrote, “How can you be ‘childless’ when you have such sweet kids like Cole and I?” She added, “I love my three parents.”
Who is Cole Emhoff?
Harris’ eldest stepchild Cole, 30, spends more time away from the public eye than his younger sister.
Cole works in the entertainment industry, following in the footsteps of his mother, who is a film producer. He reportedly works at Brad Pitt’s production company Plan B and has been involved in the films Minari And Father of the brideaccording to IMDb.
Cole married Greenley Littlejohn in November 2023 – a wedding officiated by Harris.
“It was so wonderful that the children asked me to do this,” Harris said People back then. “For us, marriage is not just a matter between two people, but a coming together of families. And we all participated in that spirit.”
Littlejohn’s LinkedIn profile shows that she has worked as Global Product Development Manager at Brand ID since 2019 and is “inspired by apparel design, functional supply chains and environmental sustainability.”
Both Cole and Ella have joked that Harris, the former attorney general of California, has a tendency to question her friends.
“I had to give the biggest warning ever when I wanted to invite friends over for dinner,” said Cole Shine in 2020.
“It became notorious! She questioned our friends about their life goals and their 10-year plans. If you don’t know, you’re out,” Ella added.
