Kamala Harris‘ stepdaughter Ella Emhoff is a style icon to some, a bogeyman of modern femininity to others. Does it help or hurt the Democrats?
Given that Republicans like to deride Kamala Harris as a childless cat lady, it’s surprising how often the next possible “first daughter” is a topic of debate. When it comes to discrediting, it is clear that stepdaughters are as welcome as biological children, and Ella Emhoff really makes an ideal target for ultra-conservatives. Because the 25-year-old is not seen in well-mannered, feminine costumes and dresses, but often androgynous, always unusual outfits. She hardly wears any make-up, but instead wears nickel-plated glasses, lots of small tattoos and – OMG! – visible armpit hair. When she’s not at fashion shows or modeling herself, she designs colorful knit accessories or hangs out with other cool New Yorkers in the hipster area of Bushwick. In other words, she is almost everything that Ivanka Trump is
To some Trump supporters, however, she doesn’t just look “weird,” she acts like one. In her Instagram profile picture, her face looks oversized, zoomed in with a magnifying glass, and she also looks exaggerated. At the Democratic convention, she stood hand-in-hand with her father, Harris’ husband, Douglas Emhoff, after which prominent Trump supporter Charlie Kirk immediately posted pictures of the two and labeled them “weird.”
Because you are not allowed to maintain a friendly relationship with your parents? Especially not a chummy one? For comparison: Donald Trump once said on a talk show that if Ivanka wasn’t his daughter, he would probably date her. It is also said that he fantasized about his chest. This: of course the most normal thing in the world?!
Called overnight
Neither Ella Emhoff nor her brother Cole, who is four years older than her, chose the sudden spotlight. Until the election of Joe Biden as President of the USA and Kamala Harris as Vice President, they were just members of a slightly more prominent blended family with a senator in the house. Overnight she knew half the world and soon she knew that they lovingly called her stepmother “Momala” and that she had baked cookies home with her when they first met.
However, Ella seems to enjoy the attention more or at least use it more than her brother, who, like her biological mother Kerstin Emhoff, works in the film business and is less visible. At the inauguration in January 2021, the fashion student caused a stir in her checked Miu Miu coat with a wide white collar and gemstones. Soon after she was seen on the scene for the first time at New York Fashion Week and received advertising contracts.
Their knitted designs also gained more attention. After graduating from the famous Parsons School of Design, she founded the Soft Hands Knit Club and shows in videos how she creates her “knit paintings”. She attended the Met Gala and flew to Milan for Fashion Week, with the taxpayer-funded Secret Service in high gear.
Ella Emhoff in September 2024 in New York.
However, it seems that the family (or the Harris campaign team) has decided to keep their presence on the campaign trail to a minimum. At least, the frequency of her Instagram posts seemed to drop significantly after the official nomination At the end of August, Emhoff canceled all events at her knitting club until further notice. The security risk to you and the members was too great, it was said – and perhaps also the risk of offering an even bigger attack surface.
In March, Emhoff put out a call for donations to the Palestinian relief organization UNRWA, apparently unaware that the US government had just suspended funding because of possible links to Hamas. When the New York Post reported on it, Emhoff immediately removed the link. Accordingly, the 25-year-old has not given any notable interviews recently and her political activities have been limited to voting calls. “There is only one option for positive change, and that is Kamala Harris and Tim Walz,” she wrote
She herself cast her vote last Sunday and, to celebrate the day, she made a new knitted picture for her fans: with the American flag and the text “I voted”. It goes without saying where she ticked.
Ella Emhoff, stepdaughter of Vice President Kamala Harris, has become a figure of interest and debate in American political discourse. Her unique style, characterized by androgynous clothing choices and a lack of traditional femininity, has drawn both admiration and criticism. As a prominent figure in the world of fashion, she has gained attention for her vibrant knit designs and distinctive public persona.
Emhoff’s emergence coincided with the Biden-Harris administration, thrusting her into the limelight when her family dynamic became more visible. Unlike the more conventional image of political families, Emhoff presents a stark contrast, often invoking the ire of conservative commentators. Her unconventional presentation and unapologetic self-expression have made her a target for right-wing groups, who see her as emblematic of modern femininity that challenges traditional norms.
Critics highlight her appearance and mannerisms, calling her “weird” and using pejorative terms as they attempt to undermine Harris and progressives more broadly. However, Emhoff’s supporters celebrate her as a modern style icon who embodies a deeper, more complex representation of femininity.
As the campaign season heats up, the Harris campaign appears to be moderating Emhoff’s visibility to mitigate any backlash and security concerns related to her public presence. While she originally embraced the fashion spotlight and publicity, there is now a notable shift towards a more discreet approach, likely aiming to maintain a protective shield around her family during the political process.
Ella Emhoff’s journey from relative obscurity to becoming a subject of national discourse underscores the evolving nature of political family dynamics in contemporary America, where both style and public perception play crucial roles in shaping narratives.