All About Kamala Harris’ Nieces and Nephews

Kamala Harris is known as “Momala” to her stepchildren, 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 has been open about growing up in an all-women household from her mom and aunt to her grandmother, Shyamala Gopalan, whom she told host Kelly Clarkson on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 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 with CNN, 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

Following in her mom and aunt’s footsteps, Meena attended law school at Harvard University three years after graduating from Stanford University in 2006, per her LinkedIn. While she started her career in law, Meena made a career pivot in 2017 when she founded Phenomenal Media, a media company that highlights the stories of women and underrepresented communities.

Her company has since been behind co-producing Tony Award-winning musical A Strange Loop and a number of Meena’s own books, including The Truth About Mrs. Claus. Meena told Drew Barrymore on The Drew Barrymore Show in 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 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 his LinkedIn.

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 became a mother herself after welcoming her two daughters, Amara and Leela. Since then, she’s written four children’s books, including one inspired by her mother and aunt, Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea, published in 2020.

The story follows the two sisters’ work in the community to create change. She told CNN that she wanted her daughters to feel empowered by their family’s story and instill in them the same values that Meena’s grandmother instilled in her: that “no one can do everything, but everyone can do something.”

“The important message is that not only you as a kid have the power to do something, you should do something. Don’t just be a bystander, be a part of it,” she said.

Kamala has a close relationship with her great-nieces

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 inauguration in 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.

Leela twinned with her aunt yet again at the DNC in August 2024 when she wore a tan suit inspired by Kamala’s bespoke tan wool suit.

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

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.”