Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff (Image: Getty Images)

Inside Kamala Harris' life from McDonald's worker to US presidential candidate

by · Daily Record

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The wait is hopefully almost over for Americans, who have cast their votes in the US presidential election, which culminates today on Tuesday, November 5.

With Kamala Harris and Donald Trump neck-and-neck, the fierce campaign has continued to escalate over the past few weeks, as we can expect the results of the highly-anticipated fiery political battle soon.

However before running as US president, 60-year-old American politician Kamala once had a very different job - operating the ice cream machine and serving up fries at McDonalds.

Kamala, current vice president and leader of the Democratic Party, often reflected on her earlier years working at the fast food giant, stating the job inspired her to advocate for working families, according to reports in the Mirror.

Let's take a closer look at her earlier years before her head-to-head with Trump.

Kamala with her sister Maya and mother Shyamala (Image: Instagram)

Early life

Kamala was raised by her mum Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who turned down an arranged marriage and emigrated from Chennai, India, to California as a teenager.

Shyamala prioritised her education and went on to establish herself as a renowned breast cancer researcher. Kamala's dad, Donald J Harris, is a Jamaican-American economist and professor who met Shyamala through their involvement in the civil rights movement.

After five years of wedded bliss, the couple decided to part ways, leaving Shyamala with the responsibility of raising Kamala and her sister Maya. Despite their Indian roots, the girls were deeply embedded in Oakland's Black culture. In her memoir, The Truths We Hold, Harris revealed: "My mother understood very well that she was raising two Black daughters.

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"She knew that her adopted homeland would see Maya and me as Black girls and she was determined to make sure we would grow into confident, proud Black women." Shyamala passed away from colon cancer in 2009, but her ambition and drive continue to inspire.

"Shyamala Harris was no more than five feet tall, but if you ever met her you would think she was seven feet tall," Kamala once shared on Instagram. "She had such spirit and tenacity and I'm thankful every day to have been raised by her."

University years at McDonalds

Kamala worked as a cashier at the fast food chain McDonalds to fund her law degree at the University of California in the 1980s.

Her university years are often cited as formative in shaping her political career. It was during this time that she met activist Lita Rosario-Richardson, who she bonded over shared experiences of being raised by single mothers and engaging in debates.

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After earning her law degree, Kamala began her career at the Alameda County District Attorney's Office. In 2003, she became the district attorney for San Francisco, making history as the first woman and first black person to hold this prestigious position.

She capitalised on her status as a rising star within the Democratic party, and by 2017, she had secured the position of California's junior US senator. However, her run for the presidency in 2020 did not bear fruit. Her campaign fizzled out within a year, but Joe Biden thrust her back into the global limelight.

Family life and Marriage

Kamala Harris, though not a mum herself, plays a cherished role as 'Momala' to her husband Doug Emhoff's children Cole, 29, and Ella, 24. She maintains a close bond with their mum, Kerstin Emhoff, Doug's former wife.

Kamala has often expressed that being 'Momala' is the role she values most. The couple tied the knot in 2014, and during a 2019 Elle interview, Kamala shared the origins of her unique moniker.

"When Doug and I got married, Cole, Ella, and I agreed that we didn't like the term 'step-mum'. Instead they came up with the name 'Momala'."

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