Ella Emhoff, a 25-year-old textiles artist and model, was seen Monday at the Democratic National Convention supporting her stepmother, Kamala Harris, in her run for president, after gaining attention in the political world recently for defending Harris against Republican attacks.
Ella Emhoff watches the proceedings during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at ... [+]
Harris became stepmother to Ella Emhoff, 25, and Cole Emhoff, 29, in 2014 when she married Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, who had his children with his first wife, Kerstin Emhoff.
Ella, who lives in Brooklyn, grew up in the Los Angeles area, and was in high school when her father married Harris—she began her senior year at Wildwood School when Harris was elected to the Senate.
She attended college at The New School at the Parsons School of Design in New York City to study fine arts with a focus on textiles and graduated in 2021.
Emhoff was noticed in the fashion world after President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, at which she wore a gem-covered Miu Miu coat, and a week later she signed a contract with IMG Models Worldwide.
In addition to modeling, she is an avid knitter and founded Soft Hands, a company to “explore opportunities in fashion, design, creative consulting and hosting events,” and Soft Hands knitting club as a way to make “such a singular activity feel less lonely,” she told HypeBae for a profile on the club.
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Emhoff was spotted at the DNC on Monday wearing a viral piece of merchandise from Harris’ campaign: The Chappell Roan-esque camouflage hat that reads “Harris Walz” in orange font. The hat is extremely similar to a piece of merchandise sold by Roan, a pop star from Missouri, that reads “midwest princess” in orange font on a camo hat. When Harris and Walz debuted the hat on the same day she announced Walz as her running mate, it went viral and sold out almost immediately, though it was made available again for pre-order.
349,000. That’s about how many followers Emhoff has on Instagram. Emhoff often uses her social media to post images of her artwork and promote her art exhibits throughout New York City.
Though Emhoff is signed to IMG Models Worldwide, she has also modeled for Balenciaga and Adidas by Stella McCartney, USA Today reported.
Emhoff has been a vocal supporter of her stepmother’s run for president and defended Harris against comments made by Ohio Sen. JD Vance, former President Donald Trump’s running mate. In July, comments Vance made in 2021 resurfaced in which he named Harris, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., as the next generation of leaders in the Democratic Party, noting they don’t have children—despite Harris being a stepmother to two children. After the speech drew criticism, Vance then went on Tucker Carlson’s show and named Harris, Buttigieg and Ocasio-Cortez again, saying the U.S. was effectively run “via the Democrats” by “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable” and want to make others miserable, too. In response, Ella Emhoff said in an Instagram story “I love my 3 parents” and questioned how Vance could call Harris “childless.”
Yes. After Vance’s comments saying Harris was childless resurfaced, Doug Emhoff’s ex-wife, Kerstin Emhoff, told NBC News Harris has “been a co-parent” with them and “is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present.” In a 2019 essay Harris wrote for Elle about being a stepparent, Harris said she and Kerstin “hit it off … and are dear friends” and they “sometimes joke that our modern family is almost a little too functional.” Kerstin responded to the essay saying she was “happy to be co-parenting with” Harris.
Whether Ella Emhoff makes any kind of speaking appearance at the DNC this week. Her father is set to speak before former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday night between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. EDT.