How Old is Usha Vance? (complete background on the Second Lady)

Usha Vance holds a prominent place in American public life as the wife of Vice President JD Vance. Born on January 6, 1986, she turned 40 years old earlier this month.

Her journey from a suburban upbringing in California to her current position reflects a blend of academic excellence, legal expertise, and family commitment.

This biography article explores her life in detail, drawing from reliable sources to provide a full picture of her background, career, and recent activities.

Credit: Instagram@SLOTUS

Family Roots and Childhood

Usha Vance, originally named Usha Bala Chilukuri, was born in San Diego County, California, to parents who had immigrated from India.

Her father, Radhakrishna "Krish" Chilukuri, works as a mechanical engineer and lecturer at San Diego State University, while her mother, Lakshmi Chilukuri, serves as a molecular biologist and provost at the University of California, San Diego.

Both parents trace their origins to the Telugu Brahmin community in Andhra Pradesh, India, and arrived in the United States during the 1980s.

According to Wikipedia, she grew up in the upper-middle-class neighborhood of Rancho Peñasquitos in San Diego, alongside her sister, Shreya.

The family maintained strong ties to their cultural heritage, practicing Hinduism and emphasizing education.

Usha's paternal grandfather taught physics at IIT Madras, and her great-aunt authored works on Hindu philosophy, including an English interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita.

This scholarly lineage shaped her early years, fostering a focus on learning and community involvement.

During her childhood, she volunteered in local schools, led a Girl Scouts troop, and edited an education policy publication.

Academic Path

Usha Vance pursued higher education with distinction. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Yale University in 2007, graduating summa cum laude and gaining membership in Phi Beta Kappa.

While at Yale, she spent time as a Yale-China Teaching Fellow, instructing English and American history at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China.

After that, she studied at Clare College, University of Cambridge, as a Gates Cambridge Scholar, completing a Master of Philosophy in early modern history in 2010.

Her research centered on the book trade and the evolution of copyright laws.

She returned to Yale for her Juris Doctor degree, which she received in 2013.

At Yale Law School, she took on leadership roles, such as executive development editor for the Yale Law Journal, managing editor for the Yale Journal of Law & Technology, and editor for the Yale Law & Policy Review.

She also contributed to various clinics, including those focused on Supreme Court advocacy, media freedom, information access, and refugee assistance.

To outline her educational milestones, here is a timeline:

Year	Achievement	Institution
2007	Bachelor of Arts in History (summa cum laude)	Yale University
2007–2008	Yale-China Teaching Fellow	Sun Yat-sen University, China
2010	Master of Philosophy in Early Modern History	University of Cambridge
2013	Juris Doctor	Yale Law School

This progression highlights her dedication to intellectual pursuits across continents.

Credit: Instagram/SLOTUS

Legal Career

Usha Vance built a respected career in law after completing her studies.

She started with clerkships for federal judges, beginning with Judge Amul Thapar on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky from 2013 to 2014.

She then clerked for Judge Brett Kavanaugh on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit from 2014 to 2015, followed by a clerkship with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. on the U.S. Supreme Court from 2017 to 2018.

During her time with the Supreme Court, she worked on cases like Azar v. Garza, which addressed abortion rights for a juvenile immigrant.

Admitted to the bars in the District of Columbia, California, and Ohio, she joined the law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson as an associate.

As per White House, there, she handled complex civil litigation and appeals in San Francisco and Washington, D.C., representing clients in industries such as entertainment, education, and energy.

Her clients included Paramount Pictures, the Regents of the University of California, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and a division of Disney.

She resigned from the firm in July 2024 to prioritize her family amid her husband's political rise.

Marriage and Personal Life

Usha met JD Vance at Yale Law School, where their professor Amy Chua encouraged their connection.

They married on June 14, 2014, in Kentucky, blending traditions in an interfaith ceremony. JD Vance, raised without strong religious affiliation and once identifying as an atheist, converted to Catholicism in 2019, while Usha remains a practicing Hindu.

A Hindu pandit blessed their union, and the event included a Bible reading.

The couple has three children: sons Ewan and Vivek, and daughter Mirabel. They raise the children in a Christian environment, though Usha incorporates elements of her heritage.

Both follow a vegetarian diet, with JD Vance often preparing Indian dishes. Usha serves on boards for organizations like the Washington National Opera, the Gates Cambridge Alumni Association, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, reflecting her interests in arts and education.

In January 2026, the Vances announced in a post on X that they expect their fourth child in late July, coinciding closely with the nation's 250th birthday celebrations.

This makes Usha the first second lady to be pregnant during her husband's vice presidency since Floride Calhoun in the 1800s.

Credit: Instagram/SLOTUS

Political Journey and Public Role

Usha Vance's political affiliations evolved over time.

She participated in Democratic primaries until 2014, then registered as an independent until 2022, when she switched to Republican.

She voted in the 2022 Republican primary for her husband during his Senate campaign and contributed to Blake Masters, a national conservative candidate, in 2021.

As second lady since January 20, 2025, following JD Vance's inauguration as the 50th vice president, Usha became the first Indian American, Telugu American, Hindu, and Asian American in the role.

She succeeded Doug Emhoff and stands as the youngest second lady since Jane Hadley Barkley during the Truman administration.

In her public capacity, she introduced her husband at the 2024 Republican National Convention and supported his campaign through debate preparation and event attendance.

Her involvement contributed to his praised performance in the 2024 vice presidential debate. Recent engagements include a February 2025 trip to France and Germany with her husband, her February 2025 appointment to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts board, leading the U.S. delegation to the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Italy in March, a March 2025 visit to Greenland that sparked diplomatic discussions, and a November 2025 joint visit with First Lady Melania Trump to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune to meet military families.

Public attention has also brought challenges, including racist comments about her Indian background from some groups, which JD Vance publicly defended.

Her fashion choices, particularly at the 2025 inauguration, received positive notice.

Current Focus and Legacy

At 40 years old in 2026, Usha Vance balances her role as second lady with family life, including her ongoing pregnancy.

Her story underscores themes of immigration, education, and interfaith harmony in American society. She continues to engage in cultural and diplomatic efforts, such as her arts board positions and international delegations, while supporting her husband's duties.

Her portrayal by Freida Pinto in the 2020 film adaptation of JD Vance's memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, introduced her to a broader audience.

As she navigates this chapter, Usha Vance remains a figure of achievement and resilience.