Awkward alert: why Kamala Harris’ fashion influencer and author niece Meena has been told to stop using her aunt’s name and image on products
- A Harvard-trained lawyer who worked at Uber, Meena Harris now uses celebrities to push her politically charged apparel on TikTok and Instagram
- Donald Trump’s sons Donald Jr. and Eric, daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner all ran businesses while in office – but times have changed
Five days before Kamala Harris was sworn in as vice-president, her niece Meena Harris appeared on the Today show for an interview conducted by Jenna Bush Hager, daughter of former president George W. Bush.
Meena discussed the historic nature of the moment, along with a pitch for her latest children’s book, Ambitious Girl, released on the eve of the inauguration. She wore a pink sweatshirt emblazoned with the word “ambitious” in large type, plugging a popular item in her Phenomenal brand clothing line. All this as pictures of Meena and Kamala Harris flashed across the screen.
The television appearance, like others in recent months, demonstrated the degree to which the 36-year-old social media influencer has meshed her personal brand with her aunt’s ascendant political career.
Meena, who was an official campaign spokesperson, has used that publicity to promote her lifestyle brand, which has over time capitalised on Kamala Harris’ name, likeness, life history and political slogans to produce clothing, videos, bestselling children’s books and designer headphones.
Her promotional activities and close involvement in her aunt’s career have long reportedly raised eyebrows among Kamala Harris’ aides and advisors.