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The Silent Burden of Usha Vance: 5 Secret Facts of America’s Second Lady

Usha Bala Chilukuri Vance is far more than just the spouse of a political figure. She has a brilliant legal mind and earned her undergraduate degree from Yale and returned to law school, where she met her future husband JD Vance. A native of San Diego County, California, Usha had a challenging upbringing, just like JD Vance. The two connected through their individual and collective resilience, as they rose up to their own paths to success.

Usha went on to practice at Munger, Tolles & Olson, a prominent legal firm, during which she established herself as a formidable presence. As she was ascending in her career, things began to shift when her husband’s political dreams grew. Here are some silent truths of Usha Vance, and some revealing facts about America’s second lady.

Her Role as JD Vance’s “Spirit Guide”

In his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, JD Vance said that Usha is his “spirit guide,” and was someone who he looked to for insight and balance to help him overcome emotional volatility and the anger that came from his own internal struggles. He went on to say that Usha helped ground him in their relationship and in processing his past and plans for the future. She was able to help him move on from his resentment to a sense of responsibility.

In the political world, Usha has gone beyond the performative support that is often seen to having substantial influence on JD’s career. She is by JD’s side at political events but is also behind the scenes as the strategist, listener, and architect of her family’s trajectory. JD has evolved in many ways due to her quiet yet powerful impact.