Incoming US Second Lady Usha Vance Has A Direct Telugu Connection (And Second Name!)

Usha 'Chilukuri' Vance comes from a Telugu Brahmin family with roots in the West Godavari and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh.

At the private dinner for President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet, held at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, guests brought their A-game in style for the black-tie event. Vice-President-elect J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha Chilukuri Vance, stood out as a power couple. Usha is the soon-to-be Second Lady of the United States.

Usha is far more than just a political spouse. She’s a Yale Law School graduate with an impressive legal career, having clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Her multicultural upbringing and intellectual brilliance have shaped her into a poised, accomplished woman who is equally comfortable in the courtroom and at high-profile political events.

Noble Telugu Origins

Usha comes from a Telugu Brahmin family with roots in the West Godavari and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh. Her parents immigrated to the US in the 1980s, bringing with them a legacy of scholarship and academic excellence. Her family is renowned for their contributions to education and literature.

Her paternal great-aunt, Shanthamma Chilukuri from Visakhapatnam, is an author and a physics professor at Centurion University, celebrated as India's oldest active professor. Usha also traces her lineage back to the Chilukuri Chatushtaya, four learned brothers from Vatluru in the mid-1800s who were revered for their vast knowledge and intellectual contributions.

Role Model For The Ages

Usha is the poster child for how to nail the immigrant success story while keeping your roots intact. Born in sunny California to Indian immigrant parents, she grew up juggling the best of both worlds: Telugu traditions at home and the whole “you can be anything you want” mantra that America loves to dish out. She manages to perfectly blend the warmth of her cultural roots with the cool, collected independence of American life, making her the kind of role model who can inspire anyone trying to figure out how to honour their heritage without missing a beat on the world stage.

While her husband gained fame with his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, Usha has quietly carved out her own space as an attorney and a modern icon. Though she keeps a low profile, when she steps out (like she did recently at a Washington dinner) she effortlessly commands attention.

Show-Stopping Oscar de la Renta Moment

At the recent Washington dinner, Usha Vance turned heads in a black Oscar de la Renta velvet gown. The strapless noir gown featured asymmetrical floral accents. Paired with understated accessories and a sleek updo, Usha let the gown do all the talking. Her confidence elevated the look, proving that style isn’t just about clothes but how you carry yourself.

Oscar de la Renta has long been the go-to designer for women who want to make a statement while exuding elegance. Founded by the Dominican designer in the 1960s, the brand has dressed everyone from former US First Lady Jackie Kennedy to pop queen Taylor Swift. Oscar de la Renta creates pieces that are as empowering as they are beautiful.

With her legal expertise and multicultural roots, Usha Vance is proving that the role of the second lady is evolving. Whether she’s captivating audiences with her eloquence or turning heads in couture, this Telugu-American embodies intelligence, grace, and style on the world stage.