The Truth About Kamala Harris' Relationship With Her Mother-In-Law

If you're looking for a scandal about some evil in-laws, we're sorry to disappoint. The truth about Kamala Harris' connection to her in-laws Mike and Barb Emhoff (Michael and Barbara in full) couldn't be sweeter and more filled with smiles. Harris describes the first time she met her mother-in-law Barb in a July 2019 interview with 92nd Street Y. Re-enacting the meeting she describes (via YouTube), "...so the first time I meet my mother-in-law she looks at me, she puts... my face in her hand she looks at me and she says 'Oh look at you.'" Mom Barb reportedly goes on to say, "You're prettier than you are on television!" then shouts for husband Mike to come look (via Kveller). For full effect, you need to hear the real story with Harris' perfect New Jersey accent impression. 

Describing her in-laws in the same interview she says, "They are in California now, but New Jersey is very much in them." A quick scroll through YouTube and you can see the pride the Emhoffs share in their leader of a daughter-in-law. A 2019 Instagram pic shared by husband Douglas shows both him and his parents on the campaign trail stumping for her presidential run. "On the trail for @kamalaharris with my parents!!" brags the proud husband (via Instagram).

And why wouldn't the elder Emhoffs love her? It seems like she's the perfect fit.

If you search through photos of the Harris-Emhoff clan you'll see smile after smile after smile. Harris would go on to marry husband Douglas Emhoff in 2014 after that meeting, joining not only his in-laws but his two children from a previous marriage, Cole and Ella (via Jewish Telegraphic Agency). Fully embracing her family by marriage and their Jewish roots, the Emhoff children have even nicknamed their stepmom "Momala." As an homage to her name Kamala and role as a mom, the pronunciation of "Momala" also closely mirrors the Jewish endearment "Mamele," meaning "little mama".

But why stop there? Harris also gets along wonderfully with Douglas' first wife calling her a "dear friend" (via The Oprah Magazine). In Harris' own words, "She and I became a duo of cheerleaders in the bleachers at Ella's swim meets and basketball games, often to Ella's embarrassment. We sometimes joke that our modern family is almost a little too functional."

When it comes to a functional, happy, extended and blended family — we just can't get enough. It seems Harris was a perfect match for the Emhoff crew. As one Twitter commenter remarks, "Whenever Kamala laughs or smiles, I have to laugh & smile with her."