At the time of this report, Maya is 57 years old.
The sisters share a lifelong bond, and Maya even officiatedKamala and Doug Emhoff’s wedding.
She continues to play a supportive role for Kamala as a speaker at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Like Kamala, Maya became a lawyer.
Both siblings were influenced in their career choices by theirparents, Shyamala Gopalan Harris and Donald Harris.
Accordingly, Maya spent time working for the ACLU of Northern California on numerous human rights issues.
“I can just see her smiling saying how proud she is of Kamala.
And then, without missing a beat, she’d say, ‘That’s enough.
You got work to do.'”
It was a difficult time and something that neither she nor Kamala Harris have discussed publicly over the decades.
Maya finished high school before her daughter, Meena Harris, was born.
To add to her difficulties, Maya was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease lupus while she was in college.
“Lupus extracts a physical and emotional toll,” Maya explained.
Maya also introduced Meena to the family’s passion for advocacy.
Having Meena accompany her to law school also led to Maya’s 1998 marriage to Tony West.
Like his wife, West has been active with Kamala’s 2024 presidential campaign.
He’s also a lawyer who serves as Uber’s chief legal officer.
West also took on a caretaking role when Meena was at school with her mom.
West and Maya both graduated from the school in 1992.
Eventually romance blossomed and they married.
She’s also a mom to two daughters of her own.
