Women’s representation in government in the modern era of politics has been a thing of great concern across the world. While there are lots of women who are battling to find their ways in the male-dominated sphere, there are some who have earned their breakthrough and Nikki Haley happens to be one of them. Haley has become a prominent figure in the major political sphere of the United States; thanks to her outstanding work ethic and unparallel track record.
Nikki Haley is a brilliant Indian-American politician most notable for being the former governor of South Carolina and the current US Ambassador to the United Nations. She also served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Interestingly, she is the first female governor of South Carolina as well as the second Indian-American to serve as a governor in the United States. Learn more about her below
Nikki Haley’s Bio
Born Nimrata Randhawa in Bamberg, South Carolina on January 20, 1972, into an Indian-American family, she was raised by her parents Ajit Singh and his wife Raj Kaur Randhawa who immigrated to the United States from Punjab, India. Growing up wasn’t all rosy for Nikki who encountered series of discriminations because of her skin color. She started working in her mother’s clothing line called Exotica International at the age of 12. She completed her basic education from Orangeburg Preparatory Schools in Orangeburg, South Carolina in 1989 and got her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Clemson University.
Upon graduation, Nikki joined waste management and recycling company called FCR Corporation where she worked for a few years. When she left FCR Corporation, she went back to manage her family’s fashion business. Working as the chief financial officer, Nikki helped the company to attain a greater height. Following her success in the business, she was named to the board of directors of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce in 1998.
Nikki joined the board of directors of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce in 2003 and also became the treasurer of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) the same year. While she was there, she served as the chairman of the Lexington County’s Sheriff’s Foundation, Medical Foundation, and the West Metro Republican Women. She later served as the President of the South Carolina Chapter of NAWBO and Friends Leadership Scouting Campaign in 2006.
Her Political Career
Nikki Haley vied for the South Carolina House of Representatives for District 87 of Lexington County and defeated the incumbent representative Larry Koon to win the position. After two years of successful representation, she retained the position for a second term in 2006 and a third term in 2008. She declared her consent to vie for the post of South Carolina Governor in May 2009 and got endorsements from the then incumbent governor of South Carolina and fellow Republican candidate Mark Sanford and his wife Jenny Sanford; as well as then-Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.
During the 2010 gubernatorial elections, Nikki triumphed over Democrat Vincent Sheheen to become the South Carolina governor. She became the third foreigner to be elected as the governor of a southern state after Douglas Wilder of Virginia and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. She was further re-elected for a second term in November 2014. Her term is set to expire in January 2019 but she resigned in January 2017 to assume her new role as the US Ambassador to the United Nations.
Nikki Haley’s Affairs and Trump
Haley has never been a huge fan of the POTUS Donald Trump. Prior to the 2016 election, she was seen as a potential vice-presidential running mate. Meanwhile, she was supporting Florida Senator Marco Rubio and after Rubio pulled out of the race; she gave her mandate to Ted Cruz. Surprisingly, when Trump became the Republican Presidential Nominee, Haley denied her interest in the vice-presidential nomination.
Although she was not a fan of Trump, Nikki said she would vote for him during the 2016 elections. In November 2016, President Trump disclosed his intention to nominate Haley for the post of US Ambassador to the United Nations. He further sent Haley’s nomination to the US Senate in January 2017 and she was confirmed on January 24, 2017. Following her confirmation, Nikki Haley resigned from her post as the South Carolina governor handing over to Lt. Governor Henry McMaster.
Furthermore, there was initial speculation that President Trump will offer Haley the position of the US Secretary of State; nevertheless, she declined the offer. Given her proven political track record of bringing people together irrespective of their backgrounds and her great work ethic; we won’t be surprised to see her becoming the vice president of the United States in the near future.
Net Worth – How Much is Nikki Haley Worth?
Nikki Haley is living a decent lifestyle with her net worth penned at $1.6 million. She currently receives an estimated salary of $179,600 in addition to the many awards and recognition for her excellent performances. Haley was honored with the Liberty Award in 2005 and was named among Time Magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential People in 2016, among others.
Parents, Husband, and Kids
Like we aforementioned, Haley was born to Indian-American parents. Her mother Raj Randhawa went to the University of Delhi where she got a law degree while her father Ajit Randhawa was a former professor at Punjab Agricultural University. His parents moved to Canada when her father got a scholarship to study at the University of British Columbia. Soon after he got his Ph.D., Raj moved his family to Southern California where Nikki was born and raised. Nikki has two brothers; Charan who is a web designer and Mitti, a former member of the US Army Chemical Corps. She also has a sister Simran who is a radio host.
Just like her political career, Nikki Haley is also successful in her love life; she is a happily married woman and a mother of two children. She got hitched to Michael Haley who is a US Army Officer in September 1996. Michael was born and raised in the United States, he attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where he graduated with a degree in business administration. As an officer in the US Navy, Haley has served as a liaison between the military and civilian authorities. He is currently working as a federal military technician with the South Carolina Army National Guard.
The amazing couple is blessed with two children a daughter named Rena Haley and a son named Nalin.
