Usha Vance's High School Yearbook Photos Prove She's Aging Gracefully
Usha Vance is paving a new path for the role of second lady. In addition to being the first woman in the position to be both Indian American and Hindu, she's carving out her own aesthetic that we don't typically see from a SLOTUS. It goes without saying that Usha Vance and Melania Trump's styles couldn't be more different, with the second lady favoring subtle, modest looks that let her academic and professional achievements do the talking instead. And old photos from her high school yearbook show that this relaxed approach to beauty and fashion isn't something that Usha has adopted since becoming the second lady — or even since marrying JD Vance.
The parent of one of Usha's Mt. Carmel High School classmates posted two snaps from her yearbook on Instagram in July 2024. The black-and-white shots taken when Usha was in 11th grade circa 2002 show that she's aging gracefully, and although she does unsurprisingly look a little different after more than two decades, she's maintained a fuss-free approach to the way she looks. The throwback picture shows that Usha Vance's hairstyle has always been consistent: parted to the side, thick, and blunt at the ends. These days, her hair may be a little shorter with a few face-framing layers worked in, but she hasn't strayed from her overall natural and laid-back vibe with a more distinct cut or bleach. Similarly, the comparisons of her face then and now seem to show that she's embracing the natural process of aging rather than relying on cosmetic procedures (not that there would be anything wrong with that).
Usha Vance has evolved since high school, but her vibe is the same
The second snap posted on Instagram shows an 11th-grade Usha Vance (then Usha Chilukuri) looking a little different from how she looks today. Her hair is pulled back into what looks like a messy pony, which is a stark contrast to her go-to SLOTUS hairstyles today. Typically, she now wears her hair down or in a sleeker updo for special occasions. But again, this second photo shows her face hasn't changed much other than with what can be attributed to natural aging.
The Instagram user noted that Usha "was in the marching band and National Honors Society" around the time the pictures were taken, suggesting that there haven't been too many personality changes in Usha over the years either. Her interest in extra-curricular activities was likely a hint into her future achievements, from excelling at Yale to becoming a trial lawyer and, eventually, the second lady of the United States. "She was an excellent student, like, top of our law school class," a former Yale classmate told the BBC in August 2025. "And sometimes when students are like that, they also, you know, want to maintain an edge over other students. But she was someone who would always share her outlines [class notes]. They were, like, perfectly organised, you know, colour-coded, the works."
Regardless of what she looked like then — or now — the second lady has always been a master of making statements not with her fashion or beauty game, but by being herself and embracing her natural look. So, it should come as no surprise that Usha Vance's method for picking out her outfits is super relatable.