Karine Jean-Pierre is a well-known American political consultant who works as the press secretary for the White House and as a senior advisor to President Joe Biden. She is additionally the initial Black and openly LGBTQ+ woman to assume the role since 1991.
Karine Jean-Pierre Bio Details
Full name: Karine Jean-Pierre
Gender: Female
Date of birth: August 13, 1974
Age: 50 years old (as of 2024)
Birth sign: Leo
Place of birth: Fort de France, Martinique, France
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: African-American
Eye color: Dark brown
Hair color: Black
Weight: 59 kg (approx)
Height: 5 feet 4 inches
Sexual orientation: Lesbian
Religion: Christianity
Siblings: 2
Relationship status: Single
Ex-girlfriend: Suzanne Malveaux
Children: Soleil
Education: Kellenberg Memorial High School, New York Institute of Technology, and Columbia University
Profession: Political advisor and author
Early Life
Jean-Pierre was born in Fort-de-France, Martinique, France, to Haitian parents. She has two younger siblings and was five years old when her family moved to Queens Village, a district in New York City’s Queens borough.
Her mother was employed as a home health aide and was involved in her Pentecostal church, while her father, who had a background in engineering, worked as a taxi driver.
Due to her parents’ demanding work schedules, Jean-Pierre frequently took on the role of looking after her younger siblings, who were eight and ten years her junior. She has characterized her family as strict, devoutly Catholic, and oppressive.
Education
In 1993, Karine Jean-Pierre completed her education at Kellenberg Memorial High School, a Long Island-based institution known for preparing students for college.
Despite her parents’ wish for her to pursue a career in medicine, she enrolled as a commuter student at the New York Institute of Technology to study life sciences.
However, she struggled with the Medical College Admission Test and did not perform well. After shifting her professional path, she obtained a bachelor’s degree from the New York Institute of Technology in 1997.
Later, in 2003, she completed a Master of Public Affairs at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where she was involved in student government and developed an interest in politics. During the Fall 2001 semester at Columbia, she took a class taught by Ester Fuchs, who became one of her mentors.
Career
After completing her graduate studies, Karine Jean-Pierre was employed as the head of legislative and financial matters for New York City Councilor James F. Gennaro. She also served as the southeast regional director for John Edwards’ 2004 presidential campaign.
In 2006, she was recruited as the outreach coordinator for Walmart Watch in Washington, D.C. In 2014, she became a member of the Columbia University faculty, where she teaches international and public affairs.
Jean-Pierre served as the southeast regional political director for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and continued in this role for the White House Office of Political Affairs during the first term of the Obama administration.
During the 2012 re-election campaign for President Obama, Karine Jean-Pierre held the role of National Deputy Battleground States Director. In this position, she oversaw the delegate selection and ballot access procedures and coordinated political involvement in crucial states.
Her duties included providing support to states in determining the most effective methods for promoting the campaign. In 2016, Jean-Pierre served as the deputy campaign manager for Martin O’Malley’s presidential bid.
In May 2020, Jean-Pierre became a senior advisor for Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign. In an interview with The Haitian Times, she shared that her strong drive to shape the future was a major source of motivation for her role.
The Biden-Harris transition team was appointed as Principal Deputy Press Secretary Jean-Pierre on November 29, 2020. She made history on May 26, 2021, by being the first openly LGBTQ individual and the first Black woman since 1991 to conduct a White House press briefing.
It was revealed on May 5, 2022, that she would take over as White House Press Secretary on May 13, following in the footsteps of Jen Psaki. She is breaking barriers as the first Black and openly LGBTQ individual to assume this role.
Personal Life
Karine Jean-Pierre, a lesbian, was previously in a romantic partnership with ex-CNN correspondent Suzanne Malveaux until September 2023. Together, they have a daughter whom they adopted.
In 2019, Jean-Pierre released her book, “Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America,” in which she reflects on her experiences and advocates for political engagement.
Net Worth
Karine Jean-Pierre’s estimated net worth falls between $1 million and $2 million, as reported by multiple sources. Her accumulated wealth is largely a result of her successful ventures in both the political and real estate industries.
