U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, along with his wife Usha Vance and their three children, returned to Washington on Thursday, April 24, 2025, marking the conclusion of his three-day official visit to India. The Vance family quickly captured the internet’s attention with their warm demeanor and visible bond, drawing admiration both in India and abroad.
This visit held particular significance for Usha Vance, who has Indian roots. Her connection to the country added a personal dimension to the trip, making it especially meaningful for the entire family.
But beyond the polished public image lies a deeply personal story—especially for Vice President Vance. Before reaching the second-highest office in the United States, he endured a difficult childhood marked by instability and trauma, which he chronicled in his widely acclaimed memoir, Hillbilly Elegy . He has often spoken openly about how his family and upbringing shaped him, and how his journey—from a troubled past to holding national office—reflects resilience and transformation.
As Vice President, J.D. Vance frequently acknowledges the role his family plays in keeping him grounded. His wife, Usha, a former law clerk and Yale Law School graduate, has been a pillar of strength and stability. Their children, though kept largely out of the public eye, are at the heart of his motivation and personal life.
Let’s take a closer look at each member of the Vance family—and how together, they’ve formed a strong, supportive unit that continues to inspire many.
Beverly Aikins (formerly Beverly Vance)
Born in 1961, JDmother now goes by Beverley "Bev" Aikins. Her life has been turbulent, and her struggles with addiction and multiple marriages deeply impacted her children. When J.D. was six years old, Beverly’s third husband, Bob Hamel, adopted him. At that point, his name was legally changed from James Donald Bowman to James David Hamel.
“Until then, I’d borne my father’s first name as my middle name, and Mom used the adoption to erase any memory of his existence,” Vance wrote in Hillbilly Elegy. “She kept the D to preserve what had by then become a universal nickname — JD. Mom told me that I was now named after Uncle David, Mamaw’s older, pot-smoking brother. This seemed a bit of a stretch even when I was 6. Any old D name would have done, so long as it wasn’t Donald.”
The marriage to Bob Hamel eventually ended, and as Beverly’s addiction worsened, J.D. was placed in foster care at age 12. From then on, he was primarily raised by his maternal grandparents, Bonnie Blanton and James Vance—figures who played a central role in his life. It was from them that he later took the surname “Vance.”
Donald Bowman
JD’s biological father, Donald Bowman (1959–2023), was largely absent from his early life. In Hillbilly Elegy, Vance recalls, “Dad gave me up for adoption when I was 6. After the adoption, he became kind of a phantom for the next six years.” Despite the distance, Vance held onto fragmented, bittersweet memories of him: “I knew that he loved Kentucky, its beautiful mountains, and its rolling green horse country. He drank RC Cola and had a clear Southern accent. He drank, but he stopped after he converted to Pentecostal Christianity. I always felt loved when I spent time with him, which was why I found it so shocking that he ‘didn’t want me anymore,’ as Mom and Mamaw told me.”
Lindsay Vance
JD’s older half-sister, Lindsay Vance, born in 1979, is the only sibling he discusses in his memoir. She played a protective, almost maternal role during their unstable upbringing. In an interview with the Dayton Daily News in 2016, she said, “The kid has never done wrong in my eyes. J.D. has a part of my soul that nobody will ever have and I’ll protect him until the day I die.” According to People magazine, Lindsay is married and has three children of her own.
Usha Chilukuri Vance
JD. met his wife, Usha Chilukuri, in 2013 while they were both students at Yale Law School. Usha, born in 1986, is the daughter of Indian immigrant professors Krish and Lakshmi Chilukuri. A high-achieving legal mind in her own right, Usha has clerked for Chief Justice John Roberts and built a respected career. Together, she and JD form a partnership grounded in shared ambition, contrasting childhoods, and mutual respect.
The Vance Children
JD and Usha have three young children: Ewan (born 2017), Vivek (born 2020), and Mirabel (born 2021). The couple keeps their children out of the spotlight, but J.D. has often emphasized the importance of fatherhood in his life. Speaking at the Republican National Convention, he said, “My most important American dream was becoming a good husband and a good dad. I wanted to give my kids the things that I didn’t have when I was growing up."
This visit held particular significance for Usha Vance, who has Indian roots. Her connection to the country added a personal dimension to the trip, making it especially meaningful for the entire family.
But beyond the polished public image lies a deeply personal story—especially for Vice President Vance. Before reaching the second-highest office in the United States, he endured a difficult childhood marked by instability and trauma, which he chronicled in his widely acclaimed memoir, Hillbilly Elegy . He has often spoken openly about how his family and upbringing shaped him, and how his journey—from a troubled past to holding national office—reflects resilience and transformation.
As Vice President, J.D. Vance frequently acknowledges the role his family plays in keeping him grounded. His wife, Usha, a former law clerk and Yale Law School graduate, has been a pillar of strength and stability. Their children, though kept largely out of the public eye, are at the heart of his motivation and personal life.
Let’s take a closer look at each member of the Vance family—and how together, they’ve formed a strong, supportive unit that continues to inspire many.
Beverly Aikins (formerly Beverly Vance)
Born in 1961, JDmother now goes by Beverley "Bev" Aikins. Her life has been turbulent, and her struggles with addiction and multiple marriages deeply impacted her children. When J.D. was six years old, Beverly’s third husband, Bob Hamel, adopted him. At that point, his name was legally changed from James Donald Bowman to James David Hamel.
“Until then, I’d borne my father’s first name as my middle name, and Mom used the adoption to erase any memory of his existence,” Vance wrote in Hillbilly Elegy. “She kept the D to preserve what had by then become a universal nickname — JD. Mom told me that I was now named after Uncle David, Mamaw’s older, pot-smoking brother. This seemed a bit of a stretch even when I was 6. Any old D name would have done, so long as it wasn’t Donald.”
The marriage to Bob Hamel eventually ended, and as Beverly’s addiction worsened, J.D. was placed in foster care at age 12. From then on, he was primarily raised by his maternal grandparents, Bonnie Blanton and James Vance—figures who played a central role in his life. It was from them that he later took the surname “Vance.”
Donald Bowman
JD’s biological father, Donald Bowman (1959–2023), was largely absent from his early life. In Hillbilly Elegy, Vance recalls, “Dad gave me up for adoption when I was 6. After the adoption, he became kind of a phantom for the next six years.” Despite the distance, Vance held onto fragmented, bittersweet memories of him: “I knew that he loved Kentucky, its beautiful mountains, and its rolling green horse country. He drank RC Cola and had a clear Southern accent. He drank, but he stopped after he converted to Pentecostal Christianity. I always felt loved when I spent time with him, which was why I found it so shocking that he ‘didn’t want me anymore,’ as Mom and Mamaw told me.”
Lindsay Vance
JD’s older half-sister, Lindsay Vance, born in 1979, is the only sibling he discusses in his memoir. She played a protective, almost maternal role during their unstable upbringing. In an interview with the Dayton Daily News in 2016, she said, “The kid has never done wrong in my eyes. J.D. has a part of my soul that nobody will ever have and I’ll protect him until the day I die.” According to People magazine, Lindsay is married and has three children of her own.
Usha Chilukuri Vance
JD. met his wife, Usha Chilukuri, in 2013 while they were both students at Yale Law School. Usha, born in 1986, is the daughter of Indian immigrant professors Krish and Lakshmi Chilukuri. A high-achieving legal mind in her own right, Usha has clerked for Chief Justice John Roberts and built a respected career. Together, she and JD form a partnership grounded in shared ambition, contrasting childhoods, and mutual respect.
The Vance Children
JD and Usha have three young children: Ewan (born 2017), Vivek (born 2020), and Mirabel (born 2021). The couple keeps their children out of the spotlight, but J.D. has often emphasized the importance of fatherhood in his life. Speaking at the Republican National Convention, he said, “My most important American dream was becoming a good husband and a good dad. I wanted to give my kids the things that I didn’t have when I was growing up."
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