In retrospect, the signs were there in April, when Drew Barrymore looked deeply into the eyes of United States vice president Kamala Harris and said, “We need you to be Mamala of the country.” The audience on Barrymore’s talk show cheered and whooped as Harris gave a polite, slightly pained smile.
On July 21, still fresh off a disastrous debate performance and following months of speculation and declining optimism about his lacklustre campaigning and doubtful mental acuity, President Joe Biden announced he was stepping down as the presidential nominee and endorsed Harris. Later that day, Charli xcx—the British singer whose acid-green album brat has set the definitive mood of the summer—posted “kamala IS brat” on X. Celebrity endorsements poured in; people began posting coconut emojis and declaring themselves “coconut-pilled,” a reference to a gnomic Harris sound bite; Harris soon released her first campaign video, soundtracked to “Freedom” by Beyoncé. By then, it was undeniable: Kamala Harris was a vibe.
