Nikki Haley, an American politician and diplomat, held the position of South Carolina Governor from 2011 to 2017. She also served as the 29th United States Ambassador to the United Nations from January 2017 to December 2018.
Bio/Wiki
Age- 51 years
Height-1.68 m
Weight-58 kg
Full name: Nimarata Nikki Randhawa Haley
Born-20 January 1972
Birth place-Bamberg, South Carolina, United States
Spouse-Michael Haley (m. 1996)
Profession-Former Governor of South Carolina
Nationality-American
Party- Republican Party
Previous offices- United States Ambassador to the United Nations (2017–2018), Governor of South Carolina (2011–2017)
Parents
Nikki Haley was born on January 20, 1972, at Bamberg County Hospital in Bamberg, South Carolina, to immigrant Indian Sikh parents, Ajit Singh Randhawa and Raj Kaur Randhawa. They had moved to the United States from Amritsar, Punjab, India. Nikki’s father, Ajit Singh Randhawa, was a former professor at Punjab Agricultural University, while her mother, Raj Kaur Randhawa, earned her law degree from the University of Delhi.
Husband and Children
In September 1996, Nikki Randhawa entered into marriage with Michael Haley, commemorating the occasion with Sikh and Methodist ceremonies. They are blessed with two children, a daughter and a son.
Her husband, a member of the South Carolina Army National Guard, served a tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2013.
Education
When Nikki Haley was 12 years old, she started assisting with bookkeeping in her mother’s clothing store. In 1989, she completed her education at the private Orangeburg Preparatory Schools. Later, in 1994, she graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting.
Career
After completing her education, Haley initially worked for FCR Corporation, a waste management and recycling company. Later, she joined her family’s clothing business, where she served as the bookkeeper and chief financial officer. During her career, she actively participated in various community activities. She chaired the Lexington Gala, organized fundraisers for local hospitals, and was involved with organizations like the Lexington Medical Foundation, Lexington County Sheriff’s Foundation, and West Metro Republican Women.
In 2004, Haley entered politics by running for the South Carolina House of Representatives in District 87, challenging the incumbent state representative Larry Koon in the Republican primary. Despite being a newcomer, she was elected chair of the freshman caucus in 2005 and majority whip in the South Carolina General Assembly. In 2009, she announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor of South Carolina. After a runoff election, she secured the nomination and was elected as the governor in 2010, defeating the Democratic candidate Vincent Sheheen.
During her tenure as governor, Haley made several significant decisions, such as signing a bill to remove the Confederate flag from the South Carolina Capitol grounds in 2015. In 2016, she opposed an anti-trans “bathroom bill” and criticized Executive Order 13988, aimed at preventing discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
In November 2016, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Haley for the position of ambassador to the United Nations. She was confirmed by the Senate and assumed office in January 2017. During her time as U.S. ambassador, Haley was known for her strong support for Israel, defense of the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, and withdrawal of the U.S. from the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Haley’s tenure as U.N. ambassador ended in October 2018. Following her diplomatic service, she remained active in politics, creating the advocacy group Stand for America in 2019. Haley hinted at a potential run for the presidency in the 2024 U.S. election and officially announced her candidacy in February 2023, becoming a major candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.
Awards/ Honors
- In 2010, Haley was honored with the induction into the Order of the Palmetto.
- She holds two honorary degrees: a Doctorate of Humanities from Clemson University in 2018 and a Doctorate of Public Service from the University of South Carolina in 2015.
- In 2013, Haley received an honorary 4th-dan black belt in Taekwondo.
- Haley has been recognized with awards from various organizations, including India Abroad, the International Republican Institute, Christians United for Israel, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, the Hudson Institute, the Independent Women’s Forum, UN Watch, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the American Enterprise Institute, and the World Jewish Congress.
Net Worth 2023
Nikki Haley’s net worth was estimated to be around $8 million.
Nikki Haley’s Latest News
Poll Reveals Nikki Haley as Clear Winner in Republican Debate
In the third Republican primary debate, there was a clear standout: Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and ex-South Carolina governor.
According to a 538/Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted among potential Republican primary and caucus voters who tuned into the debate hosted by NBC News, a plurality of 34 percent believed Haley outperformed all other candidates. No other contender on the stage came close to matching Haley’s appeal. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis trailed significantly behind, securing a distant second place with 23 percent of viewers considering him the best performer. Meanwhile, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy left a relatively negative impression, with 29 percent of debate watchers rating his performance as the worst.
