FACE OF THE PRESIDENT

The new White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre has one of the most high-profile roles in American politics but she had to overcome many hurdles to get there

- JANE VORSTER

THE significance of the moment wasn't lost on her. Standing behind the lectern on the first day of her job as White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre knew the assembled journalists weren't just staring because she was new it was also because she was different to anyone whod previously held the high-profile role.

Before getting down to business, she decided to address the matter head-on.

"I am obviously acutely aware that my presence at this podium represents a few firsts," she said. "I am a black, gay, immigrant woman - the first of all three of those to hold this position."

As the new press secretary, she will be the face of President Joe Biden's administration as she conducts daily briefings to White House reporters and analysts say the significance of picking her for the job is huge.

But while Karine (47) acknowledged the historic nature of her appointment, she didn't talk about the trauma she'd had to overcome to get to where she is today - how her parents battled to build a new life in America after fleeing Haiti and her struggles with her sexuality which led to a suicide attempt in early adulthood.

Back then she would never have dreamt she would one day occupy one of the most visible roles in American politics. Even now it still hasn't quite hit home for Karine, who previously served as deputy White House press secretary.

"I'm still processing it," she said at a news conference just hours after she'd met with the president in the Oval Office and been offered the job.

WHEN Biden was sworn in as president he promised to put more black women in top positions and now Karine joins an impressive list of political powerhouses, including his vice president Kamala Harris; Supreme Court justice Ketanji Brown Jackson; and UN ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.