in context

Kamala Harris Impersonators Didn’t Just Fall Out of a Coconut Tree

A handful of comedians already have the VP’s cadence and laughter just right—and could see their cachet grow as the presidential race heats up.
Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris on Saturday Night Live.
Maya Rudolph as Kamala Harris on Saturday Night Live.NBC/Getty Images

If you’re a successful Kamala Harris impersonator, it may be time to clear your schedule. As the vice president steps into the spotlight after President Joe Biden backed her as the Democratic presidential candidate, the race is on to define her in the eyes of the American people. And while there have been plenty of memes making the rounds, there are only a few influencers and comedians who have gotten attention for their VP impersonations thus far. She’s not the easiest person to play, with her very specific laugh, her slightly musical voice, and her signature look.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most well-known impersonators of the VP to have hit TV and the internet so far. Be prepared: not all of them are fans of Harris.

Maya Rudolph on Saturday Night Live

The most famous person to capture the VP’s character is Maya Rudolph, who has performed as her on several episodes of Saturday Night Live. She debuted her impersonation in October of 2019, back when Harris was a California senator running for president. It was a star-studded skit (Larry David played Bernie Sanders and Kate McKinnon was Elizabeth Warren), but Rudolph’s “America’s cool aunt” bit was an instant hit. She has since returned again and again to play Harris in sketches like 2021’s “Unity Seder” bit. Rudolph’s portrayal of Harris in season 45’s “PBS Democratic Debate” sketch even helped land her an Emmy win for guest actress. While we can’t assume Rudolph will have the time to appear on SNL whenever the show needs a Harris this fall, we’re hopeful she and her blue blazer will be back soon.

TikTok’s Allison Reese

Los Angeles–based TikToker Allison Reese is a comedian known for Harris impersonations featuring the big three: the voice, the laugh, and the pearls. She first tried Harris on for size at an SNL showcase for creator Lorne Michaels back in 2019. Reese didn’t land a job on SNL, but she’s been using the impression to rack up followers on social media ever since, and now has about 224,000 of them on TikTok. She has also appeared as the VP on an episode of the podcast “Lovett or Leave It.”

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Estee Palti

Estee Palti, who posts under the name mommyrn88, first started impersonating Harris when she downloaded TikTok during the pandemic and a friend pointed out that she sounded a lot like the politician. Now she’s racked up more than 287,000 TikTok followers with videos that nail Harris’s cadence and laugh. Palti’s politics don’t seem to line up with Harris’s, and her impersonations have more of a mocking vibe. Despite that—or maybe because of it—she’s already landed on Tucker Carlson Tonight.

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Elsa Kurt

She may not look anything like the VP, but Elsa Kurt has carved out a following with her impersonations as #BlondeKamala. The conservative host has 103,000 YouTube subscribers for her channel, where she serves “conservative content with a side of comedy.” She also posts frequently on TikTok, where her more than 240,000 followers get to watch her imitate Harris’s voice (but not her look). In between those videos, she posts as herself criticizing the Democratic Party and the mainstream media.

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Sydney Duncan

The New York–based comedian has a more modest following, with more than 59,000 on TikTok—but she’s been doing her Harris impression for quite some time, both online and as a stand-up routine around New York. Trained at UCB and Second City, Duncan’s other impressions include Meghan Markle, Kim Kardashian, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Maybe one of them could be Harris’s running mate?