US President Donald Trump on Thursday nominated Lana Marks to become the next Ambassador to South Africa.
Marks, a handbag designer, was born and raised in South Africa, where she attended the University of the Witwatersrand and the Institute of Personnel Management in Johannesburg, the White House said in a statement.
Marks is a well-known figure in the business of luxury handbags made from exotic animal skins such as ostrich and alligators. Her bags can fetch well over $19,000. One of her most expensive creations is a $400,000 clutch.
The nominee is said to be a Florida resident and member of Trump’s exclusive Mar-a-Lago resort which costs $200,000 to join.
According to the White House, Marks speaks Afrikaans and Xhosa, two of South Africa’s languages.
