Vice President Kamala Harris was officially inaugurated on Wednesday, making her the first woman, first Black person, and first Asian person to serve in the role in the country's history.
To mark the historic event, thousands of Black women broke out their finest pearls and some even took to social media to share their inauguration 'fit.
Pearls are specifically significant because Harris is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, which calls its founders and members "pearls." Alpha Kappa Alpha is the oldest Black Greek-lettered sorority in the country and many of its 290,000 members across the world took the occasion to wear their pearls.
Harris herself wore a special set of pearls during the inauguration.
Kamala Harris is wearing two Black designers Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson today along with the AKA's signature pearls. #InaugurationDay
pic.twitter.com/N0dhkjTkj7— Joi-Marie (@joimariewrites) January 20, 2021
Even non-members of the sorority honored Harris by wearing pearls. Hope Aloaye spoke to TODAY about a Facebook group she started that popularized the idea of wearing pearls on Inauguration Day.
The group now has more than 400,000 members, with hundreds of Black women sharing photos of themselves wearing pearls with family members.
"I equated the pearls to women (because) we go through a lot of things, but we still come out shining. Pearls are every color, shape, size. It doesn't matter… I just thought that was a beautiful thing," Aloaye said.
"I wanted a group that was inclusive because we already have so many other things that are so divisive in this country, especially right now," Aloaye added, noting that ahead of Wednesday, members of the group offered to donate pearls to those without them so they could participate.
Others used the day to promote wearing pearls and the infamous Converse Chuck Taylor shoes that Harris has become known for wearing.
Rep. Barbara Lee wrote on Twitter that she was wearing pearls from Shirley Chisholm's goddaughter, noting Chisholm's groundbreaking work as the first Black woman elected to Congress, the first Black candidate for a major party's nomination for president of the United States, and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
On this historic day, I’m wearing Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s pearls, given to me by her goddaughter, who said that her godmother “would not want it any other way.”
Because of Shirley Chisholm, I am.
Because of Shirley Chisholm, Vice President Harris is. pic.twitter.com/rgQKw2Y8Qb
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) January 20, 2021
She later appeared on MSNBC and said Chisholm's work was why she and Harris made it as far as they did in their careers.
"I am wearing Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm's pearls…I am feeling Shirley Chisholm's happiness and spirit," she said.
"This is long overdue, but about 50 years after she was elected and ran for the presidency this time has finally come," she added.
In some of her first comments as the nation's vice president, Harris spoke about Chisholm.
"Shirley Chisholm created a path for me and for so many others. Today, I'm thinking about her inspirational words: 'I am, and always will be a catalyst for change,'" she wrote on Twitter.
Here are some of the other women who shared their pearls with the world in honor of Harris.
Dozens of women shared photos of themselves wearing pearls, with some even adding in Harris' signature Chucks to commemorate her win.
CCS Leaders – Dr. Mary Black, Dr. Mellotta Hill, Dr. Maria Ford, and Renarta Moyd represent AKA Sorority with pearls as US VP Kamala Harris got sworn in pic.twitter.com/WCWf4Uaued
— Dr. Marvin Connelly (@CCSSuptConnelly) January 20, 2021
This Howard University Alum is so excited to see Kamala Devi Harris be sworn in as Vice President today!! We’re all reppin’ our Howard gear, our pearls and our Chucks! because today black history is being made!!???????????????????????????? ???? pic.twitter.com/fbCSzdmIq5
— Rev. Wendy Hamilton???????????????? (@revwendy3) January 20, 2021
Congratulations President @JoeBiden ???? Watching in my chucks & pearls!
From the first black woman to serve as Mayor of @CityOfNOLA, to the first Black woman of South Asian descent to be Madame Vice President @KamalaHarris (both from HBCUs @XULA1925 & @HowardU
#XU
#HU) pic.twitter.com/q8GtUsqx3H— Mayor LaToya Cantrell (@mayorcantrell) January 20, 2021
Chucks and Pearls Day #Inauguration2021
#Chucksandpearls2021
pic.twitter.com/6VYmtsu1v9— Precious McKesson (@MsPMcKesson) January 20, 2021
My momma ain’t leave no pearls in the store ok. pic.twitter.com/PD019Pgkeg
— PPL DYIN SHORTIE (@lexxykiana) January 20, 2021
Three #BrownGirls in pearls pic.twitter.com/EFvIGjlFz9
— Nadia E. Brown (@BrownPhDGirl) January 20, 2021
I’m ready. Pearls ✅ Kamala Blue Dress ✅ Blinged out Chuck Taylors ✅Lights✅ Camera ✅ Celebratory Spirit ✅ Grateful Heart. It’s time Sisters! Let’s go! #WinWithBlackWomen
@BlackVotersMtr ???????????? pic.twitter.com/NfOr3GqJN4— LaTosha Brown (@MsLaToshaBrown) January 20, 2021
"Pearls for the girls!" How a Dallas middle school is celebrating the historic rise of Kamala Harris: https://t.co/nBnXH68uKI ???? by @littlelatinboy
pic.twitter.com/25B3Wkawu3— Talia Richman (@TaliRichman) January 20, 2021
I’m a South Carolina @MomsDemand Volunteer that has #pearls on my neck and #chucks on my feet celebrating #Inauguration2021 of #JoeBiden & #KamalaHarris This historic gun safety team is heading to the White House to help us save lives! #EndGunViolence
#everytown
#blessedwomen
pic.twitter.com/N2waCGNnd8— Melody Geddis McFadden (@MelodySC_) January 20, 2021
In an interview with TODAY, Arthia Nixon and her 15-year-old daughter Alejandra Stack said Harris' success was important to them because of what it represented for the country.
"Just seeing Kamala Harris do things, watching the debate, it was just really an exciting moment for me because I did feel very well represented… both of us being mixed children," Stack said.
"It's a great difference, seeing this woman in power, basically something has been dominated by white men for the longest time … and you're seeing how proud she was of her heritage… It was a breathtaking moment," Stack added.
Women at one school in Dallas, Texas, handed out pearls to all the girls, according to Dallas News.
The news outlet noted that Harris wore pearls during her graduation from Howard University and when she accepted the Democratic nomination for vice president.
“Women can do more than what they used to do,” Billy Earl Dade Middle School seventh-grader Shanna Austin told the newspaper.