She's black, gay and an immigrant – and Karine Jean-Pierre is proud to share her life as she takes over as the face of the US presidency

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 who’d 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.”