President Trump has nominated a luxury-handbag designer who also reportedly happens to be a member of his Mar-a-Lago Club to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to South Africa. The White House confirmed the nomination of Lana Marks on Wednesday, saying in a statement that she was born and raised in South Africa and speaks both Afrikaans and Xhosa, two of the country’s official languages. Marks has no previous diplomatic experience, but the White House notes she has served on the Women’s Leadership Board at the Harvard Kennedy School. She is also the founder and CEO of Lana Marks Ltd., a luxury fashion brand known for producing high-end handbags made from exotic animal skins that “caters to many of the world’s wealthiest customers,” according to its website.
