Lana Marks: Difference between revisions

Lana Marks
Lana Marks
United States Ambassador to South Africa
	In office; January 28, 2020 – January 20, 2021
President	Donald Trump
Preceded by	Patrick Gaspard
Succeeded by	Reuben Brigety
Personal details
Born	Lana Bank; November 18, 1953 (age 71); East London, South Africa
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Neville Marks (m. 1976)
Children	2

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Lana J. Marks (born November 18, 1953) is a South African-born American business executive who founded the eponymous fashion brand. She is the former United States Ambassador to South Africa, having served from 2020^[1] to 2021.

Early life and education

Lana Bank was born in East London, South Africa. Her father, Alec Bank, had immigrated from Lithuania as a child; he was an affluent property developer and a leader in the Jewish community.^[2] She attended Clarendon High School for Girls in East London, and speaks Xhosa and Afrikaans.^[3]

Marks is an avid tennis player, having played for Bermuda, having won bronze medals for the United States in the Maccabiah Games in 1985, playing in the South African Open, and also made it to the qualifying rounds of the French Open.^[4]^[2]^[3]^[5]^[6]

Career

Marks was the CEO and designer of Lana Marks, a fashion accessories brand which specializes in exotic leathers and is known for creating some of the world's most expensive handbags.^[7]^[8]^[9] When Helen Mirren won an Academy Award in 2007, she carried a handbag designed by Marks to the stage.^[2] Her daughter currently runs the brand.^[10] The Lana Marks company has stores in Palm Beach, New York, Beverly Hills, and Dubai.^[6]

Ambassador to South Africa

Marks’s rumored appointment to the ambassadorship was leaked from a source within the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa's foreign affairs department.^[11] On November 14, 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Marks to be the United States Ambassador to South Africa. Marks had known Trump for more than two decades and was a member of his Mar-a-Lago club.^[12] She was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on September 26, 2019.^[13] She was sworn into office on October 4, 2019,^[14] and arrived at her posting on November 9, 2019, and presented her diplomatic credentials to President Cyril Ramaphosa on January 28, 2020.^[15]^[1]

Marks has been a member of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort since 2010.^[16] She was among several Mar-a-Lago members to be chosen by Trump for a role in his administration.^[17]

Marks stated that her primary goals include youth and women’s empowerment.^[18] During her first sixty days, Marks launched two major initiatives, to invite all of Africa's leaders to a U.S.-Africa investment summit in Washington D.C., and to lift South Africa into a top-20 U.S. trading partner.^[1]

In September 2020, anonymous U.S. intelligence sources claimed that Iran was planning an assassination attempt on Marks in South Africa. The plot, claimed the sources, was in retaliation for the U.S. drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq, that killed the former commander of Qods Force, Qasem Soleimani, and deputy leader of Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces militia, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis on January 3, 2020.^[19]^{[dubious – discuss]}

The signing of a letter of intent between the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and NuScale, to develop 2,500 MW of nuclear power in South Africa, was cited as perhaps being one of her most significant accomplishments.^[20]

In March 2020, Marks refused to quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19 at an event at Mar-a-Lago, President Trump’s club in Florida.^[21] In December 2020, Marks spent 10 days in intensive care with Covid-19.^[22]

As a Trump political appointee ambassador, she resigned from the office following the inauguration of President Joe Biden on 20 January 2021 and was succeeded by John Groarke as Charge d'Affaires ad interim.^[23]

Personal life

Marks has been married to Dr. Neville Marks, a practicing psychiatrist affiliated with JFK Medical Center, since 1976.^[24] Marks and her husband later lived in Bermuda before moving to Florida in 1987.^[2]^[6] She has two children.^[25]

Marks was a personal friend of Diana, Princess of Wales.^[26] According to Marks, the two women had planned a four-day trip to Italy for the end of August 1997. Marks canceled at the last minute when Marks's father had a heart attack. Diana went to Paris with her partner Dodi Fayed where they were killed in a car accident.^[27]

Since 2010, Marks has been a member of Mar-a-Lago. According to Marks, she joined because other country clubs in Palm Beach did not admit Jewish members.^[28]^[29]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Fabricius, Peter (2020-01-31). "The Interview: US ambassador's ambition: Lift SA into top 20 of US trade partners". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Sommer, Allison Kaplan (November 22, 2018). "The Long, Strange Journey of Lana Marks, Trump's Pick for South African Ambassador". Haaretz. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
^ ^a ^b Gaouette, Nicole; Landers, Elizabeth (2018-11-04). "Trump picks handbag designer, Mar-a-Lago member to be envoy to South Africa". CNN. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
^ Sommer, Allison Kaplan (November 22, 2018). "The Long, Strange Journey of Lana Marks, Trump's Pick for South African Ambassador". Haaretz.
^ Munzenrieder, Kyle (October 22, 2018). "Lana Marks: The Handbag Designer Trump Reportedly Wants to Make Ambassador to South Africa". W. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c Bleby, Michael (October 1, 2018). "We spoke to handbag designer and soon-to-be US ambassador to SA: this is what she said". BusinessDay. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
^ Puri, Madhu (3 December 2006). "Now Gifting - Bespoke Bags". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 April 2018 – via NYTimes.com.
^ Prabhakar, Hitha. "World's Most Extravagant Handbags". forbes.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
^ Burt, Sharelle (November 15, 2018). "Trump Nominates Handbag Designer As Ambassador To South Africa". Travel Noire. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
^ Donnelly, Shannon. "Call her 'Madame Ambassador'". Palm Beach Daily News.
^ Washington, Jason Burke Sabrina Siddiqui in (October 2, 2018). "Trump reportedly picks handbag designer as ambassador to South Africa". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
^ "Officials: Iran weighs plot to kill U.S. ambassador to South Africa". www.politico.com. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
^ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts | The White House". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved 2018-11-15 – via National Archives.
^ @USEmbassySA (October 6, 2019). "Go, Lana! Congratulations on your swearing-in! Countdown to welcoming you here in South Africa!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ [1], Lana Marks Returns to South Africa as US Ambassador.
^ Gramer, Robbie (February 5, 2020). "At Embassies Abroad, Trump Envoys Are Quietly Pushing Out Career Diplomats" – via www.foreignpolicy.com.
^ "The long, strange journey of Lana Marks, Trump's pick for South African ambassador". Haaretz. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
^ [2], US Ambassador Lana Marks Takes Short Left In Soweto.
^ Toosi, Nahal (September 13, 2020). "Officials: Iran weighs plot to kill U.S. ambassador to South Africa". Politico. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
^ Fabricius, Peter (21 January 2021). "United States Ambassador Departs Pretoria". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
^ Jakes, Lara (2020-11-01). "U.S. Diplomat Coughs Online, and European Allies Wonder if They Were Exposed". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
^ Meldrum, Andrew (11 January 2021). "US Ambassador in South Africa Better after ICU Virus Care". AP News. Associated Press. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
^ "US envoy to SA: Amid change, an enduring partnership will remain". U.S Embassy & Consulates in South Africa. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
^ "Dr. Neville MarksMD".
^ Durkin, Tish (February 3, 2019). "Talking With Lana Marks, Who's Ready to Ditch Palm Beach for Pretoria". Intelligencer.
^ "Time, February 2 1998". Time. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
^ Feitelberg, Rosemary (2018-11-15). "Lana Marks: The Makings of a Fashion-Focused Ambassador nominee". WWD. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
^ Durkin, Tish (February 3, 2019). "Talking With Lana Marks, Who's Ready to Ditch Palm Beach for Pretoria". Intelligencer.
^ Roberts, Roxanne (January 8, 2019). "Palm Beach used to be a nice town for billionaires. Then Trump came along". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 21, 2020.

External links

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Jessica Lapenn Acting	United States Ambassador to South Africa 2020–present	Succeeded by John Groarke Chargé d’Affaires ad interim

[Fabricius-1] Fabricius, Peter (2020-01-31). "The Interview: US ambassador's ambition: Lift SA into top 20 of US trade partners". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2020-02-07.

[sommer-2] Sommer, Allison Kaplan (November 22, 2018). "The Long, Strange Journey of Lana Marks, Trump's Pick for South African Ambassador". Haaretz. Retrieved December 1, 2018.

[gaouette-3] Gaouette, Nicole; Landers, Elizabeth (2018-11-04). "Trump picks handbag designer, Mar-a-Lago member to be envoy to South Africa". CNN. Retrieved 2018-11-16.

[4] Sommer, Allison Kaplan (November 22, 2018). "The Long, Strange Journey of Lana Marks, Trump's Pick for South African Ambassador". Haaretz.

[5] Munzenrieder, Kyle (October 22, 2018). "Lana Marks: The Handbag Designer Trump Reportedly Wants to Make Ambassador to South Africa". W. Retrieved December 1, 2018.

[bleby-6] Bleby, Michael (October 1, 2018). "We spoke to handbag designer and soon-to-be US ambassador to SA: this is what she said". BusinessDay. Retrieved 2018-11-19.

[7] Puri, Madhu (3 December 2006). "Now Gifting - Bespoke Bags". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 April 2018 – via NYTimes.com.

[8] Prabhakar, Hitha. "World's Most Extravagant Handbags". forbes.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.

[9] Burt, Sharelle (November 15, 2018). "Trump Nominates Handbag Designer As Ambassador To South Africa". Travel Noire. Retrieved 2018-11-16.

[10] Donnelly, Shannon. "Call her 'Madame Ambassador'". Palm Beach Daily News.

[11] Washington, Jason Burke Sabrina Siddiqui in (October 2, 2018). "Trump reportedly picks handbag designer as ambassador to South Africa". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.

[12] "Officials: Iran weighs plot to kill U.S. ambassador to South Africa". www.politico.com. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-14.

[13] "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts | The White House". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved 2018-11-15 – via National Archives.

[14] @USEmbassySA (October 6, 2019). "Go, Lana! Congratulations on your swearing-in! Countdown to welcoming you here in South Africa!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[15] [1], Lana Marks Returns to South Africa as US Ambassador.

[16] Gramer, Robbie (February 5, 2020). "At Embassies Abroad, Trump Envoys Are Quietly Pushing Out Career Diplomats" – via www.foreignpolicy.com.

[17] "The long, strange journey of Lana Marks, Trump's pick for South African ambassador". Haaretz. Retrieved 2021-06-02.

[18] [2], US Ambassador Lana Marks Takes Short Left In Soweto.

[19] Toosi, Nahal (September 13, 2020). "Officials: Iran weighs plot to kill U.S. ambassador to South Africa". Politico. Retrieved 2020-09-14.

[20] Fabricius, Peter (21 January 2021). "United States Ambassador Departs Pretoria". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 25 January 2021.

[21] Jakes, Lara (2020-11-01). "U.S. Diplomat Coughs Online, and European Allies Wonder if They Were Exposed". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-02.

[22] Meldrum, Andrew (11 January 2021). "US Ambassador in South Africa Better after ICU Virus Care". AP News. Associated Press. Retrieved 25 January 2021.

[23] "US envoy to SA: Amid change, an enduring partnership will remain". U.S Embassy & Consulates in South Africa. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.

[24] "Dr. Neville MarksMD".

[25] Durkin, Tish (February 3, 2019). "Talking With Lana Marks, Who's Ready to Ditch Palm Beach for Pretoria". Intelligencer.

[26] "Time, February 2 1998". Time. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2018.

[feitelberg-27] Feitelberg, Rosemary (2018-11-15). "Lana Marks: The Makings of a Fashion-Focused Ambassador nominee". WWD. Retrieved 2018-11-16.

[28] Durkin, Tish (February 3, 2019). "Talking With Lana Marks, Who's Ready to Ditch Palm Beach for Pretoria". Intelligencer.

[29] Roberts, Roxanne (January 8, 2019). "Palm Beach used to be a nice town for billionaires. Then Trump came along". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 21, 2020.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|American fashion designer & diplomat (born 1953)}}
 {{Infobox officeholder
 |name        = Lana Marks
@@ Line 4: / Line 6: @@
 |office      = [[United States Ambassador to South Africa]]
 |president   = [[Donald Trump]]
-|term_start  = November 9, 2019
+|term_start  = January 28, 2020
 |term_end    = January 20, 2021
-|predecessor = [[Jessica Lapenn]] (acting)
+|predecessor = [[Patrick Gaspard]]
-|successor   = [[John Groarke]] (acting)
+|successor   = [[Reuben Brigety]]
 |birth_name  = Lana Bank
 |birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1953|11|18}}
@@ Line 17: / Line 19: @@
 |children    = 2
 }}
-'''Lana J. Marks''' (born November 18, 1953) is a South African-born American business executive who founded the eponymous fashion brand. She is the former [[List of ambassadors of the United States to South Africa|United States Ambassador to South Africa]], having served from 2019 to 2021.
+'''Lana J. Marks''' (born November 18, 1953) is a South African-born American business executive who founded the eponymous fashion brand. She is the former [[List of ambassadors of the United States to South Africa|United States Ambassador to South Africa]], having served from 2020<ref name="Fabricius"/> to 2021.
 ==Early life and education==
-Lana Bank was born in [[East London, Eastern Cape|East London, South Africa]]. Her father, Alec Bank, had immigrated from [[Lithuania]] as a child; he was an affluent property developer and a leader in the [[Jewish]] community.<ref name="sommer">{{Cite news|last=Sommer|first=Allison Kaplan|url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-the-long-strange-journey-of-lana-marks-trump-s-pick-for-south-african-ambassador-1.6674935|title=The Long, Strange Journey of Lana Marks, Trump’s Pick for South African Ambassador |work=Haaretz|date=November 22, 2018|access-date=December 1, 2018}}</ref> She attended [[Clarendon High School for Girls]] in East London, and speaks [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]] and [[Afrikaans]].<ref name="gaouette">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/14/politics/trump-lana-marks-south-africa/index.html|title=Trump picks handbag designer, Mar-a-Lago member to be envoy to South Africa|last=Gaouette|first=Nicole|last2=Landers|first2=Elizabeth|date=2018-11-04|website=CNN|language=en|access-date=2018-11-16}}</ref>
+Lana Bank was born in [[East London, Eastern Cape|East London, South Africa]]. Her father, Alec Bank, had immigrated from [[Litvaks|Lithuania]] as a child; he was an affluent property developer and a leader in the [[Jewish]] community.<ref name="sommer">{{Cite news|last=Sommer|first=Allison Kaplan|url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-the-long-strange-journey-of-lana-marks-trump-s-pick-for-south-african-ambassador-1.6674935|title=The Long, Strange Journey of Lana Marks, Trump's Pick for South African Ambassador |work=Haaretz|date=November 22, 2018|access-date=December 1, 2018}}</ref> She attended [[Clarendon High School for Girls]] in East London, and speaks [[Xhosa language|Xhosa]] and [[Afrikaans]].<ref name="gaouette">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/14/politics/trump-lana-marks-south-africa/index.html|title=Trump picks handbag designer, Mar-a-Lago member to be envoy to South Africa|last1=Gaouette|first1=Nicole|last2=Landers|first2=Elizabeth|date=2018-11-04|website=CNN|language=en|access-date=2018-11-16}}</ref>
-Marks is an avid tennis player, having played for [[Bermuda]], having won bronze medals for the United States in the [[Maccabiah Games]] in 1985, playing in the [[South African Open (tennis)|South African Open]], and also made it to the qualifying rounds of the [[French Open]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-the-long-strange-journey-of-lana-marks-trump-s-pick-for-south-african-ambassador-1.6674935|title=The Long, Strange Journey of Lana Marks, Trump’s Pick for South African Ambassador|first=Allison Kaplan|last=Sommer|date=November 22, 2018|via=Haaretz}}</ref><ref name="sommer"/><ref name="gaouette"/><ref>{{Cite news|last=Munzenrieder|first=Kyle|url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/lana-marks-donald-trump-ambassador-to-south-africa|title=Lana Marks: The Handbag Designer Trump Reportedly Wants to Make Ambassador to South Africa|work=W|date=October 22, 2018|access-date=December 1, 2018}}</ref><ref name="bleby">{{Cite news|last=Bleby|first=Michael|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2018-10-01-in-2006-we-spoke-to-handbag-designer-and-soon-to-be-us--ambassador-to-sa-this-is-what-she-said/|title=We spoke to handbag designer and soon-to-be US ambassador to SA: this is what she said|work=BusinessDay|date=October 1, 2018|access-date=2018-11-19|language=en-US}}</ref>
+Marks is an avid tennis player, having played for [[Bermuda]], having won bronze medals for the United States in the [[Maccabiah Games]] in 1985, playing in the [[South African Open (tennis)|South African Open]], and also made it to the qualifying rounds of the [[French Open]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-the-long-strange-journey-of-lana-marks-trump-s-pick-for-south-african-ambassador-1.6674935|title=The Long, Strange Journey of Lana Marks, Trump's Pick for South African Ambassador|first=Allison Kaplan|last=Sommer|date=November 22, 2018|newspaper=Haaretz}}</ref><ref name="sommer"/><ref name="gaouette"/><ref>{{Cite news|last=Munzenrieder|first=Kyle|url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/lana-marks-donald-trump-ambassador-to-south-africa|title=Lana Marks: The Handbag Designer Trump Reportedly Wants to Make Ambassador to South Africa|work=W|date=October 22, 2018|access-date=December 1, 2018}}</ref><ref name="bleby">{{Cite news|last=Bleby|first=Michael|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2018-10-01-in-2006-we-spoke-to-handbag-designer-and-soon-to-be-us--ambassador-to-sa-this-is-what-she-said/|title=We spoke to handbag designer and soon-to-be US ambassador to SA: this is what she said|work=BusinessDay|date=October 1, 2018|access-date=2018-11-19|language=en-US}}</ref>
 ==Career==
-Marks was the CEO and designer of Lana Marks, a fashion accessories brand which specializes in exotic leathers and is known for creating some of the world's most expensive handbags.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/03/style/now-gifting-bespoke-bags.html|title=Now Gifting - Bespoke Bags|first=Madhu|last=Puri|date=3 December 2006|access-date=4 April 2018|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/2007/03/26/handbags-extravagant-expensive-forbeslife-cx_hp_0327handbags.html|title=World's Most Extravagant Handbags|first=Hitha|last=Prabhakar|website=forbes.com|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Burt|first=Sharelle|url=https://travelnoire.com/tag/lana-marks/|title=Trump Nominates Handbag Designer As Ambassador To South Africa|website=Travel Noire|date=November 15, 2018|access-date=2018-11-16}}</ref> When [[Helen Mirren]] won an [[Academy Award]] in 2007, she carried a handbag designed by Marks to the stage.<ref name="sommer"/> Her daughter currently runs the brand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20191011/call-her-rsquomadame-ambassadorrsquo|title=Call her 'Madame Ambassador'|first=Shannon|last=Donnelly|website=Palm Beach Daily News}}</ref> The Lana Marks company has stores in [[Palm Beach, Florida|Palm Beach]], New York, [[Beverly Hills, California|Beverly Hills]], and Dubai.<ref name="bleby" />
+Marks was the CEO and designer of Lana Marks, a fashion accessories brand which specializes in exotic leathers and is known for creating some of the world's most expensive handbags.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/03/style/now-gifting-bespoke-bags.html|title=Now Gifting - Bespoke Bags|first=Madhu|last=Puri|work=The New York Times |date=3 December 2006|access-date=4 April 2018|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/2007/03/26/handbags-extravagant-expensive-forbeslife-cx_hp_0327handbags.html|title=World's Most Extravagant Handbags|first=Hitha|last=Prabhakar|website=forbes.com|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Burt|first=Sharelle|url=https://travelnoire.com/tag/lana-marks/|title=Trump Nominates Handbag Designer As Ambassador To South Africa|website=Travel Noire|date=November 15, 2018|access-date=2018-11-16}}</ref> When [[Helen Mirren]] won an [[Academy Award]] in 2007, she carried a handbag designed by Marks to the stage.<ref name="sommer"/> Her daughter currently runs the brand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/20191011/call-her-rsquomadame-ambassadorrsquo|title=Call her 'Madame Ambassador'|first=Shannon|last=Donnelly|website=Palm Beach Daily News}}</ref> The Lana Marks company has stores in [[Palm Beach, Florida|Palm Beach]], New York, [[Beverly Hills, California|Beverly Hills]], and Dubai.<ref name="bleby" />
 === Ambassador to South Africa ===
 [[File:Protective masks distributed in South Africa.jpg|thumb|Marks and [[Joe Phaala]], the South African Deputy Minister of Health, bump elbows as they mark the delivery of 720,000 face masks ]]
-Marks’s rumored appointment to the ambassadorship was leaked from a source within the [[Department of International Relations and Cooperation]], South Africa's foreign affairs department.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/02/lana-marks-trump-us-ambassador-south-africa|title=Trump reportedly picks handbag designer as ambassador to South Africa|first=Jason Burke Sabrina Siddiqui in|last=Washington|date=October 2, 2018|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> On November 14, 2018, President [[Donald Trump]] nominated Marks to be the [[United States Ambassador to South Africa]]. Marks had known Trump for more than two decades and was a member of his [[Mar-a-Lago|Mar-a-Lago club]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Officials: Iran weighs plot to kill U.S. ambassador to South Africa|url=https://www.politico.com/amp/news/2020/09/13/iran-south-africa-ambassador-assassination-plot-413831?__twitter_impression=true|access-date=2020-09-14|website=www.politico.com}}</ref> She was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on September 26, 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-individuals-key-administration-posts-2/|title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts {{!}} The White House|access-date=2018-11-15|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|language=en-US}}</ref> She was sworn into office on October 4, 2019,<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1180818741342490629 |user=USEmbassySA |title=Go, Lana! Congratulations on your swearing-in! Countdown to welcoming you here in South Africa!  |date=October 6, 2019}}</ref> and arrived at her posting on November 9, 2019, and presented her diplomatic credentials to President [[Cyril Ramaphosa]] on January 28, 2020.<ref>[https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20191111/mar-a-lago-member-lana-marks-returns-to-south-africa-as-us-ambassador], Lana Marks Returns to South Africa as US Ambassador.</ref><ref name="Fabricius">{{Cite news |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-01-31-us-ambassadors-ambition-lift-sa-into-top-20-of-us-trade-partners/ |title=The Interview: US ambassador’s ambition: Lift SA into top 20 of US trade partners |last=Fabricius |first=Peter |date=2020-01-31 |work=Daily Maverick |access-date=2020-02-07 |language=en}}</ref>
+Marks’s rumored appointment to the ambassadorship was leaked from a source within the [[Department of International Relations and Cooperation]], South Africa's foreign affairs department.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/02/lana-marks-trump-us-ambassador-south-africa|title=Trump reportedly picks handbag designer as ambassador to South Africa|first=Jason Burke Sabrina Siddiqui in|last=Washington|newspaper=The Guardian |date=October 2, 2018|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> On November 14, 2018, President [[Donald Trump]] nominated Marks to be the [[United States Ambassador to South Africa]]. Marks had known Trump for more than two decades and was a member of his [[Mar-a-Lago|Mar-a-Lago club]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Officials: Iran weighs plot to kill U.S. ambassador to South Africa|url=https://www.politico.com/amp/news/2020/09/13/iran-south-africa-ambassador-assassination-plot-413831?__twitter_impression=true|access-date=2020-09-14|website=www.politico.com| date=13 September 2020 }}</ref> She was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on September 26, 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-individuals-key-administration-posts-2/|title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts {{!}} The White House|access-date=2018-11-15|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|language=en-US}}</ref> She was sworn into office on October 4, 2019,<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1180818741342490629 |user=USEmbassySA |title=Go, Lana! Congratulations on your swearing-in! Countdown to welcoming you here in South Africa!  |date=October 6, 2019}}</ref> and arrived at her posting on November 9, 2019, and presented her diplomatic credentials to President [[Cyril Ramaphosa]] on January 28, 2020.<ref>[https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20191111/mar-a-lago-member-lana-marks-returns-to-south-africa-as-us-ambassador], Lana Marks Returns to South Africa as US Ambassador.</ref><ref name="Fabricius">{{Cite news |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-01-31-us-ambassadors-ambition-lift-sa-into-top-20-of-us-trade-partners/ |title=The Interview: US ambassador's ambition: Lift SA into top 20 of US trade partners |last=Fabricius |first=Peter |date=2020-01-31 |work=Daily Maverick |access-date=2020-02-07 |language=en}}</ref>
-Marks has been a member of Donald Trump's [[Mar-a-Lago]] resort since 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gramer|first=Robbie|date=February 5, 2020|title=At Embassies Abroad, Trump Envoys Are Quietly Pushing Out Career Diplomats|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/05/us-embassies-abroad-trump-envoys-pushing-out-career-diplomats-deputy-chiefs-mission-south-africa-diplomacy-pompeo-lana-marks/|via=www.foreignpolicy.com}}</ref> She was among several Mar-a-Lago members to be chosen by Trump for a role in his administration.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The long, strange journey of Lana Marks, Trump’s pick for South African ambassador|url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-the-long-strange-journey-of-lana-marks-trump-s-pick-for-south-african-ambassador-1.6674935|access-date=2021-06-02|website=Haaretz.com|language=en}}</ref>
+Marks has been a member of Donald Trump's [[Mar-a-Lago]] resort since 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gramer|first=Robbie|date=February 5, 2020|title=At Embassies Abroad, Trump Envoys Are Quietly Pushing Out Career Diplomats|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/05/us-embassies-abroad-trump-envoys-pushing-out-career-diplomats-deputy-chiefs-mission-south-africa-diplomacy-pompeo-lana-marks/|via=www.foreignpolicy.com}}</ref> She was among several Mar-a-Lago members to be chosen by Trump for a role in his administration.<ref>{{Cite news|title=The long, strange journey of Lana Marks, Trump's pick for South African ambassador|url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-the-long-strange-journey-of-lana-marks-trump-s-pick-for-south-african-ambassador-1.6674935|access-date=2021-06-02|newspaper=Haaretz|language=en}}</ref>
 Marks stated that her primary goals include youth and women’s empowerment.<ref>[https://sowetourban.co.za/65622/us-ambassador-lana-marks-takes-short-left-soweto/], US Ambassador Lana Marks Takes Short Left In Soweto.</ref>  During her first sixty days, Marks launched two major initiatives, to invite all of Africa's leaders to a U.S.-Africa investment summit in [[Washington D.C.]], and to lift South Africa into a top-20 U.S. trading partner.<ref name="Fabricius"/>
@@ Line 37: / Line 39: @@
 In September 2020, anonymous U.S. intelligence sources claimed that [[Iran]] was planning an assassination attempt on Marks in South Africa. The plot, claimed the sources, was in retaliation for the [[Assassination of Qasem Soleimani|U.S. drone strike]] in [[Baghdad]], Iraq, that killed the former commander of [[Qods Force]], [[Qasem Soleimani]], and deputy leader of Iraqi [[Popular Mobilization Forces]] militia, [[Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis]] on January 3, 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Toosi|first=Nahal|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/13/iran-south-africa-ambassador-assassination-plot-413831|title=Officials: Iran weighs plot to kill U.S. ambassador to South Africa|work=Politico|date=September 13, 2020|access-date=2020-09-14|language=en-US}}</ref>{{Dubious|date=September 2020}}
-The signing of a letter of intent between the [[U.S. International Development Finance Corporation]] (DFC) and [[NuScale]], to develop 2,500 MW of [[nuclear power]] in South Africa, was cited as perhaps being one of her most significant accomplishments.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fabricius |first1=Peter |title=United States Ambassador Departs Pretoria |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-01-21-united-states-ambassador-to-south-africa-lana-marks-departs-pretoria/ |website=Daily Maverick |publisher=Daily Maverick |access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref>
+The signing of a letter of intent between the [[U.S. International Development Finance Corporation]] (DFC) and [[NuScale]], to develop 2,500 MW of [[nuclear power]] in South Africa, was cited as perhaps being one of her most significant accomplishments.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fabricius |first1=Peter |title=United States Ambassador Departs Pretoria |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-01-21-united-states-ambassador-to-south-africa-lana-marks-departs-pretoria/ |website=Daily Maverick |date=21 January 2021 |access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref>
-In March 2020, Marks refused to quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19 at an event at Mar-a-Lago, President Trump’s club in Florida.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jakes|first=Lara|date=2020-11-01|title=U.S. Diplomat Coughs Online, and European Allies Wonder if They Were Exposed|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/01/us/politics/coronavirus-state-department-diplomats.html|access-date=2021-06-02|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In December 2020, Marks spent 10 days in intensive care with Covid-19.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Meldrum |first1=Andrew |title=US Ambassador in South Africa Better after ICU Virus Care |url=https://apnews.com/article/africa-south-africa-coronavirus-pandemic-93b097dbc38a3e84bed3c75c3385d373 |website=AP News |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref>
+In March 2020, Marks refused to quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19 at an event at Mar-a-Lago, President Trump’s club in Florida.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jakes|first=Lara|date=2020-11-01|title=U.S. Diplomat Coughs Online, and European Allies Wonder if They Were Exposed|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/01/us/politics/coronavirus-state-department-diplomats.html|access-date=2021-06-02|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In December 2020, Marks spent 10 days in intensive care with Covid-19.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Meldrum |first1=Andrew |title=US Ambassador in South Africa Better after ICU Virus Care |url=https://apnews.com/article/africa-south-africa-coronavirus-pandemic-93b097dbc38a3e84bed3c75c3385d373 |website=AP News |date=11 January 2021 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref>
-As a Trump political appointee ambassador, she resigned from the office following the inauguration of President [[Joe Biden]] on 20 January 2021 and was succeeded by [[John Groarke]] as ''Charge d'Affaires ad interim''.<ref>{{cite web |title=US envoy to SA: Amid change, an enduring partnership will remain |url=https://za.usembassy.gov/us-envoy-to-sa-amid-change-an-enduring-partnership-will-remain/ |website=U.S Embassy & Consulates in South Africa |access-date=21 January 2021}}</ref>
+As a Trump political appointee ambassador, she resigned from the office following the inauguration of President [[Joe Biden]] on 20 January 2021 and was succeeded by [[John Groarke]] as ''Charge d'Affaires ad interim''.<ref>{{cite web |title=US envoy to SA: Amid change, an enduring partnership will remain |url=https://za.usembassy.gov/us-envoy-to-sa-amid-change-an-enduring-partnership-will-remain/ |website=U.S Embassy & Consulates in South Africa |date=21 January 2021 |access-date=21 January 2021}}</ref>
 ==Personal life==
-Marks has been married to Dr. Neville Marks, a practicing psychiatrist affiliated with [[JFK Medical Center (Atlantis, Florida)|JFK Medical Center]], since 1976.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://health.usnews.com/doctors/neville-marks-800318|title=Dr. Neville MarksMD}}</ref> Marks and her husband later lived in [[Bermuda]] before moving to Florida in 1987.<ref name="sommer" /><ref name="bleby" /> She has two children.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Talking With Lana Marks, Who’s Ready to Ditch Palm Beach for Pretoria|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/02/lana-marks-nominee-ambassador-to-south-africa.html|last=Durkin|first=Tish|date=February 3, 2019|website=Intelligencer}}</ref>
+Marks has been married to Dr. Neville Marks, a practicing psychiatrist affiliated with [[JFK Medical Center (Atlantis, Florida)|JFK Medical Center]], since 1976.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://health.usnews.com/doctors/neville-marks-800318|title=Dr. Neville MarksMD}}</ref> Marks and her husband later lived in [[Bermuda]] before moving to Florida in 1987.<ref name="sommer" /><ref name="bleby" /> She has two children.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Talking With Lana Marks, Who's Ready to Ditch Palm Beach for Pretoria|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/02/lana-marks-nominee-ambassador-to-south-africa.html|last=Durkin|first=Tish|date=February 3, 2019|website=Intelligencer}}</ref>
-Marks was a personal friend of [[Diana, Princess of Wales]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/daily/special/diana/readingroom/sept9798/9.html|title=Time,  February 2 1998|website=time.com|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430183411/http://www.time.com/time/daily/special/diana/readingroom/sept9798/9.html|archive-date=30 April 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> According to Marks, the two women had planned a four-day trip to Italy for the end of August 1997. Marks canceled at the last minute when Marks's father had a heart attack. Diana went to [[Paris]] with her partner [[Dodi Fayed]] where they were [[Death of Diana, Princess of Wales|killed in a car accident]].<ref name="feitelberg">{{Cite news|url=https://wwd.com/eye/people/lana-marks-the-makings-of-a-fashion-focused-ambassador-nominee-1202908159/|title=Lana Marks: The Makings of a Fashion-Focused Ambassador nominee|last=Feitelberg|first=Rosemary|date=2018-11-15|work=WWD|access-date=2018-11-16|language=en-US}}</ref>
+Marks was a personal friend of [[Diana, Princess of Wales]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/daily/special/diana/readingroom/sept9798/9.html|title=Time, February 2 1998|website=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430183411/http://www.time.com/time/daily/special/diana/readingroom/sept9798/9.html|archive-date=30 April 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> According to Marks, the two women had planned a four-day trip to Italy for the end of August 1997. Marks canceled at the last minute when Marks's father had a heart attack. Diana went to [[Paris]] with her partner [[Dodi Fayed]] where they were [[Death of Diana, Princess of Wales|killed in a car accident]].<ref name="feitelberg">{{Cite news|url=https://wwd.com/eye/people/lana-marks-the-makings-of-a-fashion-focused-ambassador-nominee-1202908159/|title=Lana Marks: The Makings of a Fashion-Focused Ambassador nominee|last=Feitelberg|first=Rosemary|date=2018-11-15|work=WWD|access-date=2018-11-16|language=en-US}}</ref>
-Since 2010, Marks has been a member of [[Mar-a-Lago]]. According to Marks, she joined because other [[country club]]s in [[Palm Beach, Florida|Palm Beach]] did not admit Jewish members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/02/lana-marks-nominee-ambassador-to-south-africa.html|title=Talking With Lana Marks, Who’s Ready to Ditch Palm Beach for Pretoria|first=Tish|last=Durkin|date=February 3, 2019|website=Intelligencer}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Roberts|first=Roxanne|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/palm-beach-used-to-be-a-nice-town-for-billionaires-then-trump-came-along/2019/01/08/a14b1708-1049-11e9-84fc-d58c33d6c8c7_story.html|title=Palm Beach used to be a nice town for billionaires. Then Trump came along.|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 8, 2019|access-date=March 21, 2020}}</ref>
+Since 2010, Marks has been a member of [[Mar-a-Lago]]. According to Marks, she joined because other [[country club]]s in [[Palm Beach, Florida|Palm Beach]] did not admit Jewish members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/02/lana-marks-nominee-ambassador-to-south-africa.html|title=Talking With Lana Marks, Who's Ready to Ditch Palm Beach for Pretoria|first=Tish|last=Durkin|date=February 3, 2019|website=Intelligencer}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Roberts|first=Roxanne|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/palm-beach-used-to-be-a-nice-town-for-billionaires-then-trump-came-along/2019/01/08/a14b1708-1049-11e9-84fc-d58c33d6c8c7_story.html|title=Palm Beach used to be a nice town for billionaires. Then Trump came along.|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 8, 2019|access-date=March 21, 2020}}</ref>
 ==References==
@@ Line 77: / Line 79: @@
 [[Category:Living people]]
 [[Category:Luxury brands]]
-[[Category:People from East London, Eastern Cape]]
+[[Category:People from East London, South Africa]]
 [[Category:People from Palm Beach, Florida]]
 [[Category:South African emigrants to the United States]]
@@ Line 83: / Line 85: @@
 [[Category:American women fashion designers]]
 [[Category:South African female tennis players]]
+[[Category:21st-century American women]]
+[[Category:Alumni of Clarendon High School for Girls]]