Woman Alive deputy editor, Jemimah Wright looks at what we know of USA former politician and entrepreneur, Nicole Shanahan, and her recent baptism.
Did you know that Nicole Shanahan was baptised on the 19th January in Atherton, California? She told the story in a long post on X recently. But who is Nicole Shanahan? You might recognise her name from the whirlwind of the 2024 U.S.A presidential election, where she was known to many as Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate.
Nicole isn’t your typical political figure. She’d never held office, but her passion for issues like environmental health and children’s welfare resonated with many. Together, she and Kennedy aimed to shake up the status quo, securing ballot access in 16 states before he dropped out in August 2024 to endorse Donald Trump.
With a net worth reportedly exceeding $1 billion - thanks largely to her divorce settlement from Sergey Brin - Nicole’s wealth fuelled the political campaign, pouring nearly $19 million into their effort.
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Nicole was born in 1985 and is a California based attorney and entrepreneur. In 2014, she married Jeremy Asher Kranz, a Jewish investor and finance executive from San Francisco, and converted to Judaism. They divorced a year later, and Nicole married Sergey Brin in 2018, the same year their daughter, Echo, was born. Brin filed for divorce on 4th January 2022 and in summer 2023, the divorce was finalised. Nicole is now in a relationship with Jacob Strumwasser, vice president at Lightening Labs.
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Instead of marrying, Nicole and Jacob had a ‘love ceremony on a beach in 2023. She told PEOPLE magazine about the ceremony: “I’ve actually spent quite a bit of time understanding the history of marriage — how ancient peoples once married. The Druids and the Celtics would handfast. You know the term ‘tying the knot?’ It comes from this ancient Druid tradition of taking a piece of fabric and tying a knot around two people’s hands — they would fast their hands together.”
Nicole wrote about her baptism on X on the 25th February 2025. She said: “Last month, I was baptised… After over a decade practicing Judaism, I made the decision to give my life to Jesus Christ and join him in the waters of baptism…My faith conversion began in earnest last summer as I campaigned alongside Bobby Kennedy. I met countless believers who opened my eyes to the spiritual battle unfolding in our nation and who prayed over me at rallies across America.”
She describes a moment of divine encounter: “One night, alone in my room, I broke down and cried out to God. In that sacred space, Jesus revealed himself to me as my Lord and Saviour.”
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Nicole’s baptism in January wasn’t just a quiet dip in a church font; it was a bold step after years of searching. “This month,” she adds, “I rededicated my life publicly to Christ through Baptism… I am so grateful for the Christians who helped me see the truth of the Gospel—that through Jesus we are set free.”
On the 25th Feb, American author, Eric Mataxis responded to Nicole’s post on X, writing: ‘Revival is happening in America. Praise the Lord. Nicole Shanahan and her spouse, Jacob Strumwasser, have announced their conversion to Christianity from Judaism.
Whatever your politics, we can all rejoice in Nicole’s public declaration of faith, and pray that God will use her to be a blessing and influence to those around her.
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