JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<select>
  <option value="volvo">Volvo</option>
  <option value="saab">Saab</option>
  <option value="mercedes">Mercedes</option>
  <option value="audi">Audi</option>
</select>

<nav>
    <div data-value="volvo">volvo</div>
    <div data-value="saab">saab</div>
    <div data-value="mercedes">mercedes</div>
    <div data-value="audi">audi</div>
</nav>

CSS

select {
    display:block;
    margin:0 0 10px;
}
div {
    padding:5px 10px;
    margin:0 0 5px;
    border:solid 1px #ccc;
    background:#eee;
    cursor:pointer;
}

JavaScript

$(document).ready(function(){
    var select = $("select"),
        value = "";
    
    $("div").on("click",function(){
        value = $(this).attr("data-value"); // Store the value of the clicked div        
        select.find('option[value="'+ value +'"]') // Match the option with the value we get before
            .prop("selected",true) // Assign it selected attr
            .end() // Go back to the select
                .trigger("change"); // Trigger the change to see the change reflected on the select
    });
});