Why does Melania Trump smile so little?
Since January 20, Melania Trump is officially the First Lady of the United States. But in her rare public appearances, she has often shown a closed face. Some netizens don't hesitate to speculate on this apparent sadness, claiming that she is the victim of a sexist and misogynistic Donald Trump. So unhappy or ambitious, Melania?
Melania Trump has been very low-key during Donald Trump's campaign, leaving her husband to his political affairs, as she had left to his business affairs. Now First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS or, shall we say in French, First Lady of the United States) at 46, she must have shown herself alongside the new President at certain official events. First at the investiture ceremony. That’s when it all started.
A camera has captured a somewhat awkward moment: Donald Trump turns to his wife and children behind him, Melania responds with a big smile, but when her husband returns to the audience, the former model's face immediately closes.
This scene toured the web, eliciting compassionate reactions from netizens, who were quick to assert that Melania was being forced to behave like a submissive woman, in the presence of her billionaire and now husband president. This is how the slogans “Free Melania” (Free Melania) and, more humorous, “Melania, blink twice if you need help” (Melania, blink twice if you need help) appeared in the midst of the demonstrations that followed the inauguration. twice if you need help).
Of course, many photos during her rare public appearances show a smiling Melania alongside her husband, but she remains erased, if not absent since the start of the mandate. She has not yet moved to the White House, claiming that she wants to stay with her son Barron in New York to allow him to finish his school year. On the internet too, she remains silent. His Twitter account and Facebook page have only one post, dated January 22.
A discreet but ambitious woman
What is this impassive face hiding? What are the secrets of this cold and inaccessible beauty? First and foremost, Melania Trump is an ambitious young Slovenian. Born Melanija Knavs, she germanized her name, becoming Melania Knauss, to foster an international modeling career. Because his first goal is to leave his little Slovenia.
"She is shy, introverted but also very ambitious, confirms Bojan Pozar, Slovenian journalist, author of the biography Melania Trump: The Inside Story. When she was a teenager, she had only one desire: to make a living abroad. She wasn't really recognized as a model in Slovenia. In fact, Slovenian models from this period hardly remember her. But for her career abroad, she was ready to do a lot, such as posing nude (some times in lesbian poses) in the mid-1990s for French magazine Max. "
Would marriage to Donald Trump be the last step in his ambition? Hard to say. Like to say she's unhappy with Donald Trump. Because his closed face means nothing. “Even most of her old boyfriends in Slovenia remember that she was always extremely reserved,” adds Bojan Pozar. According to information given by her sister Ines Knauss to one of her former boyfriends that seems quite safe, Melania and Donald Trump apparently see each other only three or four times a month. Some images of his face can be a little shocking, such as on Trump's inauguration day. Many instant photos taken while not posing show an unhappy face. But even though she is unhappy, it is a life she has voluntarily chosen. "
Establish credibility
The journalist admits, however, that his life is not necessarily straightforward: “Living with someone like Donald Trump, a 'dominant male', doesn't really mean independence. I think she's very submissive and that's probably why their relationship works. Unlike his first wife, Ivana Trump, Melania never competes with the Trump brand. Today, when she appears in public (for example at the Florida airport), she is always in Donald's shadow. "
Bojan Pozar also believes that the lawsuits she has brought against the media accusing her of being an escort girl are not good for her credibility as First Lady. “Credibility has always been Melania’s main issue, let’s not forget that her official website gave false information about her degrees. "
So now she has to find her place as First Lady. “Sure, she enjoys being the First Lady, but she's apparently not prepared for the role. According to a source of mine related to Trump's Transition Team, Melania is staying in New York primarily because she needs to prepare for her role as FLOTUS. Barron having to finish his school year is a good excuse. We'll see what happens with Melania in the White House. Everything is possible. "
