Melania Trump, a first lady excluded from fashion magazines
Donald Trump complains that his wife has not starred in any cover during his 4 years in the White House
In his verbose tweeting speech, Donald Trump has targeted the big fashion publications this time. The president of the United States has not liked anything that in the four years of his mandate not a single women's magazine has dedicated a cover to the first lady, Melania Trump. Last Friday, Christmas Day, he retweeted a message on the "Breitbart" website that read: "The elite snobs of the fashion press have banished the most elegant first lady in history from their pages." Trump shared the message and added of her harvest: "The greatest of all time" and called the magazines fake news.
Melania Trump's predecessors in the White House did get the backing and complacency of the magazines. Perhaps the most recent and notable case is that of Michelle Obama, who made the cover of a fashion publication up to 12 times during her husband's two terms. "Vogue" showed him her confidence up to three times (the first in 2009 after taking office, in 2012 and in November 2016 shortly after Trump's electoral victory), with iconic covers such as the one signed by Annie Leibovitz.
Hillary Clinton made the cover of "Vogue" in 1998, under the headline "The Extraordinary Hillary Clinton." Former First Ladies Laura and Barbara Bush were featured in the "fashion bible," but not on the cover, during their stint in the White House.
The lack of attention of women's magazines towards Melania Trump is quite shocking, considering her past as a model, her spectacular plant and her striking style of dress. CNN president Christiane Amanpour confronted "Vogue" editor Anna Wintour with the indisputable fact that many more female Democrats than Republicans appear on her prized cover.
Wintour did not deny or apologize for that imbalance or Trump's omission. "On the cover are women who are icons and inspiration for women from a global perspective."
Oblivious to controversy
Women's magazines are owned by private business groups with the right to choose who to put on the cover. From Melania's office, her representatives explained to Fox News that she has more important issues to worry about than a cover story.
In addition, before disembarking at the White House, she did manage to see her face stamped on some covers. In 2005, she dressed in a Christian Dior wedding dress after her wedding to Trump, she appeared on the cover of "Vogue." Five years earlier, she starred in a nude cover shoot for the British version of "GQ" when she was still known by her maiden name, Melania Knauss.
