Jill Biden appears on the cover of 'Vogue', something that Melania Trump never achieved
The magazine resumes its tradition of publishing profiles and photographs of the First Lady, after suspending it with the wife of former President Trump; the edition that will come out on July 20
First lady Jill Biden is the cover image of Vogue magazine for the July 20 issue, six months after she arrived at the White House, something former first lady Melania Trump was never able to achieve.
The wife of President Joe Biden posed for photos this spring, where she is seen on one of the White House balconies, wearing a navy blue, floral dress by Oscar de la Renta for the cover photo.
The images were taken by Annie Leibovitz, who also captured the First Lady at work, wearing Ralph Lauren clothes –remember that she is a university professor–, in addition to photographing her in a green dress next to President Biden.
The text was written by Jonathan Van Meter, who creates a profile combining the professional and personal side of the First Lady and how her work as an academic has left its mark on several people. He also remembers her time in Washington, D.C., as Second Lady and how she lived the electoral campaign in 2020, in the midst of the political division of the country and how President Biden managed to depressurize a bit.
“During the campaign, I felt a lot of anxiety from people; they were scared,” he said. “When I travel around the country now, I feel like people can breathe again. I think that's part of the reason Joe was elected. People wanted someone to come in and heal this nation, not just from the pandemic… But also… it's just a calmer president. He lowers the temperature.”
Dr. B, as the author refers to at various points, also talks about her projects, such as the reestablishment of Joining Forces, the military family support initiative that she launched with Michelle Obama 10 years ago.
Her work, it is indicated, is just beginning, because in the East Wing there is a lot of movement and she is expected to organize cultural events and take full responsibility for official dinners and Christmas decorations.
She believes that when she was Second Lady she had an important platform to promote projects, but now she recognizes that her position is stronger.
“Now I have a bigger platform and I feel every day, like… what could I give up? What would I like to give up? Not at all,” she expressed.
back tradition
With Melania Trump, Vogue magazine broke its tradition of photographing and interviewing the country's first ladies. In fact, no fashion magazine in the United States has placed the former first lady on its cover.
The only time she appeared in Vanity Fair was in Mexico, where she was seen "tasting" a plate of jewels as if it were spaghetti. That edition was harshly criticized in Mexico and other countries, especially because former President Donald Trump attacked Mexican immigrants calling them "rapists" and "criminals" and she did not raise her voice.
In 2019, Anna Wintour was asked why Melania Trump did not appear on the cover of the magazine, especially because of her history as a model for her. The editor never referred to the former president's wife by name, but in April of that year she pointed out on CNN that the magazine she directed featured profiles of women who believed "in the position" that she assumed editorially.
In July of that same year, in a podcast of The Economist, Wintour was questioned again on the same subject, but the editor again avoided mentioning Melania Trump by name, instead highlighting that Michelle Obama, who appeared in four editions of the magazine when she was First Lady.
"Well, I think first lady Michelle Obama was really amazing in every fashion decision she made," Wintour responded.
Melania Trump's former spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, called Wintour "small" and said a magazine cover did not define the then First Lady.
