The White House just released the official portrait of First Lady Melania Trump

And you won’t be able to unsee it…

melania trump official portrait

And you won’t be able to unsee it…

The White House released an official portrait of First Lady Melania Trump this week, but it’s not what people were expecting.

Breaking from tradition, Melania’s portrait is a stark contrast from the past First Ladies' before her.

Traditionally the official portrait of the First Lady is supposed to portray an approachable every-woman and instil confidence in the masses, with former First Ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton and Nancy Reagan posing in their photographs with open arms and smiles.

Melania’s portrait, on the other hand, looks more like a magazine cover or a freeze frame from a 90s music video, with the former fashion model posing with her arms crossed and a model-like pout.

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The official portrait has come under fire for a number of reasons. Aside from being criticised for making the First Lady appear unapproachable, it has also been judged for being obviously airbrushed.

Melania has come under fire in the past for breaking with First Lady tradition, choosing not to move to the White House when her husband was elected president. Donald moved to the White House with his daughter, Ivanka, now Assistant to the President, and her husband Jared Kushner, Senior Advisor to the President, while Melania and son, Barron, chose to stay in New York until Baron finishes his academic year.

‘I am honoured to serve in the role of First Lady, and look forward to working on behalf of the American people over the coming years’, Melania has stated.

Jenny Proudfoot
Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.