Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, and Dr. Jill Biden. Besides the fact that they were first ladies, what do these three women have in common? These three women were chosen to grace the cover of Vogue magazine during their tenures as first ladies.
Sure, several other first ladies have been included in the magazine, including first ladies Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, and Nancy Reagan, but they were not chosen for the cover. The only first ladies that were featured on the cover were first ladies representing Democratic administrations.
The first lady is one of the most influential roles in the United States. In that role, a woman is one of the most photographed and publicized to the people in America and even across the globe. Regardless of political affiliation, first ladies deserve to be praised.
It would be reasonable to think that Vogue, known for being one of the most famous fashion magazines in the world, would want to feature a former model, First Lady Melania Trump, in its publication. However, not only was she not featured anywhere in a Vogue magazine as the first lady, she was not featured on a single U.S. fashion magazine cover.
This is an interesting double standard.
Vogue featured First Lady Michelle Obama three times on the cover. So, with Melania Trump being the next first lady it was only natural that one should think she would get at least one cover.
In fact, more often than not, Mrs. Trump was criticized for her wardrobe choices by the mainstream and fashion media.
So why didn’t Mrs. Trump or even first ladies Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, and Nancy Reagan get featured on a Vogue cover during their time at the White House? It’s simple: they were connected to conservative policies.
Regardless of her political ties, there are many ways that First Lady Melania Trump could have been praised by the media. She was only the second first lady born outside of the U.S., she spoke five languages, and she was the only first lady to become a naturalized United States citizen. Additionally, through her BE BEST initiative, she advocated for children and gave a voice to some of our nation’s most vulnerable children and families.
Another way Mrs. Trump should have been positively recognized was for her restoration projects around the White House and its grounds. Often compared to First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy, Melania Trump received the complete opposite reaction for her projects, facing extreme criticism when she redecorated rooms in the White House and gave the Rose Garden and tennis pavilion an upgrade.
As we near the end of 2021, we must not forget the biased coverage of first ladies that have become so clear this year. It is important for women to be aware of this unfair treatment and consider putting down their copy of Vogue.
Adelyn Spikes
Adelyn Spikes is studying communications at Texas Tech University and is president of her Network of enlightened Women (NeW) chapter. This fall she was a Student Media Fellow with NeW. NeW is part of a growing conservative movement on college campuses.
The views expressed in this article are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Lone Conservative staff.
