The recent results of the unprecedented presidential election reveal that political experience, racial sensitivity and paying taxes are not prerequisites for the Presidency. Thus, as we glare at Melania Trump’s breast, toned legs and rock solid abs plastered across every social medium are we truly surprised that she, like her husband, do not necessarily fit the bill of a typical first family?
Melania Trump, formerly known as Melania Knauss was born in Novo Mesto, Slovenia on April 26, 1970. At the age of 16 Melania embarked on a modeling career which later prompted her to drop out of the University of Ljubljana. Trump’s lucrative modeling career includes exposure from magazines such as GQ, Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue to name a few. Public controversy initially sparked when Ms. Trump plagiarized notable lines from Michelle Obama’s 2008 National Democratic Convention Speech. In recent weeks, public attention has shifted to the racy nudes from her previous line of work.
Last week marked the first formal encounter between first Lady Michelle Obama and Melania Trump. The two sipped tea, discussed parenting and Mrs. Trump’s duties as of January 20, 2017. Since their meeting, rhetoric has circulated social media platforms comparing everything about Michelle and Melania from their career, educational background, and appearance. Hence, the prodding question arises: Would Michelle Obama have been welcomed in the White House if her background was identical to Melania Trump's?
The answer is no. As a woman of color, First Lady Michelle Obama would be ostracized prior to the start of her role. Society would call her Un-American and question her citizenship. If Michelle lacked a college degree or plagiarized a speech, her intelligence and qualifications would be questioned at every turn. Photographs of her nude body would be defamed and dehumanized. She would be seen as an abomination rather than a model. First Lady Michelle would wear the label of ghetto and undignified for the entirety of her role. In the harshest reality, she would be regarded as less than a woman and an embarrassment to the White House.
First Lady Michelle Obama, a graduate of Harvard and Princeton, has dedicated herself to encouraging higher education, expanding health equality and supporting American families. Even still, she has not been able to escape demeaning and often racist comments about her appearance.
Regardless of public commentary, the fact is Melania Trump will soon walk in the shoes of First Lady Michelle Obama. The shoes that Michelle wore to break the glass ceiling of racial barriers to will be the same shoes Melania will slip into with ease. Fortunately for Melania, she is not a woman of color. Class-ism and majority privilege will protect her from this fly-by- night scandal. Time will pass and Melania’s salacious nudes will be a mere hiccup in this reality television show entitled American democracy.
