I spent my Saturday night and my own money watching Melania so you wouldn’t have to. After 25 years as a columnist, that’s the kind of sacrifice I owe the public. One hour and 48 minutes later, one word kept echoing in my mind: WHY? What exactly was the First Lady trying to achieve here?
Let’s start with the obvious: the £28 million paid straight to her by Jeff Bezos. But beyond the headline figures, why subject yourself to cameras documenting every stiffly scripted, hyper-controlled moment of your life? There isn’t a single spontaneous line in this heavily managed PR exercise. Melania’s narration is flat and robotic, her delivery as emotive as a Dalek reading the news. Every frame shows a woman who is, without exception, perfectly polished.
Her hair, perfectly arranged. Her makeup, flawless. Her suits, meticulously tailored yet apparently less comfortable than armor. And the heels oh, the heels sharper than any weapon, defying both gravity and human endurance. Even after 20 hours in stilettos on Inauguration Day, not a single wince, not a single sign of strain when removing them. It’s impossible not to marvel at the commitment… or the absurdity.
Throughout, she speaks of her “vision”, portraying herself as a collaborator with her staff. But in practice, designers, florists, and planners are mere instruments to realize her ideas. Scarlet invitations, towering peonies, her white-and-black Herve Pierre gown all designed and executed by her team, yet she presents them as if conjured by magic, adding a polite “thank you” here and there.
Her supposed focus on the world’s children? Not a child in sight. Barron, her famously tall son, remains silent. Other Trump kids and grandchildren? Completely airbrushed out. She honors her late mother with a private candle-lighting rigidly, formally, emotionally distant. Moments where warmth, humor, or even casual humanity could appear… do not.
Even when claiming a love for Michael Jackson, she doesn’t know the words to “Billie Jean.” By the end of this documentary, I know nothing more about Melania than when I started and I’m left wondering whether I want to.
Why, Melania? Why? For a closer look at her public messaging, see her email exchanges and her post-White House reflections.
6 Comments
Maybe you should critique Michelle Obama. Constantly complaining. Melania is much more educated, speaks 5 languages fluently and certainly nicer looking. It’s people like you that can’t find anything good in good people, but find corrupt and nasty people to be looked up to!!!!
ReplyDeleteI did. Three times. Becoming is THE #1 most rewatched documentary of the year. Thanks to this drivel.
DeleteMichelle Obama is a highly educated attorney and author who graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School. A Chicago native, she excelled in public school, attending Whitney M. Young Magnet High School before earning her B.A. in Sociology from Princeton in 1985 and her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Harvard in 1988.
ReplyDeleteKey Educational Background:
High School: Whitney M. Young Magnet High School (1981), graduating salutatorian.
Undergraduate: Princeton University (1981–1985), Bachelor of Arts in sociology, with a minor in African American studies; graduated cum laude.
Law School: Harvard Law School (1985–1988), earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.).
As a first-generation college student, she navigated elite institutions, focusing on her studies to build a career in law, non-profits, and public service
Melania education Secondary School: Studied design and photography in Ljubljana.
University: Enrolled at the University of Ljubljana for architecture and design but left after one year.
Modeling Course: Completed a fashion modeling course at a Slovenian cultural center. Her official bio at the 2016 Republican National Convention and her website claimed she had a degree in design and architecture, but this was later debunked as false, with no evidence of graduation found.
Melania 'speaks 5 languages flatulently'....?
ReplyDeleteSometimes it is not fair to compare; I get the fact that the author is forced to compare; they are responding to a comment. It would be best to just keep the apart; Mrs Obama did what she did to benefit herself and others. Mrs Trump may have the same the reasons. My guess is that if you to ask the ladies, they would be descent, and not start an argument. This talk about them is indicating that being a public figure is just very difficult. And that is all there is to it. The level of education may be a personal decision, which must be respected. But this is very difficult if you are public figure. I favor the Democrats, but I would not have a problem saying 'hi' to Mrs Trump.
DeleteGood point, thoughtful and empathetic.Good job, we need more positivity and love and less negative judgement.
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