# Melania Trump's first official White House portrait photo **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 4, 2017, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721 "2017-04-04T10:45:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/41 "2017-04-04T22:24:31Z")
Headshot photographer (and former model himself) Peter Hurley made the “squinching” thing more well known a few years ago in [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff7nltdBCHs) (according to the video, he’s the one who came up with the term). The whole squinch thing isn’t really my style, but, done well, it can create a strong, engaged look in a portrait that works well for this type of photography. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/42 "2017-04-04T22:31:37Z")
To me she looks like she can’t see. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/43 "2017-04-04T22:44:07Z")
As I put it in another thread, an “official WH FLOTUS photo” (given there should be one) is a mere publicity/promo shot. So I cannot get worked up about it, besides you know it had to get HIS approval, not just hers so any blame may be largely his. It’s a publicity shot of a conventionally attractive high-maintenance lady, post-prodded to put her in the best light possible, as would be expected of most such public figures. Big whoop. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/44 "2017-04-04T22:52:58Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > For anyone that was wondering what Melania Trump looked like way back when, here is [a very early modeling shot](https://ideastream-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/7/25/Melania%201st%20modeling%20photos%202%20STANE%20JERKO.jpg) circa 1987. She was born in 1970. > > More 1987 pics in th[is article](http://www.univision.com/univision-news/politics/the-life-and-secrets-of-melania-trump). Now _that_ is a beautiful woman. What we’re seeing now is too, but she looks like she’s had all the joy botoxed out of her face and her expression never changes. My guess is it can’t anymore. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/45 "2017-04-04T23:10:02Z")
Melania looks like a woman trying to be a glamorous knockout but is not one naturally. This detracts from her attractiveness. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/46 "2017-04-05T02:05:08Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Why does she always look so smug? I withdraw “smug”. My gf pointed out hat she isn’t projecting “smug”, but rather a haughtiness that is forced and damaged looking. But I’m sure she’s a wonderful person. _fingers crossed_ ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/47 "2017-04-05T02:12:29Z")
Have I missed any mention of her ungodly large man hands, or is that the sorta observation that is out of the bounds of good taste? (asking for a friend) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/48 "2017-04-05T02:20:11Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Have I missed any mention of her ungodly large man hands, or is that the sorta observation that is out of the bounds of good taste? > > (asking for a friend) So as a couple, they have average sized hands? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/49 "2017-04-05T02:28:52Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > …Previous first ladies have used their newfound position to do everything from promote childhood physical activity to promote equal rights for African Americans. Call me when Melania does something more interesting than looking pretty. Well she’s inadvertently laying the ground work for a future First Lady (or First Gentlemen) who decides to carry on with their own career instead of managing the household, hosting social events, and doing charity work. Also she may make Trump the first President to get divorced while in office. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/50 "2017-04-05T02:40:28Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > So as a couple, they have average sized hands? Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/51 "2017-04-05T02:56:41Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > So as a couple, they have average sized hands? I hate when I come up with a witty comeback, only to scroll down and see that someone beat me to it ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/52 "2017-04-05T09:00:11Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > I remember an article about Trump giving people fake diamonds as gifts, claiming they were real. Like, he’d wear fake diamond cufflinks, then take them off and give them out as if they were impulsive gifts. Then people would get them appraised and find out they were cheap CZ. > > What I’m saying is, I bet that ring is worth closer to $3 than $3 million. Yes, T[rump gave out fake diamond cufflinks as “wedding gifts” to celebrities not once, but several times.](http://nypost.com/2016/06/21/trump-has-been-giving-out-fake-diamond-cuff-links-for-years/) Probably, Melania wil soon start selling knock-off copies of her ring “just like the ones on the official WH portrait!” ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/53 "2017-04-05T13:05:09Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > Yes, T[rump gave out fake diamond cufflinks as “wedding gifts” to celebrities not once, but several times.](http://nypost.com/2016/06/21/trump-has-been-giving-out-fake-diamond-cuff-links-for-years/) Probably, Melania wil soon start selling knock-off copies of her ring “just like the ones on the official WH portrait!” The guy is an unredeemable ass. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/54 "2017-04-05T14:45:02Z")
Who knew that ‘[Sophie Kachinsky](https://media.giphy.com/media/1nr5JhPEGr4Zy/giphy.gif)’ would ever be First Lady…? ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/55 "2017-04-05T23:24:19Z")
Olan Mills meets Glamour Shots? Seriously, the Photoshopping job here is _just_ shy of what you see done to children’s beauty pageant photos. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/56 "2017-04-06T04:27:31Z")
This exactly what I would expect it this were done by somebody who hates Trump. That photo is the kind of things even mediocre photographers make fun of. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/57 "2017-04-06T11:47:19Z")
I feel sorry for her. She made a deal with the devil. A lavish lifestyle in exchange for being an abused wife and getting cheated on. She’s skilled enough to cover any bruises with makeup, but on inauguration day the mental abuse was screaming out to be noticed. Attractive? Meh. Those eyes look freaky, like a Doonesbury character. Don’t care to hear her talk, though just one time I want to hear her say “moose and squirrel”. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/58 "2017-04-06T12:00:02Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > …just one time I want to hear her say “moose and squirrel”. I just laughed out loud. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/59 "2017-04-06T12:19:17Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I feel sorry for her. She made a deal with the devil. A lavish lifestyle in exchange for being an abused wife and getting cheated on. She’s skilled enough to cover any bruises with makeup, but on inauguration day the mental abuse was screaming out to be noticed. I agree on making the deal but have less sympathy. He would have checked her out a few times sexually she would know he was a sleezebag bigot - so she went into this with, as best she can post op, with her eyes wide open. She could have married well in the USA. She didn’t need to do this. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721/60 "2017-04-06T12:26:21Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > I agree on making the deal but have less sympathy. > > He would have checked her out a few times sexually she would know he was a sleezebag bigot - so she went into this with, as best she can post op, with her eyes wide open. > > She could have married well in the USA. She didn’t need to do this. I can see that logic, but how often do you get the chance to marry someone filthy rich? Maybe she could have found another rich guy, but she probably thought he was worth 10 times what he was. Most people have a price, and I’m sure she has seller’s remorse. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/melania-trumps-first-official-white-house-portrait-photo/783721.md?page=4)