Melania Trump's upcoming namesake memoir cover raises eyebrows with familiar design
WASHINGTON, DC: Melania Trump’s forthcoming memoir has stirred up significant controversy, not for its content but for its cover design.
The book, titled simply 'Melania', features a minimalist cover that many have noted bears a striking resemblance to a well-known fashion book, leading to a wave of criticism online.
The memoir, which is set for release on October 1, marks the 54-year-old former First Lady’s entry into the literary world, as per The Daily Beast.
The pre-sale of 'Melania' began on Friday, August 23, and almost immediately, sharp-eyed observers noticed that the cover art was nearly identical to that of 'Chanel Catwalk', a book published in 2020 by French author Patrick Mauries.
Melania Trump's memoir bears striking resemblance to 'Chanel Catwalk'
The design of Melania Trump's memoir is both simple and striking, featuring her first name in large white text against a stark black background. While minimalist designs are not uncommon in the literary world, the uncanny resemblance to 'Chanel Catwalk' has raised eyebrows.
'Chanel Catwalk' is a celebrated book that compiled every Chanel collection ever created by the legendary fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld.
The cover of this book also features the title in all caps, centered on a black background in a white font of similar size and style to that of 'Melania'.
The primary differences between the two covers are minor: 'Chanel Catwalk' has its title split into two lines and includes the publisher’s name, Thames & Hudson, in the bottom-left corner.
With millions of books published each year, it’s inevitable that some covers will bear similarities.
However, the scrutiny surrounding Melania's memoir is particularly intense due to her history of facing accusations of plagiarism, most notably during the 2016 Republican National Convention (RNC) when sections of her speech were found to closely resemble those of a 2008 speech by Michelle Obama at the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
'Melania' will be available in bookstores, airports, and on digital platforms from October 1. For those eager to get their hands on a copy, the book is priced at $40 on Melania’s official website.
For collectors and die-hard fans, signed copies are available at a premium.
A standard signed copy of the memoir is priced at $75, while a signed collector’s edition, featuring a hardcover with inverted text and background colors, is listed at $150. The latter option is likely targeted at those who appreciate exclusive and limited-edition items.
Fox News recently reported that the memoir had quickly climbed to the top of several Amazon 'Best Sellers' lists, indicating strong pre-order numbers despite—or perhaps because of—the controversy surrounding its release.
Melania Trump sparks trolling in wake of her memoir's similarities
The internet was quick to pounce on the similarities, with many social media users trolling Melania Trump.
On Facebook, a person remarked, "Career plagiarist. She’s just another grifter in that camp." Another said, "Well, she is a well known serial plagiarist."
"Should be titled 'Plagiarize and Grift' by Melania," wrote one person. Another added, "Nothing original about this women… nothing."
"Say it ain't so, the first lady of grifting," wrote one individual. One person wrote, "Worst most unfit useless FLOTUS in our history."
Another pointed out, "She can’t write anything herself. She’s a fraud just like the rest." One netizen stated, "It wouldn’t be Melania’s if it didn’t have some plagiarism."
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
