What Jill Biden and Michelle Obama have in common as first ladies that Melania Trump missed out on

WASHINGTON, DC: Jill Biden, Michelle Obama, and Melania Trump have one thing in common: the title of the First Lady of the United States.

While Jill is enjoying the last few months of the title in case her husband, President Joe Biden, does not win the 2024 presidential election, Michelle carried it with dignity for two terms from 2009 to 2017 during Barack Obama's presidency. Melania, on the other hand, was the first lady from 2017 to 2021 when Donald Trump entered the White House.

Despite this, Melania, a former model, does not have one unique thing in common with Jill and Michelle.

The third wife of the 45th president never had the honor of being featured on the cover of Vogue, unlike Jill and Michelle, when she was the first lady.

Jill became Vogue's cover star for the third time in the August 2024 issue. The current first lady was previously featured in the cover in July 2019 and August 2021 issues. She was featured along with granddaughter Naomi Biden in the digital Winter 2023 issue.

Michelle was also the cover girl for the prestigious magazine thrice while her husband was the president. She first appeared on the cover in 2009, soon after her husband's inauguration, then in April 2013, and third in December 2016.

What caused Melania Trump's absence from Vogue's cover?

Before tying the knot with the real estate mogul, Melania appeared on the cover of Vogue several times. In the February 2005 issue, she graced the magazine's cover in a Christian Dior couture wedding gown less than a month after her marriage to the ex-president. The title read 'Donald Trump's New Bride,' and had a 14-page feature of their lavish wedding.

However, her face never made to the Vogue cover after Donald became the president.

"Obviously these are women that we feel are icons and inspiring to women from a global perspective," said Vogue's editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, to CNN in 2019 regarding who should become the magazine's cover.

"I also feel even more strongly now that this is a time to try and — I think that one has to be fair, one has to look at all sides — but I don't think it's a moment not to take a stand."

It should be noted that Wintour backed Donald's opponent, Hillary Clinton, in the 2016 election.

Melania Trump refused to feature in Vogue unless given cover spot

Speaking on 'The Megyn Kelly Show' in September 2023, Donald said that it was "sad" his wife did not make it into the Vogue cover during his presidency, but he added that she did not care, according to The Wrap.

"She's been on the cover of the magazines for a long time, and she was on the cover of Vogue before. And she was actually very friendly with Anna Wintour. But once I ran for politics, that was the end of that," the former president said at the time.

However, the reality was that Melania had her eyes only on the cover spot.

This is evident from a 2018 secret recording of the former first lady's conversation with her ex-aide, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff.

"Vogue said like, oh, we want to do a profile. Profile? F**k you, profile. I don't need no profile ... It might be a cover. I'm like, might be a cover? I don't give a f**k about Vogue and any magazine," Melania had said.

Wolkoff, in her book 'Melania and Me' claimed that the former model would only contribute to Vogue or any magazine if she was featured on the cover.