Photographer that captured Melania Trump's FLOTUS portrait compares President's wife to 'the Queen of England'
- The Belgian photographer made the comparison in a Times interview
- READ MORE: Body language expert reveals what Melania Trump's bold new White House portrait really means
Melania Trump's boardroom-esque official portrait - released as her husband Donald has made his way back to the White House after a historic election - sparked many comparisons.
Some noticed similarities between frames and promotional shots from the hit political thriller House of Cards whilst others on social media claimed it had a distinct 'girlboss' quality.
But the woman behind the lens- Régine Mahaux - believes the First Lady shares traits with royalty, in particular the 'never complain, never explain' conduct.
Speaking to The Times, the Belgian photographer, 57, spoke about her subject, who she captured in black and white, standing behind the desk in the White House's Yellow Oval Room in its residential wing, and sporting a Dolce and Gabbana tuxedo.
'Melania is not about flowers and pearls, like a lot of first ladies, so it wasn't a matter of taking her picture in a rose garden. She's different,' Régine explained.
'She's a good mother, she's a good wife, but she's also really independent and a good businesswoman.
'At the same time, she's like the Queen of England. She will never complain and stays in her place, behind her husband.'
The Washington Monument was visible in the background of the snap, taken the day after the inauguration.
Melania Trump 's boardroom-esque official portrait - released as her husband Donald has made his way back to the White House after a historic election - sparked many comparisons
But the woman behind the lens- Régine Mahaux - believes the First Lady shares traits with royalty, in particular the 'never complain, never explain' conduct
The photo - which initially sparked online accusations of heavy Photoshop - was alleged to have been taken in such perfect conditions, it reportedly didn't even need touching up.
Régine also took Melania's portrait during her first term in office.
'I always do something that really reflects her,' Régine told Vanity Fair of the image, which was taken on January 21, 2025.
'I feel that her kindness and involvement and her engagement are reflected in this picture,' she explained.
The experienced photographer said that despite the Yellow Oval room being quite sunny, it happened to be an overcast day, making it perfectly backlit.
'It was gray, and Melania looks good in gray, and everything looks good in gray,' she said.
Melania's second term portrait is a complete switch-up from her 2017 image, which was also taken by Régine
'The picture didn't need to be retouched because we wanted to keep the authenticity.'
Melania's second term portrait is a complete switch-up from her 2017 image.
The First Lady's 2017 picture is a softer version, showing the glamor with her hair out and over her shoulders in a black blazer.
In the picture - which is notably in color - she was seen crossing her arms as she gazed at the camera.
Other first ladies made use of bright colors and the White House settings in their photos.
Jill Biden wore a bright blue dress for her official portrait.
Michelle Obama wore a black dress with pearls in hers but used the Blue State Room as her backdrop. Laura Bush wore a warm brown suit.
Melania's photo was taken in her favorite room in the White House: the upstairs Yellow Oval Room.
Body language expert Judi James says the portrait depicts a powerful image of a first lady in control. Melania has pushed back against the 'trophy wife' narrative touted by her critics and instead reminds the world that she ' has her own decisions and her own opinions ', according to James. Melania pictured with her husband at a Hurricane Helene recovery briefing
In Melania Trump's first four years in the DC spotlight, she hosted few public events, granted even fewer media interviews and largely remained out of sight. Pictured at the Liberty Inaugural Ball
In her first term, she oversaw extensive redecoration and restoration of that room, along with many others.
In her memoir 'Melania,' she said the Yellow Oval Room in the residence was a 'favorite' and she designed the rug on the floor.
'I carefully selected beautiful antiques from the White House collection,' she noted. 'I personally designed a custom rug featuring American Beauty roses, blue ribbons and a trellis motif to tie everything together.'
In Melania Trump's first four years in the DC spotlight, she hosted few public events, granted even fewer media interviews and largely remained out of sight.
Now she has a reported $40 million deal with billionaire Jeff Bezos's Amazon to produce a feature-length documentary and follow-up docuseries about her working life, complete with cameos from husband Donald and son Barron.
Melania is an executive producer on the project. It's yet unclear how much of the payday will end up in her purse, but the sum is expected to be substantial.
Behind this Melania 2.0, Dailymail.com has been exclusively told, is a new resolve. Melania wants control and what, she believes, she deserves.
'Money is her number one priority,' said a source familiar with the first lady's thinking.
It's well known that Melania spent her years between White House stints in a return to the business world.
In December 2021, she sold NFTs - digital artworks collectively titled 'Melania's Vision' and retailing for $150. At least some of the proceeds reportedly went to children and teens exiting the foster care system.
The first lady has also been busy hawking Christmas decorations and jewellery. And there was her eponymous New York Times best-selling memoir, released in July, which she reportedly did not receive a large advance to write, but is likely generating healthy royalty payments.
'She has always wanted to be seen as a savvy businesswoman,' the source said.
Body language expert Judi James says the portrait depicts a powerful image of a first lady in control.
'Everything about this pose screams power and status,' she told DailyMail.com. 'She looks and poses as though she is the right woman in the right place at the right time'.
Melania has pushed back against the 'trophy wife' narrative touted by her critics and instead reminds the world that she 'has her own decisions and her own opinions', according to James.
'Melania now looks devoid of any traces of the 'Imposter syndrome', instead she looks and poses as though she is the right woman in the right place at the right time here,' James told DailyMail.com.
Melania's tilted torso, according to James, signals 'status, confidence and even territorial ownership' while they way she splays her fingers on the desk is 'something of a power-grab or territorial ownership of this space in the White House'.
The body language expert suggests that Melania may be responding to critics who claimed she remain at Mara-Lago during Donald Trump's second presidency, instead of working as a full-time First Lady.
'The portrait suggests a total re-branding from the 'trophy wife' FLOTUS who appeared to enter the White House reluctantly back in 2017, to this fierce, corporate-looking woman who, as she said during her recent book launch, has her own decisions and her own opinions,' James added, noting that the 'soft, 'people-pleaser' glamour look' she once displayed in gone.
