It seems every election season brings more than just political drama—especially if your name happens to be Melania Trump. This year, she’s back in the headlines, and not for her stance on policy or her fashion choices, but over yet another round of speculation about her appearance.
As usual, the internet’s self-appointed experts have sparked up conversations about whether the First Lady-in-waiting has had a little “work done” recently, with some even doubling down on conspiracy theories that the woman by Donald Trump’s side isn’t Melania at all, but a body double. That’s right, folks—cue the plastic surgery rumors and body double theories once more.
This doesn’t look like Melania at all. Why is she wearing sunglasses inside the polling place. Is it her body double??? pic.twitter.com/IBZ0ODPvAq
— NativeTexan (@SMoreland71) November 5, 2024
On Election Day, Melania accompanied her husband to a polling station near Mar-a-Lago, and she opted for oversized sunglasses, even while indoors. It didn’t take long for social media to blow up with wild theories, memes, and endless comments on her “new” look. Dr. Dennis Schimpf, a South Carolina-based plastic surgeon, speculated that Melania might have gone for some “additional filler work” in anticipation of the media blitz surrounding the election.
However, Dr. Thomas Barnes, a Newport Beach plastic surgeon, had a simpler take: she just looked “plain tired.” After all, a grueling election season could leave anyone looking a little less refreshed, especially when you’re dealing with constant media attention.
It’s no secret that Melania has denied ever having plastic surgery, but this hasn’t deterred speculation. Plastic surgeons in the past have suggested she may have tried Botox, cheek fillers, a nose job, or even a face-lift to maintain her appearance. But honestly, is it that shocking that a former model and a high-profile First Lady might look into ways to maintain her image?
What adds fuel to the fire, of course, is that she keeps such a low profile. With her limited campaign appearances, like her recent show at Madison Square Garden, the public sees her sparingly, which only adds to the intrigue when she does show up. When she took the stage in New York, clad in Dior, she kept things classy, and New York was thrilled. Yet the speculation picked up again when she appeared in sunglasses on Election Day. People started scrutinizing her jawline, cheekbones, and pretty much every angle of her face.
Dr. Barnes pointed out that her “slimmer jaw” and less plump cheeks might be as simple as dehydration and stress—both of which could leave anyone looking a bit different. Dr. Schimpf, however, didn’t rule out filler, noting that filler under the eyes and in the cheeks often causes bruising, which might explain why Melania wore those sunglasses inside.
And just to tamp down the conspiracy flames, she actually did take off her sunglasses for a quick photo op. But, unsurprisingly, this only led to more “analysis” from armchair experts, with one surgeon suggesting her jaw looked slightly different, possibly due to a trendy treatment called Morpheus 8, which uses radiofrequency and microneedling for skin tightening.
OK I know she didn’t look like herself because of the sunglasses but that’s really Melania Trump. Here is a video from C-SPAN where she is speaking. #MAGA #ElonMusk #Melania pic.twitter.com/IAlxdmJqUD
— Rickey Yaneza (@rickey) November 5, 2024
At the end of the day, let’s be real. Melania Trump has access to some of the best skincare, health resources, and treatments money can buy. Whether she’s had fillers, Morpheus 8, or a world-class facial, her beauty regime is her business. And, if she did feel a little extra pressure to look good on Election Day—well, welcome to politics. It’s just a pity that while we could be discussing her platform or her stance on issues, the media and internet conspiracy theorists have chosen instead to make her face the story of the day.
