Barack Obama first came into office as POTUS in 2009 before leaving the White House in 2017. During his term as president, First Lady Michelle Obama didn’t just grace the cover of Vogue once; she was on it a total of three times! This isn’t the first time a president’s wife has appeared as a Vogue cover girl. The trend began in 1929 when Herbert Hoover’s wife, Lou Henry Hoover, made an appearance in the May issue.
She was the first to pave the way, but thirteen other first ladies followed the same trend, including Hillary Clinton, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Lady Bird Johnson, who appeared in multiple issues. US most recent first lady, Jill Biden, appeared on the August 2024 cover of Vogue after being included in the magazine’s July 2019, August 2021, and Winter 2023 issues.
Being on the coveted cover of Vogue is no small feat. That’s a bucket list item that most of us probably won’t check off in a lifetime. However, while Vogue featured many wives of presidents from different parties, one first lady did not receive the same honor.
Melania Trump was never invited to pose for the iconic fashion magazine while her husband, Donald Trump, occupied the White House. Not only does she stand out from the women before her by not having this invitation extended, but it’s been more meaningful since she was featured on the cover of Vogue for many years before Trump was inaugurated.