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Melania Trump slams Anna Wintour as ‘insecure and small-minded’ after Vogue cover snub

'Her role as First Lady of the United States and all that she does is much more important than some superficial photo shoot and cover'

Sarah Harvard
New York
Tuesday 16 April 2019 17:51 BST
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Anna Wintour on how she picks which first ladies grace the cover of Vogue 'You have to stand up for what you believe in'

Melania Trump had some choice words for Anna Wintour after the Vogue editor-in-chief reportedly vowed the first lady would never find herself on the cover of the fashion magazine again.

Ms Trump’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement on Monday that being on “the cover of Vogue doesn’t define Mrs. Trump, she’s been there, done that long before she was First Lady”.

“Her role as First Lady of the United States and all that she does is much more important than some superficial photo shoot and cover,” she added. “This just further demonstrates how biased the fashion magazine industry is, and shows how insecure and small-minded Anna Wintour really is.”

Last week, Ms Wintour appeared in an interview with CNN where she subtly revealed that the magazine is not impartial when it comes to politics.

“I believe and I think that those of us that work at Conde Nast believe that you have to stand up for what you believe in and you have to take a point of view,” Ms Wintour said.

Former first lady Michelle Obama has appeared on the cover of Vogue three times throughout her husband’s presidency. The magazine also featured New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and former first Hillary Clinton.

“Obviously these are women that we feel are icons and inspiring to women from a global perspective,” the Vogue editor said, referring to Ms Obama, Ms Ardern and Ms Clinton.

While Ms Wintour did not explicitly mention Ms Trump in the interview, she said hint that she feels passionately about taking the right political stance.

“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,” Ms Wintour added. “I think you can’t be everything to everybody.”

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Ms Trump, a former model, has not yet been asked to appear on the cover of the magazine since her husband won the 2016 election. The first lady, however, did appear on the cover in February 2005 after wearing her wedding dress after marrying Donald Trump.

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