The Unique Pressures of Being a First Lady
I think that being the First Lady of any country would be a privilege, but not necessarily an easy gig. As CEO of a country, your husband would be busy to say the least. Long hours – a given. Extended trips away – for sure. Bringing some serious work problems home – probably.
I think though that one of the hardest things about being a First Lady would be the never ending critique of your body, weight, shape, hair & clothes. This appears to be the thing that the media believes to be of greatest importance to report on & of course offer their opinion on re: First Ladies the world over. Those whose bodies & dress sense are deemed acceptable are reported upon positively. Those who are not, receive criticism.
Media focus on the appearance & dress of first ladies is not new. Jackie Kennedy was revered worldwide for her fashion sense. She was seen as a definitive style icon for not only the 1960’s but indeed the 20th century & is still warmly reported as being one of the most influential fashion influences ever. It would seem as if Jackie’s place in the fashion hall of fame & beauty is well cemented.
Amongst the current crop of First Ladies, America’s Michelle Obama appears to be holding up well in the reported fashion stakes & of course much has been written about her toned physique, in particular, her arms. France’s First Lady Carla Bruni is also being reported on favourably, which from an appearance perspective really was a given, considering that she was once a very famous & highly paid international model. Comparisons about the beauty & excellent fashion choices of Michelle & Carla have drawn inevitable comparisons between the two.
Not fairing so well in the current First Lady stakes is our own Therese Rein. Therese has been widely attacked for her dress sense & hairstyle. Her appearance & what she wears is seemingly much more important than the fact that she is an incredibly intelligent & savvy businesswoman who prior to becoming our First Lady built a multi-million dollar business that served the welfare sector. In many respects, one could even say she is a more successful business person than her husband, our now Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
I don’t think it is a coincidence that this sort of criticism is being laid at Therese’s feet & the fact that she is not a model size. A recent weight loss due to a more intensive exercise regime in preparation for a Kilimanjaro climb has suddenly seen her receiving praise for her appearance, including being called the ‘belle’ of the recent Canberra mid-winter ball. Hmmmm. Weight Loss…Praise…Belief that our self worth is deeply dependent upon the number on a scale? Where have I heard this before?
I think all these First Ladies are beautiful in their own way, but not necessarily for anything to do with the way they look. I have admiration for Jackie for dealing with the sudden death of her husband in such a dignified way & for Michelle & Therese for their amazing intelligence & ability to inspire other girls & women to follow an academic or education path. I even admire Carla for her transition from such a hedonist lifestyle to one where she now must be significantly more reserved & well behaved. I am certain that on some days that the naughty rock chick inside of her must want to burst out!
Overall however, I take off my cute little pill box vintage hat to all of these ladies for facing up every day to the pressure & scrutiny they either faced or face about their bodies, dress sense & styling. Who knew that the push for our own Therese to ‘blow out’ her naturally curly hair would be such a big deal.
I think though that one of the hardest things about being a First Lady would be the never ending critique of your body, weight, shape, hair & clothes. This appears to be the thing that the media believes to be of greatest importance to report on & of course offer their opinion on re: First Ladies the world over. Those whose bodies & dress sense are deemed acceptable are reported upon positively. Those who are not, receive criticism. 
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Very well said, Julie! That's a level of pressure I don't think many of us can imagine. I know I wouldn't want cameras following my every move — and reporters commenting on my looks — as I go about my day: Grocery shopping, picking the kids up at the bus stop, walking the dog, etc.
Princess Diana, too, faced such a never-ending barrage of commentary on her looks and figure. Sad that the focus on looks too often eclipses the intelligence, achievements and personalities of these women.