The White House released first lady Melania Trump's official portrait on Monday, marking her reentry into the role as President Donald Trump begins his second non-consecutive term.
While the first lady remains an enigmatic figure, her White House portrait may provide some insight into how she'll approach the position.
The photographer, Régine Mahaux, has photographed Melania Trump before
Régine Mahaux, a Belgian photographer based in Paris, has photographed the Trump family for over 20 years, including family portraits in their Trump Tower residence in New York City.
Mahaux also took Trump's official portrait during her husband's first term in 2017.
Mahaux told Business Insider that Trump "has a great sense of humor" and maintains a "peaceful atmosphere" during their photo shoots.
"The first lady is a very creative person to do shootings with, which makes the job as an artist that much more interesting," Mahaux said. "She comes to do the shoot with deep respect for me and my crew. She has strong work ethics and morals. She gave me her trust and never took it back."
Mahaux also shared that she chose to photograph Trump in black and white because "the first lady is a modern woman who has always been fond of black and white."
Melania Trump wore a Dolce & Gabbana suit
In the new portrait, Trump wore Dolce & Gabbana's Twill Turlington tuxedo jacket, which retails for $3,245, wool gabardine tuxedo pants, which cost $1,495, and stretch poplin tuxedo shirt, which costs $925, according to the designer's website.
Hervé Pierre, who designed both of her inaugural gowns, styled the first lady for the photo shoot.
Trump also wore a black Dolce & Gabbana suit in her 2017 White House portrait.
The photo shows 'a woman who's ready to embrace her position'
Trump's portrait was taken in the White House's Yellow Oval Room, which functions as the first family's formal living room. The Washington Monument, visible through the window in the background, adds gravitas to the shot.
Dressed in a sharp suit, she leans on a table reminiscent of Donald Trump's boardroom in "The Apprentice." Mahaux said her portrait of Trump represents the first lady as "an active, hardworking woman" who is "strong, respectful, and elegant."
"I find it to be powerful and it shows a woman who's ready to embrace her position," she said.
Trump has already indicated a more public-facing presence for her second term in the White House. She published a memoir, "Melania," in October, and serves as the executive producer of a forthcoming documentary about her life as first lady, which Amazon will reportedly license for $40 million.
