He’s beauty, he’s grace, he’s … well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Donald Trump was imagined as a voluptuous beauty queen in an illustration on The New Yorker’s latest cover, a response to his fat-shaming remarks about former Miss Universe Alicia Machado.
In the image, a cartoon version of the business mogul turned politician, 70, is seen strutting his stuff down a catwalk in a baby blue bodysuit with a tiara sitting atop his signature comb-over. He is holding a bouquet of red roses and, ironically, is wearing a “Miss Congeniality” sash — a title normally reserved for pageant contestants who convey an amiable demeanor.
Barry Blitt — the prolific artist who is responsible for some of The New Yorker’s most iconic covers — told the publication that he was inspired to create the drawing after watching the Republican presidential nominee spar against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton during the first presidential debate on Monday, September 26. Of all Trump’s controversial attributes, Blitt, 58, said, his misogyny “might just be his Achilles’ heel.”
As previously reported, Machado, 39 — who won Miss Universe at age 19 in 1992 — revealed during a Wednesday, September 28, appearance on Today that Trump’s insults about her weight contributed to her battles with anorexia and bulimia. “My self-esteem [was] on the floor,” she told Natalie Morales.
Clinton, 68, brought up Machado’s story during Monday night’s debate and proudly told her political opponent that the Venezuela native — a vocal supporter of the former first lady — will take part in this year’s election.
“Her name is Alicia Machado, and she has become a U.S. citizen,” Clinton said, “and you can bet she’s going to vote this November.”
In retaliation, Trump — who once owned the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants — continued to degrade Machado during a September 27 interview on Fox & Friends.
“She was the worst [Miss Universe] we ever had,” the real estate tycoon scoffed. “The worst. The absolute worst. She was impossible. She was a Miss Universe contestant, and ultimately a winner, who they had a tremendously difficult time with as Miss Universe.”
He added, “She was the winner, and she gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem. We had a real problem. Not only that, her attitude. We had a real problem with her.”
While Trump told Howard Stern in the ’90s that Machado gained 55 pounds after her big win, she has insisted that she only put on a total of 18 pounds. During her reign, the ex–Celebrity Apprentice host infamously forced Machado to work out in front of reporters and camera crews.
