WASHINGTON, Jan 26: America’s First Lady, Melania Trump, long viewed as a reclusive figure during her husband’s first term, is taking a hands-on approach to her public image, according to her senior adviser and agent Marc Beckman, ahead of the release of Amazon’s $40 million (£29 million) documentary, Melania.

Beckman, who serves as her exclusive adviser, said the First Lady is intensely detail-focused and directly involved in shaping how she is presented. The documentary’s bold promotion included a 60-second black-and-white trailer projected onto the Sphere arena in Las Vegas, a move that Beckman confirmed was Melania’s idea. “She is very detail-orientated,” he told The Sunday Times.

During Donald Trump’s first term, Melania often avoided public events or appeared only briefly, shielding herself behind her signature Eric Javits hats. Biographer Mary Jordan, author of The Art of Her Deal, described her as “fiercely independent” who “does what Melania wants” and does not follow convention.

Beckman said the First Lady’s approach is now evolving. “Now she’s got a new attitude on everything, and she wants to be action-orientated,” he said, adding that she takes a keener interest in every detail of her presentation. “Melania’s vision is very symmetrical, right angles, black and white. It’s all about supporting this luxury brand that she’s building,” he explained.

The documentary offers a behind-the-scenes look at Melania’s daily life, including her preparations for her husband’s second inauguration and her personal perspective on their relationship. In the trailer, she states: “Everyone wants to know, so here it is.” One scene shows her dismissing Trump’s request about his latest speech: “No, I did not. I will see it on the news.”

Brett Ratner, director of Tower Heist, was selected to helm the documentary. Beckman said Ratner was impressed by Melania’s filmmaking expertise. “It’s as if she’d been working in Hollywood forever,” he said. “She knows what to do with lighting. She was directing the crew on set as to where to place the cameras. She gets involved in the edits, the colour correction, and the music selection.”

Historians say the documentary signals Melania’s desire to assert her voice in the second Trump administration. Katherine Jellison, a specialist in U.S. First Ladies, said the trailer reveals a different image: “What we see is not the mysterious, sphinx-like Melania, but someone who has a sense of humour. It is not someone vulnerable or victim-like, but someone in control of their destiny.”

The Amazon documentary Melania is set to offer a comprehensive look at the First Lady’s private life, her meticulous attention to detail, and her evolving public persona.