Date of Award
Summer 8-22-2026
Document Type
Undergraduate Honors Thesis
Degree Name
B.A. in Psychology and Anthropology
Organizational Unit
College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Anthropology
First Advisor
Esteban Gomez
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
Fashion, Politics, Gender performance, Aesthetics, Fascist aesthetics, Nationalism, Beauty standards, Masculine authority, Women in politics
Abstract
This paper examines how fashion, beauty, and feminine presentation operate as political tools within Trump-aligned American culture. Drawing on historical examples from fascist Italy, Francoist Spain, and European aristocratic fashion, it argues that aesthetics have long been used to reinforce nationalism, gender hierarchy, and political authority. The paper analyzes contemporary trends such as “Republican makeup” and “Mar-a-Lago face,” arguing that these hyper-feminine and highly racialized beauty standards function as performances of loyalty, wealth, and traditional femininity within Trump-aligned politics. Through figures such as Kristi Noem, the paper demonstrates how women’s appearances can visually legitimize masculine authority while limiting women’s autonomy within political systems.
Copyright Date
5-20-2026
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Nicola Rountree-Williams
Provenance
Received from Author
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
22 pgs
File Size
2.73 MB
Recommended Citation
Rountree-Williams, Nicola, "Cosmetic Nationalism: Fashion and Feminine Performance in Trump-Aligned America" (2026). Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals. 75.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/undergraduate_theses/75
Included in
American Politics Commons, History of Gender Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, Women's History Commons, Women's Studies Commons