Plastic surgeon explains ‘anti-Mar-a-Lago’ face trend

Published: 16:50 EDT, 13 October 2026 | Updated: 16:50 EDT, 13 October 2026

Capitol Hill was given a MAGA makeover after President Donald Trump took office.

Defined by copious use of Botox, a Miami-bronze tan, puffy lips and silky smooth skin, it soon became home to the ‘Mar-a-Lago’ face.

The Daily Mail previously reported that Trump ‘has long expressed admiration for those who look like they are from Hollywood “central casting,”‘ and the hyper-feminine aesthetic, often seen as a status symbol linked to Trump’s circle, reflects that.

Several high-profile women have seemingly undergone the makeover since stepping into the spotlight, including Kristi Noem, Laura Loomer and Kimberly Guilfoyle.

At the time, Jordan Conrad, a psychologist based in New York, told the Daily Mail that it was driven by Trump’s leading ladies wanting to reinforce classic feminine traits, with traditional gender roles being a strong belief in the MAGA world.

But now there is a new trend sweeping through the world of plastic surgery that stands in direct contention.

Dr Melinda Lacerna Kimbrell, a double board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of LA Plastic Surgery, has spoken to the Daily Mail about the new trend.

The specialist, who has performed more than 1,000 facelifts, defined the look as being ‘relaxed rather than armored.’

‘The brows sit naturally and still move, the eyes look open rather than pulled, the cheeks have shape without looking inflated, and the lips remain proportionate to the rest of the face.

‘The jawline may be defined, but it should not look carved or unnaturally tight,’ she shared.

But the most important feature of the ‘anti-Mar-a-Lago’ face is that the person remains recognizable.

‘You should notice that he or she looks rested, healthy and refreshed — not immediately begin counting the procedures,’ Dr Kimbrell explained.

‘The anti-Mar-a-Lago face isn’t anti-plastic surgery. It is anti-obvious plastic surgery. It is the difference between wearing the work and benefiting from it.’

She suggested that Emma Stone, Anne Hathaway and Lindsay Lohan ‘all embody the refreshed-but-recognizable look from a purely aesthetic standpoint… without suggesting that any particular person has undergone a procedure.’

The expert added: ‘Their faces remain expressive and individual rather than appearing frozen or built around the same exaggerated template.’

Dr Kimbrell said that the ‘anti-Mar-a-Lago’ has seen a ‘definite pendulum swing’ in popularity in recent months as clients move away from ‘obvious filler and conspicuous cosmetic work.’

‘Patients are becoming much more aware of filler migration, distorted proportions and what happens when every feature is treated in isolation,’ she shared.

Discussing the MAGA makeover, she continued: ‘Politics gave the overdone look a memorable nickname but social media turned it into a warning label.

‘Women have watched celebrities and influencers become less recognizable after repeated treatments, and they do not want to make the same mistake.’

And, despite the political connotations, Dr Kimbrell believes surgery choices remain ‘deeply personal.’

‘Patients want to look fresher, but they do not want to surrender the features that make their face theirs. The new status symbol is not having the most obvious work—it is having the work no one can identify,’ she concluded.