See the unrecognisable pictures of US First Ladies before they became known globally

Jacqueline ‘Jackie’ Kennedy is still remembered for her signature style that defined elegance and refinement for decades of First Ladies to come. 

But before she was advocating for the arts in the White House, Jackie was working as the ‘Inquiring Camera Girl’ for the Washington Times-Herald newspaper. Asking questions to people she encountered on the street and taking their pictures surely set her up well for Presidential tours!

As well as serving as First Lady, Hilary Clinton has found political success of her own, working as US Secretary of State, and pursuing a career as a lawyer. She also ran for President twice, losing the Democratic primary to Barack Obama in 2008 and the general election to Donald Trump in 2016.

Before that, she was a student at Wellesley College, majoring in political science. Even after finding fame on the politics circuit, Hilary didn’t forget her roots and returned to deliver the main commencement addresses in 1992 and 2017.

Presidential history rarely sees a couple as clearly loved up as the Obamas, but it’s been obvious from the start just how much Barack and Michelle support one another.

In 2004, the pair were captured in a candid moment while getting ready. Here, Barack was still working as a senator but four years later he would take the top job.

Betty Ford served as First Lady from 1974 to 1977, and wasn’t content to sit on the sidelines. She publicly supported the Roe v. Wade decision, encouraged her husband to appoint more women to high-level roles and strongly supported women’s right to equal pay.

She was also a powerful voice in women’s health, sharing details of her breast cancer diagnosis and mastectomy, which brought the disease into open conversation when it hadn’t been before.

Before they were living it up in the White House, Ronald and Nancy Reagan found success in the entertainment industry. The couple first met when Nancy reached out to Ronald, who was serving as the president of the Screen Actors Guild, leading to a dinner where the pair instantly hit it off.

Their 52-year marriage is the stuff of US legend and Nancy stayed by his side as his primary caregiver for 10 years following Ronald’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s, until his death in 2004.

Melania Trump, née Knavs, started life as a model before she met and married current president and businessman Donald Trump.

The pair tied the knot in 2005, and Melania has since led the Be Best campaign for children’s wellbeing through healthy eating and combatting cyber bullying.