We all know that she is wealthy and glamorous, belongs to one of the world’s most affluent families and that she is the daughter of the current president of the United States of America. Apart from that, we are not very clear as to what Ivanka Trump is all about; especially what she is doing in India these days. We look at Ivanka Trump’s claims to fame as well as the reasons her recent India visit is creating headlines.
She briefly did some modelling for advertisements and fashion runways, while she completed her studies. She then joined the family business and also started her own line of fashion items such as clothes, shoes, accessories etc. She has hosted beauty pageants and also participated in reality TV and made other TV appearances along the way.
She is here for the global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017; leading the American delegation. This year's summit is 'Women First, Prosperity for All' and India is hosting 1200 young entrepreneurs. She is here to champion the cause of women entrepreneurs, boost business ties between India and America, to prepare the ground for an India visit by her father Donald Trump among other reasons. She also personally met with the Prime Minister.
We tend to bend over backwards with the rich, the famous and powerful. Something similar happened in Hyderabad ahead of Ivanka Trump’s visit. The streets have been cleaned up, potholes have vanished and beggars/homeless people have been rounded up. Things remain the same when one goes off the main roads, however. According to one taxi driver, “she is not coming here so they didn’t fix it”.
Hyderabad’s Falaknuma Palace is the venue for a grand dinner hosted for Ivanka. The city is turned into a virtual fortress because of security reasons. Beautification of various localities is on because of the visit.
Ivanka has been seen in several fusion/traditional Indian inspired outfits. Rumour has it that she will also be seen in an original Neeta Lulla creation.
Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner are thought to be among the most influential of Donald Trump's innermost circle and are thought to have some type of moderating influence on the mercurial, unpredictable president. Ivanka is thought to fulfil the role of the First Lady more than the actual first lady Melania Trump. She is now employed with the White House and serves as Advisor to the President.
"Only when women are empowered to thrive will our families, our economies and our societies reach their fullest potential," Ivanka was reported as having said. This, however, rings hollow in light of her own business conduct. Many are critical of her own business practices and feel that her words are not backed by actions on the ground. Critics have alleged that women workers who create products for her brand are mistreated and underpaid.
Her commitment to women’s empowerment is questionable; mainly owing to her own father’s evident and consistent misogyny; which she has never publicly denounced. She has also not opposed anti-women legislation that Donald Trump has been so keen to usher in. Her father has tried to dismantle many women's rights from workplace safety to access to birth control. As chief adviser to him, she appears to have done precious little to dissuade him or denounce his goals.
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