Taylor Swift versus Donald Trump as Time Magazine's Person of the Year

Donald Trump, a polarizing figure known for his brash demeanor and unfiltered rhetoric, was just chosen as Time Magazine's Person of the Year 2024. The photograph accompanying the honor depicted him as corporate, clean-cut, and exuding leadership—qualities many would argue are far removed from his usual presentation. The Donald Trump we see in rallies and press conferences is rarely this polished. His signature too-long tie, his hunched posture, and his less-than-pristine grooming have become his trademarks. Yet Time chose to dress him up, literally and figuratively, as a “leader.”

Look back to last year, when Time crowned Taylor Swift as its Person of the Year. It was well-deserved recognition for a woman who ran a $2 billion enterprise in the form of her Eras Tour, the largest concert series ever. Swift's ability to command an audience and her influence on industries from music to ticketing platforms like Ticketmaster highlight her formidable business acumen. Yet the image accompanying her honor is drenched in sex appeal. Instead of portraying her as the powerhouse CEO she effectively is, Time leaned into her physical beauty, presenting her in a way that underscores her femininity rather than her accomplishments.

This stark contrast isn't just about these two individuals. It's about how mass media continues to frame men and women in business differently, reinforcing outdated gender norms and skewing perceptions of leadership and success.

Donald Trump: The Safe and Strong Leader

The portrayal of Donald Trump in Time's spread this year is a masterclass in image crafting. In the photograph, he is polished and composed, dressed in a corporate suit, and seated in a pose that radiates control. This is not the Trump the public sees in his rallies or candid interviews, where he often appears disheveled, loud, and reactive. The media's choice to depict him this way wasn't accidental.

By presenting Trump as a “safe” and “leaderly” figure, Time offered a visual narrative that bolstered his claim to authority. For a man whose brand is built on controversy and chaos, this image was an attempt to reframe him as calculated and competent. It's worth asking: Why does mass media feel the need to reshape men, even controversial ones, into figures of stability and leadership? The answer lies in society's comfort with associating male authority with power, even when the reality contradicts it.

Taylor Swift: The Sexy Success Story

Contrast that with Taylor Swift's image. Last year's Time cover shows her poised yet undeniably sexy. Her photograph doesn't scream “CEO” or “business mogul”; it plays into her femininity, subtly diminishing her monumental achievements.

Swift's Eras Tour wasn't just a concert series—it was a global economic juggernaut. It boosted local economies in every city it visited, forced industries like ticketing to reevaluate their systems, and created a cultural phenomenon that brought together millions of fans. By any metric, Swift's year was one of unparalleled business success.

Yet, Time's portrayal of her reinforces a tired media trope: successful women must also be beautiful and appealing. Their power can only be acknowledged if it is softened by their physical allure. Swift's accomplishments should have stood on their own, but instead, her image had to remind us that she is also a sex symbol.

The Larger Pattern: Gendered Media Representation

The juxtaposition of these two covers isn't an isolated incident. Media has long framed men as serious, strong, and capable, even when they don't naturally embody those traits. Meanwhile, women are portrayed through a lens of beauty, regardless of their professional success.

Consider the difference – Christine Merser