The Psychology Behind the ‘Anti-Mar-a-Lago’ Face Trend and What It Signals

Interest in the so-called “anti-Mar-a-Lago” face is growing, as more people embrace a subtler alternative to highly recognizable cosmetic work.

Often described as “anti-obvious plastic surgery,” the aesthetic is positioned as the opposite of the unmistakably polished look associated with the infamous MAGA makeover.

Dr Melinda Lacerna Kimbrell, a double board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of LA Plastic Surgery, previously told Our News Outlet that the defining quality of the “anti-Mar-a-Lago” face is recognizability.

Rather than prompting people to identify which procedures may have been performed, the result should simply make someone appear rested, healthy and refreshed, she said.

From a purely aesthetic perspective, Kimbrell pointed to Emma Stone, Anne Hathaway and Lindsay Lohan as examples of the refreshed-yet-recognizable appearance, saying the trend reflects a clear shift in beauty preferences in recent months.

Although this understated Hollywood beauty trend may look like a matter of taste, experts believe its appeal is also connected to identity, culture and social signaling.

Behavioral scientist and social psychologist Jordan Bridger told Our News Outlet that the “anti-Mar-a-Lago” look is not only about appearing attractive. In his view, it can also communicate which social groups a person identifies with—or wishes to avoid.

Bridger explained that faces often act as instant visual signals. When a specific appearance becomes strongly linked to a particular group, people who do not want to be associated with it may move in the opposite direction, choosing softer, less visibly altered and more “undone” features.

He described the behavior as “distinction-seeking”—the tendency to choose visual cues that express both who we are and who we are not.

According to Bridger, two factors help explain why the natural-looking aesthetic has become so compelling.

First, visibly extensive cosmetic work can suggest that someone is trying hard to attract attention. By contrast, an apparently effortless appearance may be interpreted as a more elevated or desirable social signal.

Second, expressive faces are often perceived as more trustworthy. A highly polished face with limited movement may seem guarded, while features that show age, emotion and everyday life can appear more open and authentic.

Yet Bridger noted an important contradiction: achieving a “natural” appearance can require just as much planning and effort as a more obvious transformation. The performance is simply quieter.

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Psychiatrist Sam Zand, founder and CEO of Anywhere Clinic, also sees the trend as a reaction to the growing connection between beauty and politics.

Zand said the “anti-Mar-a-Lago face” can be understood as a response to physical appearance becoming linked with political identity.

When a certain beauty ideal takes on political or cultural meaning, some people may deliberately distance themselves from it to signal independence or show greater alignment with their personal values.

However, Zand, who has more than 15 years of experience, warned that every countertrend carries its own tension. In rejecting one beauty standard, people can ultimately create another.

‘A preference for a more natural appearance can feel freeing, but it can become another pressure if women are expected to prove their authenticity through how they look.’

However, Dr Zand did add a word of caution, adding that there are still others who have made cosmetic decisions based on ‘aesthetic preference’ alone.

‘We should be careful not to read someone’s politics from their superficial connections,’ he explained.

‘Psychologically, appearance can help us express both individuality and belonging: “This feels like me,” and “These are my people.”

‘Those motivations can exist across political groups, even when the resulting styles look very different.’ 

The anti-Mar-a-Lago face seems to be in contention to the MAGA makeover trend that swept Capitol Hill after President Donald Trump took office.

Defined by copious use of Botox, a Miami-bronze tan, puffy lips and silky smooth skin, several high-profile women have seemingly undergone the makeover, including Kristi Noem, Laura Loomer and Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Our News Outlet 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.

And, at the time, Jordan Conrad, a psychologist based in New York, told Our News Outlet 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.