What Is Melania Trump Like In Real Life? First Lady Behaves Just Like Princess Diana, Body Experts Say

Melania Trump may very well be the richest, most elusive first lady in modern American history. She's rarely seen in the White House and has been reluctant to take on her new duties in Washington, D.C., living out the president's first 100 days from her $100 million penthouse in New York City's Trump Towers.

But when it came to her husband's first major speech to Congress Tuesday night, the first lady was in full force, receiving a standing ovation, donning over $9,000 worth of designer clothes and reflecting the elegance and poise of the late-Princess Diana, internationally known as one of the most popular members of the royal family in history, according to body language experts.

Judi James, an author and researcher of physical communication, said the first lady's apparent shyness and humility had an uncanny resemblance to the way Princess Diana represented herself during public outings, royal speeches and national events.

"[Melania Trump] is the show-stopper who looks terrified of stopping the show," James told The Mirror Wednesday.

The body expert said Trump's attempt at a subtle entrance Tuesday night, as well as her slight smile and short wave to the crowd when arriving in the halls of Congress, could provide insight into her relationship with the president behind closed doors.

"The show is, of course, her husband’s and he’s not a man with a love of being upstaged," James said. "Melania looked intent on making a much more low-key entrance, descending the stairs to her balcony seat looking self-conscious and rather lonely. She shook hands with her guests in a rather overly-formal way when you might have expected a hug and performed a quick hair-preen that suggested anxiety at being the center of so much attention."

Princess Diana was often reserved in the public eye, refusing to speak negatively about her ex-husband, Prince Charles, after his alleged affair with socialite Camilla Parker-Bowles ultimately caused the royal couple to divorce in 1996. But the princess did tend to engage with her subjects somewhat more than the first lady has done since taking office. Diana, for example, often typically made headlines for hugging patients of life-threatening illnesses, at a time when the royal family rarely interacted with British residents physically.

James also described Melania Trump’s appearance Tuesday as "anxious," hoping to keep the attention on the president at all times.

"Her facial expressions during this moment under the spotlight ranged from Hollywood smile to micro-gestures of anxiety plus a more surprised-looking smile at the audience's apparent affection," James said. "She nodded a couple of times but overall she looked keen to have the spotlight turned back onto her husband."