First daughters have been carrying out the duties of “first lady” ever since the term was coined. And they’ve been doing it with style.

Joe Raedle / Getty ImagesIvanka Trump walk on stage at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland , Ohio on July 21 , 2016 .

Melania Trump kept quiet for most of the 2016 presidential safari , preferring to cede the spotlight to Donald ’s girl , Ivanka .

Ivanka helped her forefather appeal to women , discussed insurance policy propositions with the media , and attended high profile meetings while her married man , Jared Kushner , was give the title of older consultant to the president .

First Daughters Ivanka

Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesIvanka Trump walks on stage at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio on 16 April 2025.

The manner administrator is even closer in proximity to the presidency than her stepmother , who is eleven age her senior — having of late buy a mansion just a few blocks aside from the White House while Melania remains in New York .

Despite much ado from the populace over the Freaky Friday - esque swap , what history prof Gil Troy calls the “ Ivanka effect ” is actually nothing new .

Here are a few of the “ first ladies ” and first daughter that do n’t fit the typical mold :

Harriet Lane Portrait

Wikimedia CommonsHarriet Lane

First Daughters: Harriet Lane

Wikimedia CommonsHarriet Lane

The first charwoman to ever be call “ first lady ” was really the niece of President James Buchanan , Harriet Lane .

As the only womb-to-tomb bachelor to serve as Commander and Chief , Buchanan had become the legal protector of his favorite niece when she was orphaned at the age of 11 .

When her uncle became president , Lane became a beloved presence in Washington . She hosted parties , sparked fashion trends and make for to promote the right field of Native Americans on mental reservation .

A renowned stunner , many American babies from the full point were named after her , along with several ships . Her popularity is said to compare with that of Jacqueline Kennedy ’s .

As the Civil War bulk large , Lane worked to ease tension — seating officials from the North and the South on different sides of the room during result . Unsurprisingly , the seating chart was n’t enough . Seven states had break away by the sentence Buchanan leave behind the West Wing .