Melania Trump body double exposed - how wild conspiracy theory ignited with 'fake' photos

has captured the imagination of many since she entered the White House in 2016,.

And with set to make a sensational return to the Oval Office there is no doubt conspiracy theories about her apparent body double will resurface again. The soon-to-be-again First Lady appeared on stage alongside her husband Donald as he delivered his victory speech following an historic win in Tuesday's Presidential Election.

While Trump vowed to bring America into a golden age, observers and body language experts noted Melania's apparent "awkward" behaviours. The incident proved once more that the publication imagination is drawn to Melania, with the former First Lady also being the subject of bizarre conspiracy theories. For years speculation has mounted online that Melania was replaced with a body double during her years in the White house.

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In a bizarre case, photos from 2020 showing Trump and Melania boarding Marine One in Washington D.C. sparked an online conspiracy theory with some claiming the woman in the image was someone else entirely. Melania was seen wearing black sunglasses that obscured her face and smiling broadly in the photo.

that also showed her wearing black sunglasses while smiling this time, was widely shared online with some commenters claiming the woman was a body double. The photos did nothing to halt rumours swirling online that have continued to persist for years.

Self-declared online sleuths examined a 2019 picture of Trump and Melania at a memorial for tornado victims in Alabama. The snap gained attention with many noting that she looked different in the picture.

One X/ user said in 2020: "The only thing I'll miss from this administration is them swapping in new Melanias and just pretending we won't notice like a 4-year-old with a guppy. I never believed the #FakeMelania conspiracies but you can tell this 100 per cent isn't her, because she's looking fondly at a tree in the distance."

Another posted: "Has someone checked on the 'real' Melania?" There is no evidence to support that a body double regularly accompanies Trump around to public events.

The Republican leader previously addressed the conspiracy theory last year and, without evidence, put the blame on journalists for doctoring photos. He tweeted: “The Fake News photoshopped pictures of Melania, then propelled conspiracy theories that it’s actually not her by my side in Alabama and other places.. They are only getting more deranged with time!”