Ivanka Trump appears to be having a brilliant time on her solo tour of Africa – at least if her dynamic dance moves are anything to go by.
The 37-year-old first daughter of the U.S President, Donald Trump, who is normally very reserved, showed off a much more fun and carefree side to her personality on Wednesday when she joined in with some local dancers in a small town on the Ivory Coast, where she is due to tour a coffee collective.
Ivanka, who wore a $595 white shirt dress for the occasion, along with a demure neck tie, threw her hands in the air like she just didn’t care who was watching, waving her arms around while busting some smooth moves alongside a dancer wearing traditional local dress.
In videos posted to her Instagram Stories, Ivanka is seen bouncing up and down to the beat of the melody being sung by hoards of women gathered around her, clapping along as they perform for her.
At one point, she also holds hands with a local woman who swings her arm in time to the music.
As well as getting the chance to show off her best boogie, Ivanka was also presented with several gifts upon her arrival in the town of Adzope, including a traditional cloth that is usually presented to visiting kings, and a portrait of her face that had been painted in chocolate made in the local area.
The mother-of-three looked delighted with the gifts, especially when she got to put one to use straight away; a local woman helped her to wrap the cloth around her waist like a skirt, adding a very colorful touch to her otherwise-low key look.
It looks as though Ivanka was able to forget about any ill-will towards her family during her trip to the town, where locals gathered to greet her, holding up signs featuring the words, ‘Welcome in Adzope Ivanka Trump. We love u.’
The signs also had the American flag printed on the back, as well as a picture of Ivanka’s face – perhaps the same image that was used as inspiration for her large framed portrait, which reached up to her hip when placed alongside her for a picture.
Clearly overjoyed with her warm welcome, Ivanka took the time to speak with several of the local women, trading hugs, kisses, and several laughs as they gathered around her to say hello.
During the visit, Ivanka got the chance to tour Cayat, a Fairtrade cocoa and coffee collective that was formed in October 2010 to ‘unite cocoa farmers to be stronger together, and to tackle the deep socio-economic challenges in the region, whilst farming sustainably and boosting farmer incomes’.
Ivanka’s happy and relaxed attitude follows her smiling arrival in Abidjan on Tuesday afternoon, hours after she left Addis Ababa on a commercial Ethiopian Airlines flight.
The mother-of-three showcased two ensembles during the day, opting for a budget-friendly $220 Zara number for her first outfit, before changing into a Ralph Lauren dress worth almost ten times the price after landing on the Ivory Coast.
Ivanka was later pictured touching down in Abidjan where she was greeted by airport workers and staff, one of whom was seen blowing her a kiss.
On this occasion, however, Ivanka had a very different initiative on her mind.
The stop in the Ivory Coast will continue Ivanka’s tour where she is focused on promoting economical empowerment for women in developing countries.
Her first stop in Abidjan saw her pay a visit to the Presidential Palace where she was given a tour by the Ivory Coast’s Vice President, Daniel Kablan Duncan.
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On Monday, Ivanka met with President Sahle-Work Zewde, and the pair were seen enjoying an animated conversation, with images showing them both laughing happily as they engaged in a discussion.
Ivanka shared a picture on her Instagram Story of her meeting with the president, writing, ‘Honored to meet with the @sahleworksewde today, the only serving female President in Africa!’
She continued: ‘I thoroughly enjoyed exchanging ideas & learning from her experiences. Her perspective will inform our work to advance women’s economic empowerment on the continent & beyond.’
She also attended the African Women’s Economic Empowerment Dialogue meeting at the United Nations Economic Commission as part of her four-day trip in Africa.
During the meeting, Ivanka sat next to President Sahle-Work Zewde while promoting her efforts with her Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative.
Earlier on Monday morning, Ivanka visited Holy Trinity Cathedral to meet with religious leaders and lay a wreath for the people who were killed during the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash last month.
The Boeing 737 Max crashed just minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa, with Nairobi the intended destination.
The first daughter’s schedule has been busy since she touched down in Addis Ababa early Sunday morning.
The goal for Ivanka’s trip is to promote her initiative of economically empowering 50 million women in developing countries by 2025.
Money for the effort will come through USAID, which initially set up a $50 million fund using dollars already budgeted.
The president’s 2020 budget proposal requests $100 million for the initiative, which will also be supported by programs across the government as well as private investment.
The White House spending plan would cut overall funding for diplomacy and development.
Ivanka has made women’s economic empowerment a centerpiece of her White House portfolio. She has made a number of international trips, with a focus on these issues, including to Japan and India.
Her travel to Africa follows a five-day tour that Melania Trump made there last year, with a focus on child welfare.
SOURCE: Daily Mail
