Kristi Noem's Face Transformation Is A Sight To See

Kristi Noem has undergone a shocking face transformation. In fact, it's hard to recognize her from her former years, and the most intense form of change came when she hitched her cart to Donald Trump's wagon. A glance at before-and-after photos would lead one to reasonably assume the Air Force auxiliary officer become a victim Mar-A-Lago face, the plastic surgery trend that's sweeping Trump's nearest and dearest. Though Noem has not openly admitted to any procedures, her face appears to be a classic example of the key attributes of this particular aesthetic: full lips, mega lashes, taught skin, a full blowout, and work that's unapologetically obvious. In other words, it's a plastic surgery look that's largely detached from reality. And unfortunately for Noem — whether intentional or not — her facial transformation fits this description pretty perfectly. 

The Secretary of Homeland Security and unapologetic Trump fan has struggled with her look since she entered the spotlight. The U.S. Senate confirmed Noem in January 2025, and since then it's been a struggle for her to nail all of the different facets of her appearance. In spring, Noem sported a hair look that she definitely should have thought twice about. The South Dakota governor has made other drastic changes to her hair. Noem is now a fan of hair extensions, and looks completely different without them. So between her teeth, her hair, and her face, Noem is transforming it all. While Noem is a staunch conservative, she's pretty liberal when it comes to personal changes. 

Kristi Noem changed things up when she saw an opportunity to become part of Donald Trump's inner circle. The New York Times called her transformation the "Trumpification of Kristi Noem," noting that the former governor got her teeth perfected to make herself look like a more compelling choice for Trump. There's no doubt that both the women and men in Trump's inner circle take plastic surgery to the extreme, all in an effort to give off an artificially perfected look. It's all about how they'll present in front of the camera, in front of Trump, and in front of his supporters. 

People on X were full of comments about Noem's transformed face. Sharing side-by-side photos of Noem before and after, someone tweeted: "What has happened to Kristi Noem's face?" Another commented, "Kind of like Kimberly Guilfoyle. Once pretty, now freakish. That's the standard for hot in maga world, doesn't matter if you have a serious position or not, they all look the same." While people on X didn't like Noem's transformation, others do. Plastic surgeon Dr. Norman Rowe told the Daily Mail that since Trump's second term as president, requests for Mar-A-Lago-style plastic surgery has skyrocketed, with many of his clients telling him that they think Noem looks "wonderful." In fact, many of Rowe's clients request work that's inspired by Noem. Apparently, one person's botched procedure is another person's dream.