First Lady Melania Trump has chosen Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd, known as ‘Rickie,’ as the White House Social Secretary, the White House said Wednesday.
Niceta Lloyd will be responsible for the planning and execution of events at the White House and will oversee all social events and gatherings, from official state dinners to policy-related events.
An experienced event planner, Niceta Lloyd has worked at Design Cuisine for over two decades, the New York Times reports. She helped organize the last five inaugurations, including celebrations for President Trump’s inauguration last month, and has assisted the State Department’s Office of Protocol for in executing numerous state luncheons, summits and conferences.
The mom-of-two, 46, has deep ties in Washington and is married to Thomas Lloyd, the grandson of Rachel “Bunny“ Mellon, who was a friend and mentor to former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Mellon helped design the White House’s Rose Garden with Kennedy in 1962.
“Rickie brings with her over twenty-two years of solid diplomatic, political and social entertaining experience,” Melania Trump said, in a statement. “I am looking forward to sharing my ideas and traditions of entertaining and social hospitality to America’s house, my new home as well. That, along with Rickie’s vast experience, I am even more excited.”
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