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Justin Trudeau's salt-and-pepper beard garners compliments and signifies new approach to his second term as PM

Trudeau's new look was a hit on social meda and ignited a debate on whether the leader's new look was a glimpse of how he planned to approach his second term - with maturity and experience

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, was seen sporting a new salt-and-pepper beard after his return from a Costa Rican winter vacation earlier this month. His new look was first made public by the leader's official photographer Adam Scotti, who released an image of a bearded Trudeau with tented fingers on his lips as he gazed thoughtfully into the distance. The image became a huge hit on social media, as it ignited a debate on whether the Canadian prime minister's new look was a glimpse of how he planned to approach his second term — with maturity and experience.

Twenty days down the line, the Canadian leader's much-talked-about beard is still going strong. Although many believe that Trudeau's newly-acquired beard is just a remnant of his winter vacation, however, if his first term was any indicator of how the Liberal Party leader exhibits his public image, we know that nothing is done without careful consideration. 

Trudeau first came to power in 2015 and portrayed himself on the world stage as a fresh, young face who understood the most pressing concerns of the younger generation, and as a feminist leader who champions gender issues. The Canadian leader became an instant hit with millennials as he presented a carefully-tailored image of himself to the public. From his multiple novelty socks to his Halloween costumes and jogging photobombs, everything appears to have been well thought-out to promote his "hip" persona.

The Canadian leader, towards the end of his first term, however, found himself surrounded by a series of political crises and scandals, including the infamous blackface scandal, which saw his popularity slipping among the Canadian voters. Although Trudeau issued apologies and clarifications for the political tribulations he found himself mired in, his carefully cultivated public image took a significant blow. 

Now, with a recent tough re-election battle that saw him retaining power, it is possible that Trudeau is aiming to revamp his image from a "youth icon" to a more mature and refined leader, with his beard indicative of a term where he connects with the older generation and their issues. Trudeau, in the recent elections in 2019, fell short of a majority seat count in the House of Commons. 

Style consultant Ian Capstick, who has previously worked with the Liberals and New Democrats, had once said that Trudeau's every move is made to propel his positive image as prime minister. "There is not a single action that he took publicly [over the years] that wasn’t considered [and] reconsidered and put out there in an attempt to eventually build the base that he would require to be prime minister," Capstick told The Guardian in an election profile about Trudeau in August 2019. 

Facial hair among politicians is a rarity, particularly in Canada. Trudeau is the first sitting Canadian Prime Minister to sport a beard in more than 100 years. The last Canadian prime minister to sport any facial hair was Robert Borden in the early twentieth century. Trudeau's greying hair appears to be a strong political statement and is reflective of a new chapter for him as he enters his second term.

The salt-and-pepper beard also seems indicative of the 48-year-old leader approaching and accepting his 50s as he fights to regain the political clout and voter confidence that partially slipped through his hands during the 2019 elections.