FYI: Melania has been "beaten" by Ivanka and they've basically become mortal enemies.

Do you hear that? That’s the sound of the the clapping of Ivanka and Melania’s hands being thumped together in the ultimate arm wrestle of power.

Ivanka, you see, has been named number 19 on Forbes’ list of the World’s Most Powerful Women, while the First Lady Melania did not make the cut.

Since its inception in 2004, it’s the first time the list does not include the wife of the U.S. president. It is also the only time a First Daughter has found herself in the ranking.

It’s interesting, of course, that as a First Daughter, Ivanka’s made the list, but in context not wholly surprising.

So why is Melania’s name being dragged into the headlines too?

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The coverage, if you gleaned any of it, has been peculiar. With much talk about Melania being “snubbed” and Ivanka “beating” her in the contest for a higher spot on a list that has no bearing on actual power (?!), you’d be forgiven for assuming Melania and Ivanka are two warring tigers fighting for their tribes rather than, you know, being on the same team.

Oh! And related too.

This morning’s news looked a little bit like this:

Ivanka Trump Beats Melania Trump On Forbes’ Most Powerful Women List

Ivanka beats Melania to Forbes Most Powerful Women list

Melania Trump snubbed? First Lady misses spot on most powerful list

The message is a subtle one: The relationship between the First Lady and her step-daughter is one defined by quarrels over power.

We know Ivanka has been essentially playing the role as First Lady since her father entered the White House. Hell, she’s employed by him. It shouldn’t at all be a surprise that her name took the place of Melania’s in the Forbes list, because objectively, she does have more power.

So why is our news cycle saturated with inferences it was a competition, where one had to “beat” the other?

In a piece by Forbes explaining their decision, political and media strategist Kelly Gibson said it wasn’t a debate, nor is it really a competition. Melania Trump is still getting politics-fit, having no exposure to the process before she was thrust into it.

“This First Lady has not used her position to effect the public good yet,”she said. "I think the office, FLOTUS, deserves to be on the most powerful list. I don’t think [Melania Trump] has stepped up and fully realised the potential for the good she can do, but am hopeful she will.”

As a stand-alone example, the pitting of Ivanka and Melania - in this instance - is subtle, if clear.

But in context, and in backdrop where there has been many a piece on their "icy" and "frosty" and "fractured" relationship, our struggle to see the two as anything more than women in competition is blinding.

However, the very fact there are stories about the Forbes list with Melania's name dragged along for the ride, insinuates we can only ever see the successes of one as an extension of the other's failure.

Because consider this: How often do we see, hear, talk about the notion Jared Kushner - husband of Ivanka - actually works as one of Trump's closest advisors, while his two sons Eric and Donald Junior sulk around in the background? How often are they pitted against each other? How often do we speak about their power struggle? About the fact Kushner is the unofficial First Son?

Of course we don't.

Because surely it's only fun competition when it's the women nestling for top spot?