A GHOULISH wooden statue supposed to depict Melania Trump was erected in her home country of Slovenia on Friday - to the outrage of locals.

The whittled figure is meant to show the First Lady wearing the blue outfit she wore to her husband Donald's inauguration as US president in 2017.

6 A life-size rough wooden sculpture of US first lady Melania Trump was unveiled near her hometown of Sevnica on Friday Credit: AFP or licensors

6 The wooden figure is meant to depict the First Lady in her blue outfit that she wore at President Trump's inauguration Credit: EPA

It has been erected on a wooden plinth and stands life-size near Melania's hometown of Sevnica.

US artist Brade Downey commissioned the strange statue - created with a chainsaw by local folk artist Ales "Maxi" Zupevc.

But it hasn't been well received by residents in the Central European country.

One local said: "It doesn’t look anything like Melania - It’s a smurfette. It’s a disgrace.”

Another local fumed: “It’s not okay. It’s a disgrace. That’s what I have to say.”

'SMURFETTE'

The blocky, rustic figure was cut from the trunk of a living linden tree - whose base forms the tall plinth.

It's placed in a field beside the Sava River in the village of Rozno - five miles from Sevnica.

A gallery in the capital Ljubljana which is hosting an exhibition detailing the First Lady's roots in Slovenia is uncertain how seriously to take the statue.

In a leaflet, it said: "Perhaps we are simply trying vigorously to make sense of things that might only be a slapstick prank - Who knows?"

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Downey said he wanted to "have a dialogue with my country's political situation" and highlight Melania Trump's status as an immigrant married to a president sworn to reduce immigration.

Ales "Maxi" Zupevc, the sculptor, was born in the same hospital as Melania Trump in the same month - and now mostly works as a pipe-layer.

In a short film as part of the exhibition, he says: "Let's face it - she owns half of America while I have nothing."

A bust of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo was mocked worldwide after briefly being erected at Madeira Airport.

6 Outraged locals have likened the stature to a 'Smurfette' Credit: AFP or licensors

6 The roughly-carved figure was commissioned by a US artist and sculpted by a local sculptor Credit: AFP or licensors

6 The life-size stature was carved with a chainsaw by local folk artist Ales Zupevc Credit: AFP or licensors

6 The blocky, rustic figure was cut from the trunk of a living linden tree Credit: AFP or licensors

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