<![CDATA[The rapid expansion of social media has reconfigured the arena in which political actors construct and defend their public image, compelling Muslim political figures in Indonesia to develop deliberate strategies of self-presentation. Anchored in Erving Goffman's dramaturgical theory and contemporary political communication scholarship, this study explores how front-stage performance and backstage authenticity intersect in the construction of political identity among Muslim public figures. Using a qualitative library research design supported by content analysis of scholarly literature published between 2018 and 2025, the study finds that Muslim politicians strategically mobilize religious symbolism, narrative consistency, and emotional resonance as instruments of impression management to secure political trust and legitimacy. The analysis further shows that the growing permeability of the front-stage and backstage boundary on social media generates both opportunities for authenticity performance and heightened vulnerability to reputational crisis. The study concludes that durable reputation management requires integrating genuine religious commitment with digital literacy and strategic communicative competence.]]>
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