Before making history as the second foreign first lady of the United States, Melania Trump was a model building a career of her own.
It’s likely that Melania Trump never would’ve thought she’d be leading the third largest country in the world while living in a building encompassing the nation’s history and future – the White House. A far cry from being a budding model in Slovenia, Melania Trump became one of the most notable women after Donald Trump won the 2016 Presidential Election and has remained in the spotlight ever since.
Melania Trump before and after Donald Trump in photos
1977
Born as Melanija Knavs – also Melania Knauss – in Novo Mesto, Yugoslavia (now in present-day Slovenia) on April 26, 1970 to Victor and Amalija Knavs. She has one older sister called Ines, who has remained out of the public eye.
The photo above shows then-seven-year-old Melanija attending a fashion review of Jutranjka, a textile company where her mother worked.
1980s
As a young teen, Trump was already pursuing a career as a model, a path that eventually led her to her future husband.
Trump was first discovered by Slovenian photographer Stane Jerko while sitting on a fence waiting for her friend to finish walking in a fashion show. Jerko recalled the January 1987 moment to Today: “On the stairs of the Festival Hall, I saw a girl that immediately caught my eye. There stood a tall, slender, and attractive long-haired girl with distinct eyes,” he said.
The model hopeful was initially “shy and reserved” but quickly became comfortable in front of the camera.
Melanija adopted the alternate spelling of her name, Melania Knauss, as she traveled around Europe for modeling gigs. She found work in the fashion hubs of Paris and Milan, and met Paolo Zampolli, who was a friend of her future husband. She expanded her career to the US following his advice.
The future first lady met real estate mogul Donald Trump at a party in New York in September 1998. They began dating amid his divorce from his second wife Marla Maples.
Melania had a close relationship with her mother Amalija, who passed away on January 9, 2025 in a Miami, Florida hospital. She was 78. Reports claimed she was “very ill” since late 2023.
September 1998
It was date night for Trump and Knauss in New York City. The couple attended Party for Celebrity at Tavern On The Green, a prominent Upper West Side restaurant frequented by celebrities.
2001
She walked the runway for Anand Jon in 2001, one year after her nude photoshoot with GQ that saw her bare all for the “Naked Supermodel Special” cover. Images from the shoot resurfaced in 2016, including one of her scantily dressed on the wing of his private Boeing 727 wielding a silver pistol.
2005
The Trumps stepped out as a married couple at the 2005 Emmy Awards, eight months after tying the knot in a lavish wedding in Palm Beach, Florida.
July 2016
The mother of one supported her husband every step of the 2016 election, which also made her a target for Trump opponents and media scrutiny.
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