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| Melania Trump | Source: Getty Images |
From a modest upbringing in Slovenia to shining on billboards in Times Square, Melania Trump’s journey followed a path few could have foreseen. Discover her transformation through striking photos chronicling her evolution over the years.
Melania's story began in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, a small town in the former Yugoslavia. Born on April 26, 1970, to Viktor and Amalija Knavs, she was raised in a humble household.
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| Melania Trump | Source: X/Reuters Politics |
As Melanija Knavs, she showed an early passion for fashion and creativity, leading her to study design. However, her focus soon shifted to modeling, a career that would take her far beyond her homeland.
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| Melania Trump | Source: X/Reuters Politics |
She established a promising modeling career in Europe, appearing in magazines and advertisements. Despite her success, she yearned for a larger platform. In 1996, she made the pivotal decision to move to New York City to advance her career — a bold step that demanded courage and perseverance.
Leaving Europe was a challenging step for Melania. In her autobiography, she recalled the emotional farewell with her family, "The distance between America and Europe felt immense, and my family and I had found these goodbyes particularly difficult."
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| Donald and Melania Trump with Victoria Silvstedt at Playboy magazine's 50th anniversary celebration in 1997. | Source: Getty Images |
She experienced a blend of excitement and apprehension, recognizing that this new journey was unlike anything she had encountered. "This was America…New York! A different world altogether," her autobiography describes.
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| Donald and Melania Trump circa 1998. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Melania and Donald Trump photographed at a party with Jaime Bergman in 1998. | Source: Getty Images |
Her decision was a risk. At 26, Melania was already older than many aspiring models aiming to break into Manhattan’s highly competitive industry.
Her first home in New York was a small shared apartment near Gramercy Park, furnished with little more than a futon behind a Styrofoam divider. Yet, Melania remained steadfast in her determination.
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| Donald and Melania Trump during the Municipal Art Society's Revitalization of Grand Central Terminal event in 1998 in New York. | Source: Getty Images |
In the 1990s, New York was synonymous with glamor and extravagance, epitomized by supermodels like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. Melania steadily built her career through dedication and adaptability.
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| Donald and Melania Trump at a Marc Jacobs fashion show in New York in 1998. | Source: Getty Images |
She landed various high-profile gigs, including a significant milestone in 1997 — a Camel Lights advertising campaign that placed her image on a Times Square billboard, solidifying her place in New York's fashion scene.
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| Russell Simmons with Donald and Melania Trump at the Phat Farm Spring 1998 Ready to Wear Fashion Show. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Donald and Melania Trump at the VH1 Divas Live concert on April 13, 1999, in New York. | Source: Getty Images |
Melania also embraced the bold and provocative spirit of the era, posing nude with another female model for the French men’s magazine Max.
Her style during this time was a striking blend of European sultry sophistication and the flamboyance of New York’s modeling scene.
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| Melania and Donald Trump at the premiere of "The Insider" on November 1, 1999, in New York. | Source: Getty Images |
Irene Marie, who worked with her, remarked, "I wouldn't say she reached supermodel height. She wasn't the most expensive model, but she was a high-end model."
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| Melania Trump at the local premiere of "The Thomas Crown Affair" on July 31, 1999, in Southampton, New York. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Melania Trump during "The Muse" New York premiere party in 1999. | Source: Getty Images |
By the late 1990s, Melania had transformed from a small-town girl in Slovenia into a recognizable figure in New York's fashion and social circles. However, her ascent in the modeling world was just the start of a life story that would take an extraordinary turn.
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| Donald and Melania Trump at the 20th Annual Sports Illustrated Century Sports Awards on December 2, 1999, in New York. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Melania Trump circa 1999. | Source: Getty Images |
From Meeting Donald to Becoming
In 1998, during a lively evening at New York Fashion Week, Melania’s life took an unexpected turn when she met Donald Trump.
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| Donald and Melania Trump with his daughter Tiffany at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, on April 2, 2000. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Donald and Melania Trump during The 73rd Annual Academy Awards on March 25, 2001, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Melania and Donald Trump during the Costume Institute Benefit Dance "Party of the Year" event in 2003 in New York. | Source: Getty Images |
The two first crossed paths at the Kit Kat Club, a vibrant venue buzzing with editors, designers, and other notable personalities. In her autobiography, Melania recalled the moment, describing the electric atmosphere filled with music, dancing, and lively conversations.
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| Roshumba Williams and Melania Trump during Mercedes-Benz's Fashion Week Spring 2004 in New York. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Donald and Melania Trump during The 56th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2004 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Melania Trump at The Breast Cancer Research Foundation's Annual "The Red Hot Pink Party" on April 20, 2005, in New York. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Melania Trump photographed on December 16, 2005, in New York. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Donald and Melania Trump at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala: Anglomania on May 1, 2006, in New York. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Donald and Melania Trump with their son Barron at the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's 16th Annual Bunny Hop event on March 13, 2007, in New York. | Source: Getty Images |
When Donald approached her table, he introduced himself with confidence. While Melania recognized his name, she admitted to knowing little about him beyond his reputation as a businessman.
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| Melania Trump at the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala on May 2, 2011, in New York. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Melania Trump on the first night of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016, in Cleveland, Ohio. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Melania Trump posing for a portrait as First Lady at the White House in April 2017 in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Melania Trump on day one of the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 on September 23 in Canada. | Source: Getty Images |
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| French first Lady Brigitte Macron and Melania Trump at the Head of States partner's Luncheon on November 11, 2018, in Versailles, France. | Source: Getty Images |
Despite being there with a date, Donald seemed particularly drawn to Melania. When he eventually asked for her number, she stood her ground, responding, "I am not giving you my number; give me yours and I will call you."
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| Donald and Melania Trump ahead of a dinner at Winfield House for Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, during their state visit on June 4, 2019, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Donald and Melania Trump photographed on December 5, 2020. | Source: Getty Images |
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| Donald and Melania Trump at Joint Base Andrews on January 20, 2021, in Maryland. | Source: Getty Images |
Her decision to set boundaries left a strong impression on Donald, and the two soon began dating. Their relationship grew over time, with Melania describing her early experiences with Donald as refreshing.
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| Melania Trump spotted in Manhattan on June 8, 2023. | Source: Getty Images |
At 28, Melania found Donald's authenticity, work ethic, and passion for life both inspiring and contagious. Although he was older than her, he made her feel completely at ease. Melania warmly recalled their connection, "Our connection felt natural — as if our souls had known each other for a long time."
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| Melania and Donald Trump at the home of billionaire investor John Paulson on April 6, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida. | Source: Getty Images |
On January 22, 2005, Melania and Donald celebrated their union in a grand wedding ceremony held at the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida. A year later, they welcomed their son, Barron, beginning a new chapter in their family life.
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| Second lady Usha Vance, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump during a departure ceremony for former U.S. President Joe Biden and former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on January 20, 2025 in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images |
Donald’s election as president in 2016 brought another transformation to Melania's life. As the
, she embraced a wardrobe that embodied her new role, combining timeless sophistication with her European fashion roots.
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| Donald and Melania Trump during the Liberty Inaugural Ball on January 20, 2025, in Washington, D.C. | Source: Getty Images |
From tailored coats to bold hues and structured designs, her wardrobe reflected a deliberate balance of diplomacy and personal style. Beyond fashion, Melania's focus as first lady included advocating for children's welfare.
In 2018, she launched the BE BEST initiative, promoting kindness, healthy habits, and respect. Following Donald’s reelection in 2024, Melania resumed her role as first lady.
Her return marked the continuation of her subtle yet influential presence on the world stage. From her beginnings as a young Slovenian model to becoming a key figure in American history, her story is extraordinary, beautifully chronicled through her evolving sense of style.
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