See How Melania Trump’s Appearance Has Evolved — The Change Is More Dramatic Than You’d Think
Her ambitions started early, in a town that couldn’t hold them. A chance encounter soon opened doors to runways near and far. Years later, she left her career to take on a very different public role.
Melania Trump’s early modeling photos have sparked new interest in how her appearance has changed over the years. Shared widely online, the images have drawn comparisons between how she looked then and now. Her story starts in a small town far from the world she would later enter.
The First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, was born Melanija Knavs on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, a town in what was then Yugoslavia. She was raised in Sevnica, a small industrial town along the Sava River, known for its factory chimneys and Communist-era apartment blocks.
Her family lived in one of those buildings, next to the brightly painted primary school she attended. Her father, Viktor Knavs, worked as a car dealer and had previously been a driver for a local mayor and later for the director of a government-owned textile factory.
Her mother, Amalija, worked in the same industry, developing patterns for a children’s clothing manufacturer. According to public records, Viktor was listed as a member of the Communist Party, though a campaign spokesperson later said he had never been an active participant.
Former classmates and childhood acquaintances recall Melania as quiet, polite, and focused on her studies. Mirjana Jelancic, a school friend who later became the headmistress of their school, described her as “an excellent student, very organized, disciplined, with very decent manners.”
She also noted that Melania rarely raised her voice and never used inappropriate language. Even in her early years, Melania showed a strong interest in fashion. She would often repurpose old clothing to create new outfits, and once dreamed of becoming a designer.
Jelancic remarked that “Sevnica was too small for her.” Young Melania would often talk about wanting to move beyond the borders of her hometown. Her early interest in fashion would eventually become her path forward. That path began to take shape in her teenage years.
At age 16, Melania was discovered by Slovenian photographer Stane Jerko while waiting for a friend at the Festival Hall in Ljubljana. It was January 1987, and Jerko had just stepped outside near the end of a fashion show when he noticed her standing on the stairs.
Impressed by her appearance, he approached her and suggested a photo session. For their first shoot, Melania brought her own clothing to the studio. Though initially reserved, she followed Jerko’s guidance. Jerko later invited her back for a second shoot, this time modeling clothes from a local textile factory.
She quickly became more at ease in front of the camera and showed interest in understanding the technical aspects of a shoot. With those sessions, her professional modeling career began. After completing high school, Melania began modeling in Milan and Paris.
She took on assignments across the European fashion circuit, gradually building her portfolio and industry contacts. During this time, she also became fluent in several languages, including English, German, French, and Italian, in addition to Slovenian and Serbo-Croatian.
She adopted the name Melania Knauss for professional use and continued working steadily through the 1990s. By 1996, she decided to move to New York City, where she aimed to establish herself in the American market. Her move to New York marked a turning point in her career.
It also led to the introduction that would later bring her into the public spotlight. Melania met Donald Trump in 1998 at a party in New York City hosted by Paolo Zampolli, the owner of a modeling agency. Trump, who had arrived with Norwegian cosmetics heiress Celina Midelfart, approached Melania and asked for her phone number.
She declined, noting that he was there with someone else. Despite the initial rejection, they began dating shortly afterward. The couple briefly separated in 2000, during a period when Trump was considering a run for president as a Reform Party candidate. They later reconciled and continued their relationship.
In July 2002, Melania returned to Slovenia with Trump for a brief visit. After landing at Ljubljana’s Brnik Airport in Trump’s private jet, the couple, along with Melania’s parents and Trump’s assistant, drove to the Grand Hotel Toplice at Lake Bled. The restaurant had been cleared for their dinner.
Melania interpreted throughout the evening, and they left the country before midnight. In 2004, Trump proposed to Melania on the night of the Costume Institute Gala. They were married in January 2005 in Palm Beach, Florida. The following year, Melania gave birth to their son, Barron.
During her pregnancy, she was photographed for Vogue wearing a gold bikini on the steps of Trump’s private jet. As she entered public life alongside her husband, Melania began transitioning from the fashion world, but her role as Trump’s wife brought her more public attention.
More than a decade later, during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, public interest in Melania’s Slovenian background increased. Reactions in Sevnica, her hometown, were mixed. Some residents expressed pride in the possibility of a Slovenian-born First Lady.
Others, particularly younger people, were unfamiliar with her or indifferent to the news. One resident, Ilija Nikic, said, “What does it mean to me if she is First Lady? Who cares?” Photographer Jerko said, “I wouldn’t say she is just Donald Trump’s wife. She has something special. I know she is very clever and skilled.”
Those who knew her earlier in life commented on her discipline and focus. Childhood friend Jelancic said she was surprised at first by Melania’s choice to marry someone much older, but noted that Trump reminded her of Melania’s father in terms of work ethic.
