Melania Trump, born Melanie Knauss in Slovenia, became an international model before marrying Donald Trump. Serving as First Lady from 2017 to 2021, she focused on children’s issues through her BE BEST initiative. Now, she reflects on her experiences with a new memoir, maintaining a private life post-White House.
Born Melanie Knauss on 26th April 1970 in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, when it was Yugoslavia, Melanija Trump is the wife of the 45th US President, Donald Trump, a Slovenian-American ex-fashional model. She served from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021.
Melania was born and grew up in Sevnica, Slovenia. Melania's age at five when living under the care of her mother and Viktor and Amalija Knavs had already elapsed when her career in modelling commenced, a fact that marked when she was 16.
Later, to stay true to her academics, Melania went to study for one year at the University of Ljubljana and later dropped the education track to seek full opportunities to further her career in model pursuits in Western Europe. It was in 1996 that she finally left her homeland and landed a position in New York City working for further opportunities within the world of fashion.
Throughout her modelling career, Melania worked for various big-time brands, as well as appearing on several magazine covers. Melania was introduced to Donald Trump in 1998, whom she met at a party, and started dating soon after that.
She got engaged in 2004 and later married on January 22, 2005, in Palm Beach, Florida, inside Donald Trump's estate, Trump's Mar-a-Lago. Melania Trump has a son with Donald. His name is Barron William Trump, born in March 2006.
Melania Trump, being a First Lady, was unique as she was the second foreign-born first lady since Louisa Adams and the first foreign-born first lady to attain citizenship in the United States. In 2018, she founded her program called "BE BEST."
It focused on issues such as children's wellbeing and anti-cyberbullying, along with opioid-related addiction. She utilized it to promote a healthy lifestyle and the attitude of respect the children upheld for one another.
A low profile was characteristic of Melania's First Lady tenure. Only in June 2017 did she move into the White House until Barron finished school in New York City. Though she would accompany her husband to state dinners and international trips, she often preferred to lay low.
Throughout her public life, Melania had to deal with such issues as being belittled over her husband's various controversies and allegations of cheating on her. Despite these issues and all the scrutiny, she remained steadily supportive of children's welfare matters and visited hospitals and schools frequently within the United States and most parts of the rest of the world.
In the last months of Donald Trump's presidency, Melania was vocal about her dedication to children's welfare amidst significant political upheaval surrounding the election results and the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Since leaving office, she has continued to work on her initiatives but has largely avoided the public eye.
Melania Trump published a memoir titled after herself in October 2024, reflecting on her life experiences as both a model and First Lady. She continues to talk about issues concerning children but keeps a very private life away from the political domain.
