Who Was Melania Trump Before She Married | The Full Story Explained

Early Life in Slovenia

Melania Trump was born Melanija Knavs on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, which was then part of Yugoslavia and is now located in modern-day Slovenia. She grew up in the small industrial town of Sevnica. Her upbringing was rooted in a hardworking household; her mother, Amalija Knavs, worked as a patternmaker at a children's clothing factory, while her father, Viktor Knavs, was a traveling car salesman and managed car dealerships.

From a young age, Melania was exposed to the world of fashion through her mother’s work. She reportedly participated in children's fashion shows, modeling the clothing designs produced at her mother's factory. This early exposure laid the foundation for her future career on the international stage. She attended the Secondary School of Design and Photography in Ljubljana and later enrolled at the University of Ljubljana to study architecture and design, though she eventually left her studies to pursue modeling full-time as her career began to gain momentum.

Professional Modeling Career

Melania’s professional journey began in earnest at the age of 16. Her "big break" is often attributed to a chance encounter in 1987 with Slovenian photographer Stane Jerko, who spotted her outside a fashion show in Ljubljana. Jerko took her first professional photographs, which helped her secure a contract with a modeling agency in Milan, Italy, at the age of 18.

Success in Europe

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Melania worked extensively in the major fashion capitals of Europe, specifically Milan and Paris. It was during this period that she changed the spelling of her last name from "Knavs" to "Knauss," a version that was considered more international and easier to pronounce in the Western fashion market. Her work included high-profile print campaigns and runway appearances, establishing her as a successful commercial and fashion model before she ever set foot in the United States.

Move to New York

In 1996, Melania moved to New York City after being recruited by Paolo Zampolli, who ran ID Models. Her arrival in the U.S. marked a significant turning point in her life. She appeared on the covers of numerous high-profile magazines, including Harper's Bazaar, New York Magazine, and Vanity Fair. Her career also included appearing as "Miss February" in a 2001 calendar for FHM magazine and participating in various high-end advertising campaigns. This professional success ensured she was already a woman of independent means and international experience before meeting her future husband.

Meeting Donald Trump

Melania Knauss met Donald Trump in September 1998 at a party during New York Fashion Week. The event was held at the Kit Kat Club and was organized by Paolo Zampolli. At the time, Donald Trump was already a well-known real estate mogul and media personality. Despite his fame, Melania reportedly refused to give him her phone number initially, instead asking for his number to see which one he would provide, which she viewed as a test of his intentions.

Their relationship developed over the following years, during which Melania continued her modeling work and began appearing more frequently in the New York social scene. The couple became engaged in 2004 and married on January 22, 2005, in a lavish ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida. Following the marriage, Melania became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2006, the same year she gave birth to their son, Barron Trump.

Immigration and Legal Status

As Melania’s public profile grew, particularly during her husband's political career, her immigration history became a subject of public record and scrutiny. Records indicate that she first entered the United States on a visitor visa in August 1996 and later obtained an H-1B work visa. There were historical discussions regarding the timing of her modeling assignments and her legal permission to work, with ledgers suggesting she performed paid work shortly before her formal work visa was finalized.

Despite these retrospective inquiries, Melania maintained a clean legal record and eventually obtained her "Einstein Visa" (EB-1) for individuals with extraordinary ability, leading to her citizenship. Her journey from a small town in Slovenia to the fashion runways of Europe and eventually to the United States remains a central part of her personal narrative of independence and resilience.

Business and Language Skills

Beyond her physical appearance, Melania was known for her linguistic abilities and business interests. She is fluent in several languages, including Slovene and English, which served her well during her international modeling career and later as a public figure. Before her time in the White House, she also explored entrepreneurial ventures, including a jewelry line and a skincare collection, demonstrating an interest in the business side of the beauty and fashion industry.

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Summary of Key Facts

The following table summarizes the timeline of Melania Knauss’s life and career before her marriage to Donald Trump in 2005.

Period	Location	Key Activity/Milestone
1970–1987	Slovenia (Yugoslavia)	Childhood in Sevnica; discovered by photographer Stane Jerko.
1988–1995	Milan & Paris	Professional modeling in Europe; changed name to Knauss.
1996	New York City	Moved to the U.S. under ID Models agency.
1998	New York City	Met Donald Trump at a Fashion Week party.
2001	United States	Obtained EB-1 "Extraordinary Ability" green card.
2005	Palm Beach, FL	Married Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

Public Perception and Legacy

Before becoming First Lady, Melania was often described by those who worked with her as professional, quiet, and focused. Unlike many of her peers in the high-energy New York social scene of the late 90s, she was known for maintaining a relatively private life. Her transition from a fashion model to a member of one of America's most famous families was a gradual process that took place over nearly a decade of dating and public appearances alongside Donald Trump.

Her background as an immigrant and a self-made professional in the competitive world of international modeling provided her with a unique perspective that she later brought to her public roles. While her life after 2005 was defined by her marriage and political involvement, her years as Melania Knauss were marked by a steady climb through the fashion industry and a successful move across continents to establish herself in the United States.