Melania Trump
Where was Melania Trump before the White House? See her life in photos
Melania Trump, born Melanija Knavs on April 26, 1970, in Slovenia, built a successful modeling career before becoming the first lady of the United States. She moved to the United States to pursue a career in modeling in the 1990s, before marrying Trump in 2005 and becoming a presidential spouse two decades later.
Here’s a look at her life before the White House, from her early days in Slovenia to her time in the fashion world. Above, Melania Trump stands on stage following the Republican presidential debate at St. Anselm College, Feb. 6, 2016, in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Joe Raedle, Getty Images
This picture, courtesy of Nena Bedek and taken in 1977 in Radenci, northeastern Slovenia, shows Slovenian-American former model and Donald Trump’s wife Melania Trump (born Melanija Knavs) second from right as a child, together with Nena Beder, right, attending a fashion review of Jutranjka, the textile company where her mother used to work. Because of Melania Trump’s husband success so far in the Republican race for the White House candidacy, foreign journalists and tourists have become a frequent sight in her birth region, set in rolling hills 60 miles from the capital Ljubljana.
Nena Bedek/AFP Via Getty Images
Melania changed her name from Knavs to Knaus (and later, Knauss) after she began modeling professionally. Here she arrives for an event in New York City in 1999.
Diane Freed, Getty Images
Donald Trump and Melania Knauss arrive for VH1’s Divas Live concert at the Beacon Theater in New York City April 13, 1999.
Diane Freed, Getty Images
New York Knicks fan Donald Trump sits with Melania Knauss on June 1, 1999, during the first half of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals game between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana.
JEFF HAYNES, AFP Via Getty Images
Donald Trump and Melania Knauss at the Aida opening in New York City on March 23, 2000.
Scott Gries, Getty Images
Donald Trump flashes a peace sign as he sits in the front row with his girlfriend Melania Knauss on April 29, 2000, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The night featured a two-belt title fight between Lennox Lewis of England and Michael Grant of the U.S.
STAN HONDA, AFP Via Getty Images
Fashion Model Melania Knauss attends the Maximum Golf “$1 Million Putting Challenge” on May 23, 2000, celebrating the launch of this rock and roll type publication for the new generation of golfers in Central Park, New York City.
George De Sota, Getty Images
Miss India 2000, Crown Miss Universe 2000, Lara Dutta, Real estate mogul Donald Trump with his girl friend Melania Knauss attend the Maximum Golf “$1 Million Putting Challenge,” May 23, 2000, celebrating the launch of this rock and roll type publication for the new generation of golfers in Central Park, New York City.
George De Sota, Getty Images
Donald Trump and Melania Knauss attend the launch party for Gotham Magazine March 1, 2001, in New York City.
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
Business tycoon Donald Trump with his girlfriend, model Melania Knauss arrive for the 73rd Academy Awards March 25, 2001, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
David McNew, Getty Images
Donald Trump and Slovenian model Melania Knauss arrive at the Bloomberg Party, held at the Trade Ministry of The Russian Foundation in Washington, D.C., after the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner April 28, 2001. Some 400 members of the media, along with an assortment of politicos and even the occasional Hollywood celebrity, were present at the dinner.
CHRIS KLEPONIS, AFP Via Getty Images
Donald Trump and his girlfriend Melania Knauss attend an American Cancer Society gala fundraiser honoring Regis Philbin, May 7, 2001, in New York City.
Chris Hondros, Getty Images
Model Melania Knauss and real estate developer Donald Trump depart the 9th Annual Kids for Kids celebrity carnival April 28, 2002, in New York City. The carnival benefits the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS foundation.
Lawrence Lucier, Getty Images
From left: Virgin Mobile USA CEO Dan Schulman, billionaire Donald Trump, model Melania Knauss, and media mogul Sir Richard Branson celebrate the launch of Virgin Mobile USA at the Whitespace Studio on July 24, 2002, in New York City.
Lawrence Lucier, Getty Images
Model Melania Knauss arrives for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Nov. 14, 2002, in New York City.
Lawrence Lucier, Getty Images
Rofreddo Gaetani, Melania Knauss and Donald Trump attends the Luca Luca fall/winter 2003 Collection fashion show at the Theater in Bryant Park during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Feb. 9, 2003, in New York City.
Evan Agostini, Getty Images
Donald Trump and his girlfriend, model Melania Knauss, attend the Oscar De La Renta fashion show for the fall/winter 2003 Collection at The Pavillion in Bryant Park during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Feb. 10, 2003, in New York City.
Scott Gries, Getty Images
Donald Trump and Melania Knauss arrive to the screening of HBO production “The Kid Stays In The Picture” at the AOL Time Warner Screening Room, New York City May 8, 2003.
Adam Rountree, Getty Images
Model Melania Knauss attends the “Sex and The City” party at the American Museum of Natural History June 18, 2003, in New York City.
Evan Agostini, Getty Images
Donald Trump and girlfriend Melania Knauss attend the Luca Luca spring/summer 2004 Fashion Show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Bryant Park, Sept. 14, 2003, in New York City.
Evan Agostini, Getty Images
Donald Trump, Melania Knauss and Donald Trump Jr. attend the private party hosted by Donald Trump’s T Management for legendary supermodel Pat Cleveland at Ian Schrager’s Hudson Sky Terrace Sept. 17, 2003, in New York.
Steven Henry, Getty Images
Playmate Victoria Silvstedt, left, Donald Trump and Melania Knauss at the Playboy 50th Anniversary celebration Dec. 4, 2003, in New York City.
Peter Kramer, Getty Images
Model Melania Knauss and her mother pose front row at the Zac Posen fashion show during Olympus Fashion Week at Bryant Park Feb. 12, 2004, in New York City.
Evan Agostini, Getty Images
Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka (left) and girlfriend Melania Knauss attend the “Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century” Costume Institute benefit gala on April 26, 2004, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Evan Agostini, Getty Images
Donald Trump and then-fiancé Melania Knauss attend the NBC Primetime Preview at Radio City Music Hall May 17, 2004, in New York City.
Peter Kramer, Getty Images
Actress Molly Sims, left, talks with Melania Knauss at the NBC TCA All-Star Party at Universal Studios July 11, 2004, in Los Angeles.
Carlo Allegri, Getty Images
Melania Knauss is seen during Olympus Fashion Week at Bryant Park Sept. 13, 2004, in New York City.
Bowers, Getty Images
Melania Knauss, fiancé of Donald Trump, arrives to the Marc Jacobs spring 2005 fashion show during Olympus Fashion Week at Pier 54, Sept. 13, 2004, in New York City.
Paul Hawthorne, Getty Images
“The Apprentice” winner Bill Rancic poses with Melania Knauss and Donald Trump at the Donald Trump Friars Club Roast Luncheon at the New York Hilton Oct. 15, 2004, in New York City.
Evan Agostini, Getty Images
Businessman Donald Trump and his fiancé Melania Knauss arrive at a gala to honor leaders in tourism sponsored by NYC & Company at the Museum of Modern Art Dec. 13, 2004, in New York City.
Scott Gries, Getty Images
TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford poses with Donald Trump and his fiancé Melania Knauss at the opening night of the new musical “Under The Bridge” at The Zipper Theatre Jan. 6, 2005, in New York City.
Evan Agostini, Getty Images
Melanie Knauss leaves the Episcopal Church of Bethesda by-the-Sea speaking with Palm Beach Police officers after her wedding rehearsal with Donald Trump Friday afternoon on Jan. 21, 2005.
Greg Lovett, The Palm Beach Post/USA TODAY NETWORK
Melania Trump waves after marrying Donald Trump at The Episcopal Church of Bethesda by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2005.
Jeffrey Langlois, Palm Beach Daily News/ USA TODAY Network
Donald and Melania Trump pose for photos in the lobby of the main tent during Olympus Fashion Week at Bryant Park Feb. 9, 2005, in New York City.
Katy Winn, Getty Images
Melania Trump attends the J Mendel fall 2005 fashion show during Olympus Fashion Week at Bryant Park, Feb. 10, 2005, in New York City.
Evan Agostini, Getty Images
Melania Trump with husband Donald Trump and actress Lucia Rijker arrives at the 13th annual Elton John Aids Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at the Pacific Design Center on Feb. 27, 2005, in Los Angeles.
Stephen Shugerman, Getty Images
Melania Trump arrives for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s annual Hot Pink Party at the Waldorf-Astoria on April 20, 2005, in New York City.
Brad Barket, Getty Images
Donald Trump, baby son Barron and wife Melania Trump watch the men’s final between Roger Federer of Switzerland and Andy Roddick during the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Sept. 10, 2006, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.
Jamie Squire, Getty Images
Donald and Melania Trump with 8-month-old Barron William after the baby’s baptism at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida, on Dec. 8, 2006.
Ruth Cincotta, Palm Beach Daily News-USA TODAY NETWORK
Donald Trump’s wife Melania Trump and son Baron attend the ceremony honoring him with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Jan. 16, 2006, in Hollywood, California.
Vince Bucci, Getty Images
Barron Trump and Melania Trump attend the 16th annual Bunny Hop at FAO Schwartz to benefit the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center March 13, 2007, in New York City.
Peter Kramer
Melania Trump and her son Barron attend the 17th annual Bunny Hop at FAO Schwarz, March 11, 2008, in New York City.
Brad Barket, Getty Images
Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump depart from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, with the “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy” theme, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2008, in New York City.
Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images
Barron Trump and Melania Trump attend the 18th annual Bunny Hop to benefit the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center at FAO Schwartz on March 3, 2009, in New York City.
Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images
Ivanka Trump, Melania Trump and Barron Trump attend the “The Trump Card: Playing to Win in Work and Life” book launch celebration at Trump Tower on Oct. 14, 2009, in New York City.
Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images
Melania Trump looks on as Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia plays against Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during her women’s single quarterfinal match during day ten of the 2010 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Sept. 8, 2010, in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.
Matthew Stockman, Getty Images
Melania Trump and son Barron Trump attend Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Party at Rock Center Cafe on Nov. 30, 2011, in New York City.
Gary Gershoff, Getty Images For NBC
Donald Trump and his wife Melania attend the Opening Ceremony for the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club on Sept. 27, 2012, in Medinah, Illinois.
Mike Ehrmann, Getty Images
Melania Trump, Barron Trump and Donald Trump attends Trump Invitational Grand Prix Mar-a-Lago Club at The Mar-a-Largo Club on Jan. 4, 2015, in Palm Beach, Florida.
Gustavo Caballero, Getty Images
Donald Trump’s wife Melania Trump and daughter Ivanka Trump wait for the start of the CNBC Republican presidential debate on Oct. 28, 2015, at the Coors Event Center at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.
ROBYN BECK, AFP Via Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at his Iowa Caucus night gathering while his wife Melania looks on Feb. 1, 2016, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Scott Olson, Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his wife Melania greet reporters in the spin room following a debate sponsored by Fox News at the Fox Theatre on March 3, 2016, in Detroit.
Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump arrive to speak to supporters at Trump Tower in Manhattan following his victory in the Indiana primary on May 3, 2016, in New York City. Trump beat rival Ted Cruz decisively in a contest that many analysts believe was the last chance for any other Republican candidate to catch Trump in the delegate count.
Spencer Platt, Getty Images
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