Early Life and Modeling Career
Melania Trump was born Melanija Knavs in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, and began modeling as a teenager, working with local agencies before moving to Milan and later New York City, where she signed with Zoli Agency and appeared in fashion campaigns and magazine features, building a portfolio that led to international assignments and brand collaborations. Forbes profile on Melania Trump business
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, she had walked runways in Paris, Milan, and New York, posed for magazines including Vanity Fair and Harper's Bazaar, and appeared in advertising campaigns for fashion labels and lifestyle brands, while also studying at the University of Ljubljana and later relocating to the United States to pursue international modeling opportunities. Business of Fashion career overview
Business Ventures and Brand Development
Melania Trump launched her jewelry and fashion line Melania, registered trademarks for the brand, and promoted products through her official website and social media, while also developing a skincare line and collaborating with manufacturers and retailers in the United States and Europe to sell accessories, apparel, and beauty items. SEC filings for Melania Trump brand entities
The brand expanded into home goods and accessories, with products sold through e-commerce platforms and retail partners, while she also managed licensing deals, social media promotion, and public appearances that supported the commercial footprint of the Melania name across fashion, jewelry, and lifestyle categories in North America and international markets. Bloomberg business profile
Public Profile Before the White House
Before becoming First Lady, Melania Trump was known primarily as a model and businesswoman, with a public profile shaped by her fashion career, brand launches, and high-profile relationships, including her marriage to Donald Trump in 2005, which brought increased media attention and positioned her as a figure in lifestyle, beauty, and luxury branding circles. New York Times profile before White House
She maintained a social media presence, participated in fashion events, and appeared in television and media projects, while also focusing on philanthropy and children's initiatives, laying the groundwork for later roles and establishing a public identity that blended modeling, entrepreneurship, and advocacy before entering the White House as First Lady. Washington Post pre-White House feature