Melania Trump (born Melania Knavs, later Germanized Knauss) became recognizable as a model and wife of US President Donald Trump. As the second first lady born outside the United States and the only one who is a naturalized citizen, her biography includes her childhood in Slovenia, a successful modeling career, a marriage with a businessman and President Trump, and humanitarian work during her mandate in the White House. This article offers an overview of her life and answers frequent questions asked by readers.
Early life and family background
- Birth and childhood: Melania Trump was born on April 26, 1970 in Novo Mesto, then as part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (today Slovenia). She grew up in nearby Sevnica with her parents Viktor Knavs, a car dealer, and Amalija Ulčnik Knavs, an employee at the textile factory. He has a younger sister Ines and older half-brother Denis.
- Education: In her youth, she attended high school in Ljubljana and enrolled in the study of design and architecture at the University of Ljubljana, but after one year she stopped her studies to devote herself to a modeling career.
- languages: During her stay in various European fashion centers, she perfected several languages; In addition to his native Slovenian, he speaks English, French, Italian and German.
modeling career
Melania started working as a model at the age of 16 and two years later she signed a contract with the agency in Milan. In the early years of her career, she worked in Milan and Paris, performed at fashion shows and collaborated with renowned photographers such as Patrick DeMarchelier and Helmut Newton. She is 180cm tall (5 feet 11 inches), which allowed her to wear the clothes of leading fashion houses.
- Arrival in the United States: In 1996, she moved to New York, where she continued to build her career and appeared on the covers of magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar Bulgaria, Vanity Fair Italia, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and British GQ. She acquired her right to permanent residence in 2001 through the EB-1 program, and received American citizenship in 2006.
- Other projects: In addition to modeling, she developed a line of jewelry for QVC and cosmetic products based on caviar. She occasionally appeared on television, including a performance in an advertisement for Aflac and co-host of the show “The View” in 2005.
Marriage with Donald Trump and Family
Melania met Donald Trump at a fashion party in New York in 1998. After a relationship filled with breaks and reconciliations, they got engaged in April 2004, and got married on January 22, 2005 in Palm Beach, on Trump’s estate in Mar-a-Lag. It was Donald Trump’s third wife and her first marriage. The following year, their son Barron William Trump was born, and in the same year Melania became an American citizen.
As the wife of a wealthy entrepreneur, she often appeared in public. In the early years of her marriage, she was the honorary president of the dance group Martha Graham (2005) and the Boys’ Club of New York, and the American Red Cross declared her a goodwill ambassador. In 2010, she was president of the American Heart Association’s gala event and helped raise $1.7 million for research.
The role of the first lady and philanthropic work
Donald Trump was elected president of the USA in 2016, and Melania became the first lady on January 20, 2017. As the first lady, she initially kept a low profile and moved to the White House only after Barron finished his school year in New York. Despite criticism of her minor public engagement, she launched several projects:
- Be Best initiative: In May 2018, Melania presented the “Be Best” campaign, aimed at children’s well-being. The three pillars of the initiative include fostering children’s mental and emotional health, promoting online safety and fighting opioid addiction. As part of the campaign, she visited schools, national parks and collaborated with organizations such as the Red Cross and FEMA to educate children about preparing for natural disasters. In 2018, she went on a solo tour to Africa and visited Ghana, Kenya, Malawi and Egypt, where she met with local leaders and promoted educational programs.
- Support for the military and conservation projects: Melania regularly visited military bases and included military families in public events. She supported the restoration of historic furniture in the White House, participated in the acquisition of new carpets and works of art, and collaborated with the White House History Association to preserve historical property.
- Other engagements: During the COVID-19 pandemic, it recorded public announcements with recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and sent support packages to hospitals, children’s homes and first aid services.
Melania actively supported her husband during the campaigns, although she avoided politicization. After Trump’s defeat in 2020, she published a statement condemning the violence in the Capitol and complained of personal attacks. In July 2024, she reappeared at the Republican Convention, but did not give a speech. After Donald Trump won the 2024 election, Melania returned to the White House in January 2025 as the first lady.
Memoirs, Documentary and Current Activities
In 2024, she published a memoir entitled Melania, who became the New York Times bestseller. In January 2026, a documentary was released showing her life before and after coming to the White House, including a career in fashion, engagement with children and living in the light of political attention. After returning to the White House in 2025, she continued to promote the initiative “Be Best” and support projects for children, the army and the preservation of culture.
Social networks and public image
Melania Trump has maintained the image of a style icon for a long time, but remains relatively reserved on social networks. According to media, profile @melaniatrump About 2.8 million people follow on Instagram, while she follows only two profiles: Donald Trump’s wife and the USA Memorabilia page. On that platform, he shares official photos, projects and promotion of his memorabilia, including a line of jewelry and souvenirs. Although this sale raises issues due to the Conflict of Interest Act, experts state that federal conflict of interest regulations do not apply to the first lady, as an unelected official.
On X’s (former Twitter) he uses the official @flotus profile and publishes messages on behalf of the First Lady’s office. Her public appearance is often the subject of debate due to measured communication and wardrobe choice.
public interest and requested information
Searches on the Internet show that readers are most interested in:
- age: Born on April 26, 1970, Melania Trump is 55 years old (condition in January 2026).
- height: It is about 180cm tall, 5 feet and 11 inches, respectively.
- Nationality: She is a citizen of Slovenia by birth and since 2006 and the United States.
- Children: He has one son, Barron William Trump, born in March 2006.
- Assets and net worth: Personal wealth data are not publicly available. Its financial situation belongs to the private sphere and is not subject to official announcements, so no exact figures can be presented.
- Initiative “Be Best” and Philanthropy: People are interested in how her program helps children, which includes working on mental health, Internet safety and the fight against addiction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How old is Melania Trump?
She was born on April 26, 1970. On January 25, 2026, he is 55 years old.
How tall is Melania Trump?
It is approximately 180 cm tall (5’11”).
Does Melania Trump have children?
Yes. She and Donald Trump have a son, Barron William Trump, born on March 20, 2006.
What is her role as first lady?
As the first lady, Melania focused on the well-being of children. As part of the “BE BEST” initiative, it promotes mental and emotional health, Internet safety and addiction prevention. It also supports soldiers, their families and various conservation projects in the White House.
What is known about its net worth?
Accurate data on Melania Trump’s personal fortune have not been made public. As a private person who is not elected to office, he is not obliged to publish his financial statements. Therefore, information about her wealth is considered unknown.
What is her social presence?
Although he has millions of followers, Melania does not follow many other profiles. He has only two accounts on Instagram – his wife Donald Trump and the USA Memorabilia page. He publishes official photos and information about projects, often promoting his books and souvenirs.
Conclusion
Melania Trump remains an intriguing figure of public life: a former model, wife of the president and humanitarian focused on the well-being of children. The successful transition from the catwalks in Europe to the role of the first lady of the United States is marked by international experience, multilingualism and philanthropy. Although she is known for her restrained public appearance, her initiative “Be Best” and recent memoirs testify to the desire to leave a lasting positive influence. For updates and new projects, it is worth following her official channels as her life and public role continues to evolve.
Cover photo: Régine Mahaux, CC BY 3.0 US, Via Wikimedia Commons