RARE PHOTOS OF MELANIA TRUMP SURFACE
From Sevnica to the White House: Melania Trump’s Surprising Journey
Melania Trump, born Melanija Knavs in the small Slovenian town of Sevnica, grew up modestly. Her mother worked in textiles and her father was a chauffeur.
As People.com noted, her mother “instilled a love of fashion at an early age.”
At 16, a photographer discovered her at a local show. Her early modeling photos were “simple, elegant, and charged with quiet confidence” (designyoutrust.com), hinting at her future composure on the world stage.
By 18, she was modeling in Milan and Paris. Though some critics said she lacked charisma, TIME noted she had a “disciplined elegance.” She moved to New York in the mid-1990s, helped by agent Paolo Zampolli, and later married Donald Trump.
Melania became First Lady in 2017 and again in 2025. Her hometown now celebrates her rise with souvenirs and tours, showing how far “a young Melania” came—from a quiet Slovenian town to global fame.
