Before she became First Lady, Melanija Knavs was a reserved young model from Sevnica, Slovenia, quietly building a career that took her from Ljubljana to Milan, Paris, and eventually New York. Even then, she kept her private life closely guarded, which is why her early relationships have remained mostly a matter of rumor and recollection.
She met Donald Trump in 1998 at a Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Club, introduced by agent Paolo Zampolli. Trump arrived with another woman but still asked for Melania’s number. She initially refused, insisting he pursue her properly. Friends from that period describe her as disciplined and private—a striking presence in public, but far from the party scene.
