From Sevnica to the White House: The Unexpected Rise of Melania Trump
Melania Trump—born Melanija Knavs in the modest Croatian‑border town of Sevnica, Slovenia—embodies one of the most dramatic transformations among modern First Ladies. Raised amid factory smokestacks and state-run housing, her childhood was rooted in modesty.

Her mother, a patternmaker in a local textile factory, instilled a love of fashion at an early age, while her father worked as a chauffeur and later sold auto parts (People.com). A Photography Discovery at 16 At age 16, Melanija was discovered by fashion photographer Stane Jerko at a local chorded fashion event in Sevnica.

Her natural poise and classic beauty led to her early photoshoots—simple, elegant, and charged with quiet confidence (designyoutrust.com). These images show a young Melania entering the fashion world with measured grace—an unmistakable hint at the poise she’d carry into global arenas years later.

Modeling in Europe’s Style Capitals By 18, she’d adopted the name Melania Knauss and trained in Vienna and Paris, stepping into the European fashion circuit in cities like Milan and Milan-based runway agencies. Critics and photographers noted her disciplined elegance—even if some mentioned she lacked an effervescent charisma, she communicated through her composed presence (TIME).
Her modeling career took her from Ljubljana studios to international shoots in Milan, Paris, and eventually New York, where she connected with modeling agent Paolo Zampolli. He played a pivotal role in helping her immigrate to the U.S. and introduced her to future husband Donald Trump (Wikipedia).

From Model to First Lady Arriving in New York in the mid-1990s, Melania quickly found work in high-profile campaigns—from Camel ads on Times Square billboards to a GQ nude photo spread in 2000. She later appeared in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, cementing her status in the fashion world (Wikipedia).

Her relationship with Donald Trump began in 1998, culminating in marriage in 2005. She became First Lady in 2017—and again in 2025 as the first U.S. First Lady to serve two non-consecutive terms after Frances Cleveland (Wikipedia).

Sevnica’s Unexpected Fame Her hometown of Sevnica has embraced her transformation. Once a sleepy riverside town of fewer than 20,000 people, it now offers “First Lady” tours, salami named after her, and souvenirs celebrating her journey—from childhood schoolhouse to the global stage (Vanity Fair).