Melania Trump’s ambitions surfaced early—too big for the small town of Sevnica to contain. A chance meeting soon catapulted her onto international runways. Years later, she would leave modeling behind for a very different public role.

Today, renewed interest surrounds her early modeling photos. Widely shared online, the images spark comparisons between her past and present appearances.

Growing Up in Sevnica

Born Melanija Knavs on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, she grew up in Sevnica, Yugoslavia. The town, lined with factory chimneys and concrete apartment blocks, stood far from the world she would later enter.

Melania lived in one of those blocks, next to the bright primary school she attended. Her father, Viktor Knavs, worked as a car dealer and once drove for a mayor and a textile factory director. Her mother, Amalija, created patterns for a children’s clothing company.

Donald Trump attends the New York Knicks game with Melania Trump on March 12, 1999 | Source: Getty Images

Quiet, Polite, and Driven

Classmates described Melania as polite, disciplined, and focused. Her friend and future headmistress, Mirjana Jelancic, recalled her as an “excellent student” with “very decent manners.” She rarely raised her voice or used harsh words.

Even then, Melania gravitated toward fashion. She often redesigned old clothes and dreamed of becoming a designer. Jelancic remarked, “Sevnica was too small for her.” Melania often spoke of moving beyond it.

A Photographer’s Discovery

At 16, Melania caught the attention of Slovenian photographer Stane Jerko while waiting for a friend in Ljubljana’s Festival Hall. It was January 1987. Jerko, impressed by her look, asked her to model.

During their first session, Melania brought her own clothes. Though shy, she followed his directions. Soon, she returned for another shoot—this time modeling factory-made outfits. She quickly grew more confident and curious about photography’s technical side. Her modeling career had begun.

Modeling in Europe and Beyond

After finishing school, she modeled in Milan and Paris. She built a portfolio and worked across Europe while mastering English, German, French, Italian, Slovenian, and Serbo-Croatian.

Using the name Melania Knauss, she modeled through the ’90s. In 1996, she moved to New York, determined to break into the American fashion scene.