What does it take to transform from an aspiring architect to an international model? How did a chance encounter in Slovenia lead to a career spanning Milan, Paris, and New York City?
Before becoming America’s First Lady, Melania Trump’s modeling career started with a serendipitous meeting with photographer Stane Jerko in 1987. Her journey from showcasing her mother’s designs in Belgrade to working with prestigious agencies reflects the evolving fashion industry of the 1990s.
Keep reading to explore the determination, challenges, and pivotal moments that shaped Melania’s path from Slovenia to the global fashion stage.
Image credit: Anthony Quintano on Flickr
Melania Trump’s Modeling Career
Melania Trump’s modeling career began at a young age as she showcased her mother’s designs as a child on runways in Belgrade. However, as a teenager, she decided to pursue a formal education in industrial design at the Secondary School for Design and Photography in Ljubljana, a degree that combined her interests in art, graphic design, and fashion. Melania later switched her focus to becoming an architect.
(Shortform note: In our guide, we refer to Melania Trump as Melania and to Donald Trump as Trump.)
(Shortform note: During Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, Melania’s website falsely stated that she had earned a degree in design and architecture from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. This claim was also repeated by Melania at the Republican National Convention. However, investigative reports, including one from CBS News, confirmed that she didn’t graduate from the university. In response to the controversy, her website was taken down, and visitors are now redirected to the Trump Organization’s website.)
In 1987, a chance encounter with photographer Stane Jerko launched Melania’s professional modeling career. By 1992, at age 22, she was balancing her architecture studies with part-time modeling. That same year, encouraged by her sister Ines, Melania entered the “Look of the Year” contest in Portoroz. She placed second, winning a contract with Milan-based agency RVR, which prompted her to choose modeling professionally over pursuing architecture.
(Shortform note: Slovenian photographer Stane Jerko is best known for discovering and taking the first professional modeling photos of Melania. In an interview, Jerko recounts that, although Melania was initially shy and reserved at their first session, she quickly became comfortable in front of the camera. Following the success of the first shoot, Jerko arranged a second session where Melania modeled clothes from a Slovenian textile factory. These photos formed Melania’s first portfolio, launching her professional modeling career.)
Melania relocated to Milan but says she felt unfulfilled with RVR. Seeking greater opportunities, she arranged a meeting with Riccardo Gay, known for managing one of the most esteemed modeling agencies in the industry. With Gay’s agreement to represent her, Melania’s career flourished, allowing her to travel and model for luxury brands around the globe. Following two years in Milan, she moved to Paris, where she met Paolo Zampolli, co-owner of Metropolitan Models, who offered her a chance to work in New York City.
(Shortform note: Melania’s modeling career in the 1990s and early 2000s occurred at a time when Eastern European models were finding opportunities in Western fashion markets after the fall of the Iron Curtain. While she had a successful modeling career, she didn’t reach the same level of recognition as some of her contemporaries, such as Eva Herzigova, Karolína Kurková, or Anja Rubik, who achieved fame through their work on major campaigns and magazine covers.)
(Shortform note: As of 2024, Riccardo Gay Model Management represents internationally recognized models such as Kendall Jenner, and Gigi and Bella Hadid. Meanwhile, Zampolli has moved out of the fashion industry and into diplomacy—he’s the United Nations Ambassador of Dominica. Some reports state that he introduced Trump to Melania.)
Despite enjoying her glamorous lifestyle and financial independence, Melania has acknowledged experiencing frequent rejection and harsh criticism as a model, which required exceptional confidence, resilience, and determination. Melania noted how some peers faced challenges with drugs and excessive drinking. Proud of her ability to remain true to her values and ambitions, she emphasized the necessity of maintaining professionalism and a positive attitude while navigating industry temptations.
(Shortform note: Melania had to exercise this professionalism and positive attitude when nude photos from her early modeling career came under scrutiny. In a video promoting her memoir, she defended these images and questioned the media’s coverage of them. She describes her modeling as a celebration of the human form, akin to classical art, and emphasizes the importance of honoring our bodies through self-expression.)
