This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to "Melania" by Melania Trump. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading.
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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.)
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- Melania Trump’s journey from Slovenia to the White House
- The challenges Melania faced as First Lady of the United States
- Never-before-heard anecdotes from Melania
