Melania Knauss, a Slovenian-born model, met Donald Trump at a 1998 New York Fashion Week party. Donald, recently separated from his second wife, was immediately drawn to her. Melania, unimpressed by his fame, asked for his number instead of giving hers. After a week, she called, and the two began dating. Though their relationship had early struggles, including a brief breakup, they reconciled and grew closer.

Melania’s journey began in Slovenia, where she studied architecture before pursuing modeling in Milan and later New York. By 2000, she appeared in major magazines like Sports Illustrated. Donald proposed to her in 2004 at the Met Gala with a 12-carat, $2 million diamond ring, a glamorous moment fitting their high-profile romance.

The couple married in 2005 at Donald’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Melania wore a custom Christian Dior gown, and the event was attended by celebrities and public figures. A year later, in March 2006, they welcomed their son, Barron William Trump, whose nursery occupied an entire floor of their home.

From their chance meeting at a Manhattan party to their rise as one of the most famous couples in the world, Donald and Melania’s love story has been filled with glitz, challenges, and resilience — culminating in their journey to the White House as President and First Lady of the United States.