Why Melania Trump Is the Only First Lady Who Could Achieve This Stunning Feat
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When Melania Trump became First Lady in 2017, she brought with her an impressive skill set—linguistic prowess. Born in Slovenia, Melania is reportedly the first First Lady in U.S. history to be fluent in five languages: Slovenian, English, French, Serbian, and German. While other First Ladies have been multilingual, Melania’s abilities stand out.
Her language skills reflect both her enthusiasm for learning and the opportunities afforded by her international upbringing and modeling career. Born in Novo Mesto, Slovenia in 1970, Melania grew up speaking Slovenian. Due to Slovenia’s central location in Europe, she was exposed to other languages from an early age.
After high school, Melania attended the University of Ljubljana, where she studied architecture. Though she left to pursue modeling, her exposure to languages like German and Serbian likely expanded during this time, according to The Express. Melania’s modeling career in the 1990s took her across Europe, living in fashion capitals like Paris and Milan.
Immersed in multilingual environments, she honed her French, and her English improved significantly after moving to New York City in 1996. Her journey from Slovenia to the White House embodies the American immigrant story—achieving professional success while adapting to a new culture, all while maintaining her connection to her native Slovenian.
However, Melania’s linguistic abilities also highlight the privileges she enjoyed, opportunities that may not be available to many immigrants. In past interviews, she expressed pride in her intelligence, saying, “I’m not only a beauty, I’m smart. I have brains. I’m intelligent.” This combination of intellect and looks allowed her to travel the world as a model before becoming Mrs. Trump. Her arrival at the White House intrigued many, with author Maureen Dowd dubbing her the “Slovenian Sphinx” due to the air of mystery surrounding her, as reported by The Daily Beast.
As First Lady, Melania’s first priority was to protect her privacy and that of her son, Barron Trump. She has diligently pursued this goal throughout her time in the public eye. Recently, Barron was selected as a delegate to nominate Donald Trump for the Republican presidential bid, but Melania’s office declined the offer, citing “prior commitments.”
The Daily Mail reported that a spokeswoman stated, “While Barron is honored to have been chosen… he regretfully declines to participate due to prior commitments.” Although Barron would be absent, the Trump family’s presence at the event would still be strong, with his older siblings set to attend. Melania’s blend of intellect, beauty, and determination has left a lasting mark, both in the White House and beyond.
