Melania Trump’s foray into the world of modeling began in her teenage years when she was discovered by photographer Stane Jerko at a Slovenian fashion show. This pivotal encounter marked the start of a burgeoning modeling career that saw Melania working across Europe, capturing the attention of numerous designers and photographers.
By the late 1990s, she had made a significant transition to the United States, continuing to elevate her career with prominent appearances in fashion magazines such as GQ and on the cover of Vogue before her marriage to Donald Trump.
Despite her considerable success, Melania’s active participation in the modeling industry dwindled after a 2016 feature in GQ. Donald Trump has mentioned that she does not intend to return to modeling, expressing dissatisfaction with the fashion media’s treatment of his wife. Yet, Melania herself seems largely unaffected by this shift away from the runway and photoshoots.
She has often stated that her career in modeling and appearing on magazine covers is not her primary focus, as reported by Nicki Swift. After her tenure as the First Lady, Melania Trump has spoken out about facing certain biases, particularly being overlooked for magazine covers, which she believes was a result of her political affiliations and role in the White House.
Despite this, she has made it clear that her duties and responsibilities during her time in the White House were far more important than gracing the covers of Vogue. In 2021, Melania ventured into the digital art space by launching her own NFT (Non-Fungible Token) collections, which included digital images reflecting her time as the First Lady.
This pivot to a relatively new and innovative field marks a significant departure from her modeling roots, signaling her interest in exploring diverse creative and entrepreneurial endeavors beyond the traditional confines of the fashion industry. Amidst discussions about her career and public portrayal, Donald Trump has been vocal about the lack of recognition his wife received from the fashion industry during and after her time in the White House.
In a televised interview with Megyn Kelly, he pointed out the simultaneous progression of his political career and the reduction of Melania’s presence in the modeling scene, noting her indifference to the lack of magazine features. This sentiment was vividly illustrated in a leaked conversation with her former advisor, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, where Melania expressed her disinterest in magazine fame, famously stating her disregard for the recognition from such publications, as reported by NBC News.
This conversation revealed her genuine perspective on fame and public acknowledgment, underscoring a clear shift in her priorities towards more personal and innovative projects. Despite her husband’s public defense and occasional lament over the perceived injustices faced by Melania, she remains a figure of resilience and independence, choosing paths that align with her evolving interests and values.
This evolution was particularly highlighted in her transition from a celebrated model to an involved parent and entrepreneur, exploring the digital frontier through her NFT projects, all the while maintaining a poised indifference to the traditional allure of fashion magazines.
