Donald Trump wins: How Melania Trump went from the runway to the White House

Melania Trump, born Melanija Knavs on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, didn't exactly follow the usual path to becoming a U.S. First Lady. Growing up in the small Slovenian town of Sevnica (back in Yugoslavia days!), she embarked on her modelling career as a teenager. By 16, she was gracing magazines, runway shows, and major campaigns across Europe, and also briefly attended the University of Ljubljana, but her ambitions took her from the quiet streets of Slovenia to the bustling fashion scenes in Milan and Paris. Her life took a new turn in 1996 when she moved to New York City—landing her smack dab in the centre of American glitz and glamour, and soon enough, in the orbit of real estate mogul Donald Trump.

Now, Melania lives a relatively private life, reportedly working on a memoir about her White House years. She remains an enigmatic figure, stepping into the public eye only occasionally. But her mix of glamour and mystery keeps her in the spotlight, leaving the world curious about the woman who went from small-town Slovenia to the U.S. First Lady, with elegance, quiet confidence, and a love for high fashion along the way. And as Donald Trump won, she is also currently celebrating his win.