Career Timeline of Melania Trump: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Melania Trump made an impact.

Melania Trump is a Slovenian-American former model and the current First Lady of the United States (since 2025), a position she also held from 2017 to 2021 during Donald Trump's previous presidency. She holds the distinction of being the first naturalized citizen to become First Lady, the second foreign-born First Lady, the second Roman Catholic First Lady, and the second First Lady to serve two non-consecutive terms.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1992: Runner-up in Jana Magazine Look of the Year contest

In 1992, Melania Knauss was named runner-up in the Jana Magazine Look of the Year contest.

1993: Portrayal of First Female President

In 1993, Melania portrayed the first female president of the United States during a modeling job.

1996: Immigration to the United States

In 1996, Melania Knauss immigrated to the United States after being sponsored by Paolo Zampolli, who hired her.

1996: Move to Manhattan

In 1996, Melania moved to Manhattan after being urged by Paolo Zampolli to travel to the United States.

1997: Sexually Explicit Photoshoot for Max

In 1997, Melania was featured in a sexually explicit photo shoot for Max, a French men's magazine, photographed by Alexandre Ale de Basseville. The photos were unpaid, promising Melania exposure in a prominent magazine.

February 1999: Appearance in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

In February 1999, Melania appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, photographed by Antoine Verglas.

October 7, 1999: Donald Trump's Reform Party Candidacy Announcement

On October 7, 1999, Donald Trump announced his candidacy for the Reform Party presidential nomination with Melania's support. She stated she would be traditional like Betty Ford or Jackie Kennedy if he became president.

1999: Attention After Howard Stern Interview

In 1999, Melania and Donald Trump gained attention after an interview with Howard Stern on his show, where they answered lewd sexual questions.

January 2000: GQ Magazine Feature

In January 2000, Melania was featured in a GQ magazine spread, with images from a shoot that had access to Donald Trump's Boeing 727.

2000: Supporting Donald Trump's Campaign

In 2000, Melania supported Donald Trump during his presidential campaign while he helped her in her modeling career.

April 2004: Appearance on The Apprentice

In April 2004, Melania made her first appearance on Donald Trump's game show The Apprentice.

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2009: Launch of Melania Jewelry Brand

In 2009, Melania Trump started her own jewelry brand named Melania.

2009: Trademarking of Jewelry Brand

In 2009, Melania trademarked her name, Melania, as a jewelry brand to sell less expensive jewelry pieces on QVC. The jewelry was designed by herself and based on places where she had lived: New York, Palm Beach, and Paris.

2011: Development of Melania Marks Skincare Line

In 2011, Melania developed a line of caviar-infused skincare products under the brand Melania Marks Skincare. Although the brand never launched, a legal case ensued after the company selling the products, New Sunshine, underwent management changes and voided the contract. The case was later settled out of court in Melania's favor.

November 2015: First Speaking Appearance in November 2015

In November 2015 Melania had her earliest speaking appearances, prompted by Donald calling on her to speak to the crowd. She only said a few sentences.

February 2016: Speaking Appearance in February 2016

In February 2016 Melania had one of her earliest speaking appearances, prompted by Donald calling on her to speak to the crowd. She only said a few sentences.

April 2016: First Scheduled Speech

In April 2016 Melania's first scheduled speech during the campaign took place.

July 18, 2016: Speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention

On July 18, 2016, Melania gave a speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention. A controversy emerged after it became apparent that a paragraph of the speech had been plagiarized from Michelle Obama's speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. It was the only major speech she delivered during the campaign.

2016: Melania Convinces Donald to Run for President

In 2016, Melania convinced Donald to campaign for president. She made it clear that she would not be pressured into campaigning and would only make appearances when she wanted to, playing a relatively small role in the campaign, citing the need to stay home with her son Barron.

2016: Controversies during the 2016 Presidential Campaign

In 2016, during Donald Trump's presidential campaign, Melania Trump faced press coverage for erotic photos from her modeling years and for a speech at the Republican National Convention that was found to be plagiarized from a speech by Michelle Obama. She also defended her husband following the release of the Access Hollywood tape.

2016: Unfavorable Approval Rating

In 2016, during the presidential election, Melania Trump had a disapproval rating greater than her approval rating, making her the only candidate's spouse since polling began in 1988 to have such a rating.

January 2017: Becoming First Lady

In January 2017, Melania Trump became the First Lady of the United States, with an approval rating of 36 or 37%.

March 8, 2017: Hosts First White House Event

On March 8, 2017, Melania hosted her first White House event, a luncheon for International Women's Day. She spoke about her life as a female immigrant and about working towards gender equality.

2017: Royalties from Getty Images Photos

In 2017 Melania licensed photos from her photoshoots through Getty Images. The Office of Government Ethics reported that she made $100,000 to $1,000,000 in royalties, though other estimates put it at over $10,000,000.

2017: First Term as First Lady

In 2017, Melania Trump assumed the role of First Lady of the United States for the first time, serving until 2021.

May 7, 2018: Be Best Awareness Campaign Launch

On May 7, 2018, Melania Trump held a press conference at the White House Rose Garden to announce her official public initiative as first lady, the Be Best awareness campaign, focusing on the welfare of children, cyberbullying prevention, and opioid abuse.

October 2018: Melania's Solo Tour of Africa

In October 2018, Melania embarked on a solo tour of Africa, visiting Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, and Egypt. During the trip, she focused on children's welfare and promoted the United States Agency for International Development. She also faced criticism for her fashion choices.

April 2020: Staff Reorganization

In April 2020, Melania Trump reorganized her staff in anticipation of her husband's reelection campaign, appointing Marcia Lee Kelly as her senior advisor and Emma Doyle as her policy advisor.

2020: Endorsement of Election Fraud Claims

In 2020, during the presidential election, Melania Trump endorsed her husband's false claims of election fraud.

2021: End of Tenure as First Lady

In 2021, Melania Trump finished her tenure as the least popular first lady since polling began, with an approval rating of 42%.

2021: End of First Lady Term

In 2021, Melania Trump's first term as First Lady of the United States came to an end.

2021: Leaving the White House

In 2021, after leaving the White House, Melania Trump largely stayed out of the public view before assuming the role of First Lady again in 2025.

July 2024: Increased Visibility and Memoir Announcement

In July 2024, Melania Trump became more visible by releasing a statement following an attempted assassination of her husband and appearing at the 2024 Republican National Convention. She also announced her intention to publish a memoir titled 'Melania'.

December 2024: Filming Commences for Melania Documentary

In December 2024, filming commenced for an upcoming documentary film on Melania Trump, directed by Brett Ratner and licensed by Amazon MGM Studios for distribution.

2024: Melania Stands Behind Nude Modeling Work

In September of 2024, Melania stated she stood 'proudly behind [her] nude modeling work' in a post on X.

January 2025: Amazon Licenses Melania Documentary

In January 2025, Amazon MGM Studios announced that it had licensed an upcoming documentary film on Melania Trump, directed by Brett Ratner for US$40 million. She will also be an executive producer for the film. Also in January 2025, Melania launched her own cryptocurrency, the $Melania coin.

January 20, 2025: Second Non-Consecutive Term as First Lady Begins

On January 20, 2025, during the 60th United States presidential inauguration, Melania Trump became the second first lady to hold the position two times non-consecutively, after Frances Cleveland.

February 2025: White House Tours to Resume

In February 2025, Melania Trump announced that public tours of the White House would resume on the 25th day of the month.

March 3, 2025: Melania's First Solo Appearance as First Lady

On March 3, 2025, Melania Trump made her first solo appearance as first lady for the term by attending a roundtable discussion at Capitol Hill on the Take It Down Act, a bill that could speed the removal of intimate imagery posted online without an individual's consent, or revenge porn.

April 2025: Honored Recipients at International Women of Courage Awards

In April 2025, Melania honored recipients at the annual International Women of Courage Awards and reopened tours of the White House gardens in early bloom.

April 21, 2025: White House Easter Egg Roll Hosted

On April 21, 2025, Melania Trump hosted the White House Easter Egg Roll with her husband, which drew crowds of around 40,000.

May 2025: Hosted Celebration Honoring Military Mothers

In May 2025, Melania hosted a celebration honoring military mothers and an event where a postage stamp dedicated to former first lady Barbara Bush was unveiled. Later that month, she welcomed the children of White House employees for "White House Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" where she assisted kids in decorating American flags.