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 who served as the First Lady of the United States from 2017 to 2021 and again starting in 2025. Married to President Donald Trump, she is the first naturalized U.S. citizen to hold the position of First Lady. She is also the second foreign-born First Lady, following Louisa Adams, and only the second Roman Catholic First Lady after Jacqueline Kennedy. Furthermore, she's the second First Lady to serve two non-consecutive terms, after Frances Cleveland.

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 was named runner-up in the Jana Magazine Look of the Year contest, which promised its top three contestants an international modeling contract. She signed with RVR Reclame in Milan, but she left the organization a few months later.

1993: Portrayal of First Female President

In 1993, Melania portrayed the first female president of the United States during one of her modeling jobs in Europe.

1996: Immigration to the United States

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

1996: Move to Manhattan

In 1996, Melania moved to Manhattan upon the urging of Paolo Zampolli, where he said he would like to represent her.

1997: Sexually Explicit Photo Shoot

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

February 1999: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

In February 1999, Melania appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. The photo shoot, which featured her in a bikini alongside a large inflatable whale, was run by Antoine Verglas, an associate of Zampolli's.

October 7, 1999: Donald Trump Announces Candidacy

On October 7, 1999, Donald Trump announced his candidacy for the Reform Party presidential nomination, with Melania supporting the move.

1999: Howard Stern Interview

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

January 2000: GQ Magazine Spread

In January 2000, Melania was featured in a GQ magazine spread. The shoot accessed Donald Trump's Boeing 727 due to their relationship. Donald had lobbied for her inclusion in the spread.

2000: Support for Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign

In 2000, Melania Knauss supported Donald Trump during his presidential campaign while he helped her get more modeling jobs.

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 Jewelry Brand

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

2009: Melania Trademarks Her Name

In 2009, Melania trademarked her name, Melania, to launch a jewelry brand sold on QVC. She intentionally avoided using the Trump name. The jewelry designs were inspired by New York, Palm Beach, and Paris. Over the following years, she released additional Melania collections, and they sold out each time.

2011: Melania Develops Skincare Line

In 2011, Melania developed a line of caviar-infused skincare products under the brand Melania Marks Skincare, which was never launched. A legal case arose when New Sunshine, the company selling the products, voided the contract due to management changes, alleging a sweetheart deal was given to the Trumps. Melania sued the company for $50 million in lost revenue, and the case was settled out of court in her favor.

November 2015: Melania's Earliest Campaign Speaking Appearances

In November 2015, Melania Trump made her earliest speaking appearances during Donald Trump's campaign. Donald called on her to address the crowd, and she only said a few sentences.

February 2016: Melania's Early Campaign Speaking Appearance

In February 2016, Melania Trump made one of her earliest speaking appearances during Donald Trump's campaign. Donald called on her to address the crowd, and she only said a few sentences.

April 2016: Melania's First Scheduled Speech During the Campaign

In April 2016, Melania Trump gave her first scheduled speech during Donald Trump's presidential campaign. This marked a significant moment in her involvement with the campaign.

July 18, 2016: Melania's Speech at the Republican National Convention

On July 18, 2016, Melania Trump gave a speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention, which sparked controversy after a paragraph was found to be plagiarized from Michelle Obama's 2008 Democratic National Convention speech. Melania said she wrote the speech herself with as little help as possible. Trump staff writer Meredith McIver took responsibility for the misunderstanding two days later. The speech also included details about her family in Slovenia and her early modeling career.

2016: Melania Convinces Donald to Run for President

In 2016, Melania Trump convinced Donald Trump to campaign for president. She made it clear that she would not be pressured into campaigning or attending events, and that she would only make appearances when she wanted to. Melania played a relatively small role in the campaign, citing the need to stay home with her son Barron. Her daily routine was altered by the campaign, and she became less active on social media.

2016: Unfavorable approval rating during election

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 1988 to have this distinction.

January 2017: Approval rating before becoming first lady

In January 2017, leading up to becoming First Lady, Melania Trump's approval rating stood at 36 or 37%.

March 8, 2017: Melania Hosts International Women's Day Luncheon

On March 8, 2017, Melania Trump hosted her first White House event, a luncheon for International Women's Day. She spoke to an audience of women about her life as a female immigrant and about working towards gender equality both domestically and abroad, noting the role of education as a tool against gender inequality.

2017: First Term as First Lady

In 2017, Melania Trump first became the First Lady of the United States, serving alongside her husband, President Donald Trump.

2017: Melania Licenses Photos Through Getty Images

In 2017, to protect use of her image and maintain an income, Melania Trump licensed photos from her photoshoots through Getty Images. She received royalties for each use. The Office of Government Ethics reported that she made $100,000 to $1,000,000 in royalties.

April 2018: Increase in approval rating

In April 2018, Melania Trump's approval rating increased to 57% in a CNN poll, after she received public sympathy amid allegations of her husband's adultery.

May 7, 2018: Be Best Campaign Launch

On May 7, 2018, Melania Trump held a press conference to announce her 'Be Best' awareness campaign, aimed at supporting children's welfare, advocating against cyberbullying, and preventing opioid abuse.

October 2018: Africa Tour and Criticism

In October 2018, Melania Trump toured Africa, visiting Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, and Egypt, focusing on children's welfare and touting USAID's relief work. She faced criticism for her fashion choices and responded by saying she was "the most bullied person in the world".

2019: Appearances at the Kennedy Center

In 2019, Melania Trump, as the honorary chair of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, made her first appearances at the Kennedy Center due to political tension with the arts communities.

April 2020: Staff Reorganization

In April 2020, Melania Trump reorganized her staff, appointing Marcia Lee Kelly as her senior advisor and Emma Doyle as her policy advisor, and becoming an active campaigner for her husband.

2020: Public association with the role of first lady

By 2020, Melania Trump had become more publicly associated with the role of first lady, which contrasted with her earlier efforts to protect her privacy.

2021: Finished tenure as least popular first lady

In 2021, Melania Trump finished her tenure as the least popular first lady since polling began, with a 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.

July 2024: More Visible in July 2024

In July 2024, Melania became more visible after the attempted assassination of her husband and appeared at the 2024 Republican National Convention, though she declined to speak. She also announced her intention to publish a memoir, titled 'Melania'.

December 2024: Filming Started for Documentary

In December 2024, filming started for an upcoming documentary film on Melania, directed by Brett Ratner, who is also an executive producer.

2024: Defense of Nude Modeling

In September of 2024, Melania posted on X that she stood 'proudly behind [her] nude modeling work'

2024: Equivalent Value of Earnings

Melania accepted ten modeling jobs that earned her approximately $20,000, which is equivalent to $40,000 in 2024.

January 2025: Documentary Film and Cryptocurrency Launch

In January 2025, Amazon MGM Studios announced that it had licensed an upcoming documentary film on Melania, and she launched her own cryptocurrency, the $Melania coin.

January 20, 2025: Second Tenure as First Lady

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.

March 3, 2025: 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'.

April 2025: Honoring Recipients at the International Women of Courage Awards and Reopened Tours of White House Gardens

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