Before stepping into the role of First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump led a life cloaked in quiet mystery, marked by a few closely-held romances. Today, we shed some light on those hidden episodes of her past.

Born Melanija Knavs in the quaint Slovenian town of Sevnica, Melania’s path to global fame is anything but typical. Long before she wed Donald Trump in 2005, she consumed her days building a successful modeling career that took her beyond Vienna’s borders to mingle in Paris, Milan, and New York City.

Meeting Donald Trump

Melania first encountered Donald Trump in 1998 during a Fashion Week party at the Kit Kat Club in Manhattan. This event, organized by Italian businessman Paolo Zampolli, brought her face-to-face with the future president, sparking a connection that would shape her future.

Despite Trump’s arrival at the party with another date, he was immediately drawn to Melania and requested her phone number. However, Melania’s best friend, Edit Molnar, recalled that the idea of dating Trump was initially off-putting for her, resisting his advances due to his earlier companionship with another woman.

Molnar recounted to the New York Post, “Melania was quite firm, saying, ‘He’s here with a woman, so I’m not giving him my number.’ Melania was not swayed by Trump’s initial charm, leaving Trump to put in all the effort to win her over.”

Not Your Average Party-Goer

In contrast to many in the New York scene, Melania led a reclusive lifestyle. According to Zampolli, now a U.S. Ambassador for Global Partnerships, Melania hadn’t dated anyone in New York prior to Trump. He observed, “She spent her days watching movies solo or hitting the gym.”

Despite her appearance on a massive billboard in Times Square for Camel cigarettes, Melania kept to herself, embodying the antithesis of a typical party girl. Her marriage to Donald in January 2005 at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, marked the beginning of a new chapter as they welcomed their son Barron a year later in 2006.

A Teenage Romance?

Going back in time, a young man named Peter Butoln claimed to be Melania’s boyfriend during her school days in Slovenia. In an interview with Inside Edition, Butoln reflected, “She was my first real love.”

The pair is said to have met when Melania was 17 and moved to Ljubljana for design school. Butoln vividly remembered seeing her in the city center for the first time, finding himself enamored by her beauty among a sea of girls.

Their teenage romance came to an end when Butoln left for military service. The last he heard from her was through a postcard from 1987. However, Melania’s spokesperson later denied these claims, insisting Butoln was not an official boyfriend.

Another Slovenian Romance

Another chapter in Melania’s past included Jure Zorcic, whom she met in 1991. Zorcic fondly recounted their serendipitous meeting, remarking, “We met like in a movie. I was on a motorbike, saw her walking, and had to turn back for a second look.”

Over coffee, a connection blossomed, leading to several months of dating, even holidaying along the stunning Croatian coast. Yet, life took Melania to Milan and Paris for modeling, ending their time together.

Years later, they crossed paths in New York, where Zorcic was greeted by Melania in English. Zorcic humorously recalled asking if she had forgotten her Slovenian roots, to which she responded about her life between New York and Florida.

Reflecting on her marriage to Donald Trump, Zorcic acknowledged it as fate. “She has truly ascended, living at the height of luxury and fame at Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue,” he remarked.

From Slovenian Roots to the Pinnacle of Society

Once Melania met Trump in 1998, the trajectory of her life changed from relatively obscure modeling gigs to becoming a figure of public interest. While Donald Trump was already well-known, Melania handled the limelight their relationship cast with grace.

Even in early interviews, she didn’t hide her admiration for Trump as both a partner and prospective leader. “He’s incredibly intelligent and knows how to accomplish tasks. He’d make an outstanding leader,” she once told ABC News in 1999, exuding confidence.

Despite Trump only contemplating a presidential bid at that time, Melania saw potential, positioning herself as more than just