Yura admitted that he was surprised when she suddenly left Slovenia to pursue a career in modelling. She later lived in Paris and Milan, before moving to New York.
They met again in 2000. He recalled being surprised to hear her speaking English and asked if she had forgotten that she was Slovenian. In 2005, Melania married Donald.
“I think her marriage to Trump was fate,” said Jure. “Twenty years ago, nobody believed she’d be living on top of the world, on Fifth Avenue in Trump Tower – not even her!”
As well as Peter and Jure, Melania’s friend, the writer Stephanie, recounted in her book Melania and Me that the model had a boyfriend whilst living abroad — in Paris and Milan — but did not reveal any details. According to Stephanie, she also had a few casual dates.
Why her marriage to Donald Trump is working
Ultimately, Melania found in Donald the man she herself described as a suitable partner. According to Vladimira Tomšić, a woman who attended the same school and is close to Melania’s parents, the reason this marriage is holding up is linked to the First Lady’s upbringing.
In her view, Melania is the ideal wife for Donald, and the two of them make a well-suited couple who complement and support one another.
During one interview, Melania dismissed suggestions that she had been dating her then 53-year-old businessman boyfriend for money. She said that you cannot talk to beautiful things or hug them.
Melania also once joked that the secret to her long marriage to Donald was having separate bathrooms. She responded to her critics too: ‘They don’t know me,’ she said, describing Donald as a ‘very kind’ and ‘very charming’ man.
Melania recently accompanied her husband to his birthday celebrations
Melania’s husband marked his 80th birthday with a spectacle the likes of which had never before been held at the White House: a UFC mixed martial arts tournament, organised on the South Lawn on Sunday, 14 June 2026.
The temporary arena drew thousands of spectators, whilst even more people watched the action unfold on large screens nearby, at the Ellipse. The fighters competed inside an octagonal metal mesh cage beneath a structure known as ‘The Claw’ — a huge metal structure equipped with lighting, sound systems and screens.
Donald began the evening alongside UFC President Dana White. They walked from the Oval Office to the Blue Room balcony to view the octagon, and then stood as the national anthem was played, whilst fighter jets flew overhead.
The event was attended by many high-profile guests, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, with whom Donald had a brief chat during the fights.
Despite the summer heat, Donald wore a suit and tie and spent most of the time watching the bouts from ringside. Later, he donned a white ‘USA’ cap during the bout between Sean O’Malley and the Canadian Ayman Zahabi, and after his victory, Sean shook Donald’s hand and saluted him.
Melania was also by the President’s side at the event, and the pair could be seen chatting during the first bout between Diego López and Steve Garcia.
Melania’s journey from a small town in Slovenia to becoming the First Lady of the United States is a story of discipline, ambition and mystery. Much has been said about her past, but she has always remained private, allowing the world to see only glimpses of her true self.
She has consistently demonstrated composure and poise — qualities that continue to define her image to this day. She may be praised for her elegance or criticised for her silence, but Melania’s story remains one of quiet strength and strict control over how the world perceives her.