Long before becoming the poised First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump’s life was shrouded in humble mystery, accented by a few discreet romances. Few, however, knew the hearts she captured along her journey. This narrative is about to change.

Hailing from the quaint Slovenian town of Sevnica, Melania’s path to becoming a globally recognized figure is nothing short of extraordinary. Her adventures began long before her 2005 marriage to Donald Trump, as she tirelessly pursued a modeling career that led her from the charming streets of Ljubljana to the bustling fashion hubs of Paris, Milan, and finally, New York City.

While Melania Met Donald Trump

It was 1998, a night gleaming with the allure of Fashion Week in Manhattan, at the famed Kit Kat Club. Hosted by Italian entrepreneur Paolo Zampolli, who had taken Melania under his wing at ID Model Management, this was the venue where she first encountered Donald Trump.

Though Donald attended with a date, he found himself entranced by Melania and sought her number. But, as her confidant, Edit Molnar, shared, the ever-prudent Melania was put off by Trump’s approach, dismissing any notion of dating him.

“He arrived with someone. There’s no way I’m giving him my number,” Molnar recounted Melania saying with conviction. “She wouldn’t have any of it; Donald did all the chasing,” Molnar explained, emphasizing Melania’s reserved nature.

Not the Party Type

Zampolli, who now holds the role of U.S. Ambassador for Global Partnerships, described Melania succinctly: “Donald was her first romance in New York. Evenings were often spent alone, watching movies, or at the gym.”

“Despite her billboard presence in Times Square, notably for Camel cigarettes, Melania was never the party type,” recalled Zampolli.

Fast forward to January 2005, and Melania would find herself walked down the aisle by Donald in an opulent wedding at Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach. In 2006, they welcomed their son, Barron.

Yet, preceding Donald, who managed to catch Melania’s eye?

The Tale of a Young Love

In her youth, a man named Peter Butoln claimed a part of Melania’s story, naming himself her teenage love during their school days in Slovenia.

“She was my first true sweetheart,” Butoln shared in an interview, recounting the impact of their encounter in Ljubljana when Melania was just 17.

“I spotted her amidst school friends, a striking beauty,” Butoln declared, but their time together waned as military service took him away, and their last connection was a simple postcard from Melania in 1987.

Despite his recollections, representatives clarified that Butoln had never been Melania’s formal boyfriend.

Her Last Slovenian Affair

Jure Zorcic enters the narrative in 1991. While navigating on his motorcycle, he noticed a mesmerizing Melania walking by.

“Like a scene from a movie,” Zorcic mused. “I turned back, intrigued, after our eyes met. Such beauty.”

Embarking on a romance that involved cherished times and travels along the Croatian coastline, Melania eventually departed Slovenia for career prospects in Milan and Paris.

“Meeting her was an unexpected marvel,” reflected Zorcic. “Unique in so many ways,” he confessed.

A chance rendezvous in New York years later saw Melania greeting Zorcic in English. “Surprised by her detachment from Slovenian roots,” Zorcic remembered asking, as Melania had settled between New York and Florida, with no plans to return.

Zorcic concluded that fate led Melania to marry Donald Trump. “No one foresaw her rise to stature in Trump Tower,” he pondered.

From Slovenian Origins to Fifth Avenue Elegance

Upon that pivotal 1998 meeting, Melania’s life redirected from fashion’s calmer circles to the vivid limelight.

Though Trump’s recognition as a high-profile entrepreneur preceded him, Melania faced their public relationship with composure. Her early interviews reflected a balance of admiration and ambition in their union, clarifying that she envisioned more in their relationship than mere appearances.

“A capable president,” she assuredly envisioned Trump in a 1999 interview, acknowledging his intellect and business acumen.

His then-rumored presidential aspirations resonated with Melania, unwavering in her belief of his leadership potential, eager to redefine her image—far beyond just being the pretty face at his side.