Melanija Knavs was born on April 26, 1970, in Sevnica, a small town in Slovenia, then part of Yugoslavia. From a young age, Melanija harbored big dreams and an ambition that stretched far beyond her humble beginnings. At 16, she embarked on a career in fashion modeling, her striking features and poise quickly setting her apart in the local, In her late teens, Melanija decided to broaden her horizons. She changed the spelling of her name to Melania Knauss, a move that symbolized her ambitions for a broader career. Melania left Slovenia for the fashion capitals of Milan and Paris, where she sought to establish herself in the highly competitive modeling industry. Her persistence paid off when she met Paolo Zampolli, a talent scout who recognized her potential and offered to sponsor her immigration to the United States in 1996.