Melania Trump cheat sheet: Donald’s wife’s age, family, career and more

Melania Trump, the wife of US President Donald Trump, will accompany her husband on his first UK state visit next week.

The First Lady will take part in a number of engagements in the UK, including having lunch with the Queen at Buckingham Palace and tea with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House.

Ahead of her visit, brush up on your knowledge of Donald Trump’s third wife.

How old is Melania Trump?

Melania Trump is 49 years old, born on 26 April 1970.

Where was Melania Trump born and who are her parents?

She was born in Novo Mesto, Slovenia – which, in 1970, was part of Yugoslavia.

Her parents are Viktor Knavs, a now-retired car and motorcycle dealer, and Amalija Knavs, who formerly worked as a pattern maker at a children’s clothing brand.

Melania also has an older sister, named Ines, who works as an artist.

READ MORE: 6 little known facts about Melania Trump

She was born Melanija Knavs, which she later changed to Melania Knauss when she began her modelling career.

When did Melania Trump meet Donald?

Melania Trump met Donald at a party at the Kit Kat Club in New York in 1998.

Donald was there with another date – reportedly Celina Midelfart, a Norwegian heiress.

READ MORE: White House releases 'strange' birthday photo of Melania Trump

Recalling their first meeting, Melania told Harper’s Bazaar: “He wanted my number, but he was with a date, so of course I didn't give it to him. I said, 'I am not giving you my number; you give me yours, and I will call you.”

What did Melania Trump do before becoming First Lady?

Melania was a model when she met Donald Trump in 1998.

Her modelling career began in her home country of Slovenia when she was five years old, before she started posing for Slovenian fashion photographer Stane Jerko at the age of 16.

Click through to see the best looks from Melania Trump’s working wardrobe:

She attended the University of ljubljana in Slovenia for a year to study architecture and design, before dropping out.

In 1996, she moved to Manhattan to pursue her modelling career after being scouted by Metropolitan Models co-owner Paolo Zampoli.

She continued modelling while she was dating Donald, doing shoots for Vogue, Vanity Fair and Sports Illustrated, among others.

She has also supported her husband throughout his presidential campaigns; both his campaign for Reform Part presidential nomination in 2000 and his successful 2016 presidential campaign.

What does Melania Trump do now she’s First Lady?

As First Lady of the United States, Melania hosts a number of White House events including luncheons and state dinners.

She conducted a solo, four-country tour of Africa in 2018, without Donald.

She also accompanied Donald on his visit to the UK last year, and will accompany him on his state visit next week.

On 7 May 2018, she formally launched the Be Best campaign, which advocates against cyberbullying and drug use in young people.

While Melania has taken her First Lady role in her stride, biographer Micharl Wolff claimed in his book ‘Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House’ that she was not always so thrilled about coming into office.

“Melania was in tears—and not of joy,” he wrote of the First Lady’s reaction on election night.

How many children does Melania Trump have?

Melania has one child, Barron Trump, 13, whom she nicknamed “Little Donald” when he was younger.

Talking to Parenting.com, Melania said: “He is a very strong-minded, very special, smart boy. He is independent and opinionated and knows exactly what he wants. Sometimes I call him ‘Little Donald.’”