Melania Trump’s closest buddy isn’t a celebrity—yet you probably recognize her
Melania Trump's reputation spans the globe. This happens because she married Donald Trump, who serves as President of the United States and works as a business billionaire. The world watches her private life with interest. Yet she chooses to stay away from public attention, just like her son Baron and her elder sister Ines Knauss. Ines stays close to the former First Lady.
The two sisters shared a strong bond during childhood. This connection remains unchanged today.
Both sisters came into this world in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. They spent their childhood in the small railway town of Sevnica. Their parents, Viktor and Amalija, gave them a good life. Viktor worked as a car mechanic and driver. Amalija worked as a pattern-maker at a garment factory.
Melania Trump spoke about her upbringing: "I grew up with a beautiful family and had a wonderful childhood. My mother and father taught us the importance of education, hard work and family."
Viktor and Amalija brought their daughters on trips to France, Italy, and Germany. The family now lives in the United States. They keep their home in Slovenia and visit it multiple times each year.
The two sisters always dressed perfectly. Their mother spent many hours creating and making clothes for them. Later, Melania created the clothes her mother sewed for her.
Tomšič, who runs a local hospital, described Melania to GQ in 2016. Melania gave $25,000 to this hospital after her marriage to Donald Trump. "She was very pretty," Tomšič said. "She was always very fancy."
Fashion photographer Stane Jerko discovered Melania at age 16. He spotted her leaning on a fence as she left a fashion show at the Festival Hall.
Jerko remembered the moment: "By the staircase at the entrance, I saw this girl. She was tall, slim, with long hair. I told her who I was, what I did, and why I would photograph her."
In 1987, young Melania made a choice. She left the University of Ljubljana and focused on modeling instead. Within one year, she secured a contract with a modeling agency in Milan.
Melania arrived in Milan with clear goals. She wanted to build her reputation and chose to go home after work rather than party.
"She kept to herself, she was a loner. After a shoot or a catwalk, she went home, not out. She didn't want to waste time partying," Jerko explained.
Melania did not start this journey alone. Her sister Ines joined her, seeking a career in fashion as a designer.
Paris-based photographer Ale de Basseville worked with both sisters. He took nude photos of Melania for a French magazine. He told the New York Post about Ines: "She really wanted to be in fashion but didn't know how to break in. Ines wasn't like the other girls you would meet there, who behave like queens. She was really polite and very mellow."
Paolo Zampolli, a famous Italian businessman, helped Melania obtain a work visa to the United States. Her sister accompanied her during this process.
Edit Molnar, one of Melania's friends, described the night when Donald asked for Melania's phone number. She refused to give it because he came with another woman.
"Melania said, 'He's here with a woman. I am absolutely not giving him my number,'" Molnar told New York Post. "She wouldn't even consider it. Donald did all the work."
Melania also described her first meeting with Donald Trump.
"He wanted my number," she told Tatler. "But he was on a date, so of course I didn't give it to him. I said, 'I am not giving you my number; give me yours and I will call you.' If I give him my number, I'm just one of the women he calls."
People magazine reported that Ines served as her sister's maid-of-honor at her wedding to Donald Trump.
Ines lives in a Trump-owned apartment. The building sits on the Upper East Side. Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump also lived there before they moved to their new home. Her apartment sits just four blocks away from her sister's triplex penthouse at Trump Tower.
Palm Beach philanthropist Audrey Gruss met Ines at a Boys' Club of New York fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago in 2005. She described Ines as "a lovely person, and extremely creative." Gruss added that the two sisters maintain an extremely close relationship.
Ines works as an artist. Melania has shared illustrations created by her sister on social media in the past.
Milan-based fashion designer Luisa Beccaria spoke to The Post about the sisters' relationship. She said the two sisters act like best friends. When Barron was born, Melania relied on her sister most. "Melania had all the professional help she needed at that point," he said. "But it was her sister she trusted."
