Growing Up in Sevnica
Born Melanija Knavs on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, she grew up in Sevnica, Yugoslavia. The town, lined with factory chimneys and concrete apartment blocks, stood far from the world she would later enter.
Melania lived in one of those blocks, next to the bright primary school she attended. Her father, Viktor Knavs, worked as a car dealer and once drove for a mayor and a textile factory director. Her mother, Amalija, created patterns for a children’s clothing company.
Donald Trump attends the New York Knicks game with Melania Trump on March 12, 1999 | Source: Getty Images
Quiet, Polite, and Driven
Classmates described Melania as polite, disciplined, and focused. Her friend and future headmistress, Mirjana Jelancic, recalled her as an “excellent student” with “very decent manners.” She rarely raised her voice or used harsh words.
Even then, Melania gravitated