Before they were all over red carpets and campaign stages, the Trump women were just figuring things out — big hair, bold outfits, and all. These archival images reveal a side of the Trump women reminiscent of a classic soap opera, rather than a polished political press tour.
From Ivana’s pastel throne room to Ivanka’s gravity-defying hairdo, here’s a look at the Trump women before they fully leaned into the billionaire Barbie aesthetic we know today.
1. Ivana Trump
Back in the ’80s, Ivana Trump was basically the blueprint for Trump-style glam. Think icy-blond hair piled high, blazers with shoulder pads for days, and enough frosted lipstick to blind you, she gave “rich wife” a whole new meaning. But even fashion legends have humble beginnings — and this 1987 portrait at the Trumps’ Greenwich mansion proves it.
Posed on wicker furniture in a pink pantsuit while Donald sports what looks like a magician’s blazer in blue, Ivana appears at ease, radiant, and surprisingly relatable. Who knew the woman later known for cutting jabs at Marla Maples once embraced domestic coziness?
2. Marla Maples
Before she joined the Trump saga, Marla Maples looked more like a regular soap opera star than a pageant queen. Here she is in a simple white tank and yellow jacket, rocking her natural dirty-blond waves and minimal makeup — a far cry from the frozen-blond Trump signature look.
But post-wedding that hair turned platinum faster than you could say “Ivana 2.0.” Some say she was mimicking the original Mrs. Trump. Others say she just liked the high-maintenance aesthetic. Either way, Maples leaned into the Trumpian image — and never looked back.
3. Melania Trump
We tend to think of Melania Trump as perpetually chic, slightly icy, and allergic to PDA — but it wasn’t always that way. In a backstage moment from 1999, a pre-White House Melania is captured literally curtsying to Donald Trump, hand in his, eyes gazing upward like he’s European royalty.
Yep, Melania actually curtsied. It’s the kind of moment that feels like it needed background music and maybe a tiara. These days, she’s more likely to pull her hand away or sidestep a kiss — but back then, she was fully leaning into the fairy-tale vibe.
