sevnica slovenia melania trump succeed michelle obama first lady may trace road white house back 1987 chance encounter capital native slovenia leave fashion show ljubljana saw front build probably wait friend say slovenian photographer stane jerko tall slim catch eye approach suggest come trial photo shoot jerko say result black-and-white picture 17-year-old know melanija knavs round face bare feet hair ponytail launch career would take milan unite state meet donald trump party new york 1998. though quite tale rag riches lifestyle lead third wife billionaire businessman far cry root slovenia tiny former yugoslav republic million people comparable size new jersey nestle julian alps italy croatia austria hungary residents small town sevnica southeastern slovenia melania grow bank river sava say father sell car part mother work factory make children clothe often see sew late even home media report say father member rule communist party like many people socialist yugoslavia reuters could independently confirm trump campaign team offer reuters different account childhood career say melania begin model age five mother fashion designer father manager car company father never member communist party spokesperson say since take gild escalator husband fifth avenue trump tower skyscraper june last year announce decision run president melania adopt low profile campaign republican party nomination appear rally trump occasionally bring children instead though rarely fail mention saw marry notice number similarities donald trump melanija father say mirjana jelancic say childhood friend melania similar feature behaviour hard workers think meet soul mate someone feel safe with knavs family live apartment block move melania teenager modest two-storey house sava outskirts sevnica well-maintained medieval castle sit hill overlook town 4,500 people melania parent still live house small garden fruit tree though spend lot time unite state melania sister ines also live house empty reuters reporters visit repeat phone call go unanswered jelancic recall melania model student keen arts geography history love read always carry book say jelancic also remember wall bar home train regularly keep body shape melanija like beautiful clothe know wear say jelancic headmistress melania former elementary school like give personal touch redesign good upgrade old things clear would work fashion though never say want model remember tell wait go ljubljana attend high school design wish see world ljubljana discover begin model full-time come second place 1992 national beauty pageant year slovenia declare independence yugoslavia fight ten-day war strike alone shy first learn quickly show great interest every detail shoot say jerko like sleep chrysalis transform glamorous butterfly gush future mrs trump look back change name easily pronounceable melania knauss one sevnica speak reuters recall see recent years however donate ambulance local health clinic celebrate birth son barron 2006 year marry trump 24 years senior speculate town might receive another donation publicity trump win presidency reuters speak would draw politics stridently anti-immigration jerko youthful 78 years-old short grey hair beard still keep file melania picture measurements sure would happy husband become u.s. president think proud achievements believe something today river town slovenia trump tower white house