Ivana Trump: Who was she and when was she married to Donald Trump?

Donald Trump is now president for a second time but one key figure in his life who was not present at his inauguration was his first wife, Ivana – the former model having died in 2022. Born Ivana Zelníčková, the Czech designer was married to the US head of state from 1977 to 1993, helping him establish himself in New York’s upper circles and launch his property empire. The pair had three children together; Donald Jr, Eric and Ivanka Trump, who all paid tribute after her death.

“Our mother was an incredible woman – a force in business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty, and a caring mother and friend,” the joint tribute said. “Ivana Trump was a survivor. She fled from communism and embraced this country. She taught her children about grit and toughness, compassion and determination. “She will be dearly missed by her mother, her three children and ten grandchildren.”.

Mr Trump married Marla Maples after his first marriage ended and is now onto his third marriage with his current wife Melania, the first lady. Here is all you need to know about Ivana Trump. Ivana Trump was born Ivana Marie Zelníčková on February 20, 1949. She grew up in the former Czechoslovakia, which was under communist rule, before leaving in the 1970s. Ms Trump married her first husband, Alfred Winklmayr, in 1971, with whom she was married until 1973. She reportedly married Mr Winklmayr to obtain Austrian citizenship, so she could leave her communist home country.

Ms Trump reportedly met Mr Trump in New York City in 1976, when she was in the city for a fashion show. During a dinner with fellow models, Mr Trump approached the group and insisted on upgrading their table. “We made polite small talk, no funny stuff at all. He sensed correctly that flirting would not work with me and acted like a gentleman,” she wrote in her book Raising Trump. He went on to send her 100 roses, take her out for meals and call her every day for the next three months, and flew out to watch her in a catwalk show in Canada, according to the memoir.

After just a few months, she wrote that on New Year’s Eve, Donald told her: “If you don’t marry me, you’ll ruin your life.” She agreed to the engagement, and the pair went on to tie the knot in April 1977, at Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. She worked as a businesswoman, fashion designer, and model, as well as a senior executive in Mr Trump’s business empire, and was also a competitive skier.

Following her divorce from Mr Trump, she married Italian businessman Riccardo Mazzucchelli, from 1995 until 1997 and then Italian actor Rossano Rubicondi, from 2008 until 2009. Donald and Ivana Trump married in 1977 and divorced 15 years later in 1992. Together, they had three children: Donald Jr, Ivanka, and Eric. Ivanka Trump has said she was “heartbroken” following her mother’s death. She said: “Heartbroken by the passing of my mother. Mom was brilliant, charming, passionate and wickedly funny. She lived life to the fullest never forgoing an opportunity to laugh and dance. I will miss her forever and will keep her memory alive in our hearts always.”.

Aged 73, she died after suffering “blunt-impact injuries” to her torso in a fall down stairs at her New York City home, an examiner ruled. US media outlets reported that Ms Trump was found at the foot of her apartment’s staircase next to a spilled cup of coffee. Mr Trump announced her death on his platform Truth Social. Donald Trump married his first wife, Ivana, in 1977, before divorcing in 1992.

He then married actress and television personality Marla Maples, 58, in 1993, before they got divorced in 1999. Mr Trump and Ms Maples began their relationship while he was still married to his first wife, Ivana. Together, they had a daughter, Tiffany Trump, who was born in 1993. Mr Trump married his current wife, Melania Trump, 52, in 2005. They met in 1998 and began dating while Mr Trump was divorcing his second wife.