Melania Trump’s love of fashion — and her modeling career — stemmed in part from her mother, Amalia Knavs, who died this week at age 78.
In a 2016 speech at the Republican National Convention, Melania noted how her childhood in present-day Slovenia influenced her later career in the fashion industry.
“I was born in Slovenia, a small, beautiful and then communist country in Central Europe. My sister Ines, who is an amazing woman and friend, and I were raised by my wonderful parents. My elegant and hardworking mother Amalija introduced me to fashion and beauty.”
Melania Trump’s mother, Amalia Knavs, died at 78
Amalija was a longtime seamstress at a children’s clothing factory in Melania’s hometown of Sevnica, Slovenia, who also sewed her daughters’ clothes when they were younger, according to The New York Times.
Betty Boyd Caroli’s 2019 book claims that it was Amalia who “laid the groundwork” for Melania’s interest in personal beauty — and signed Melania up for her first fashion show.
“[Amalija’s] neighbors noticed that she paid considerable attention to her own appearance, that she chose her clothes carefully and that she wore high heels when others sought the comfort of a flat flat,” wrote Caroli in First ladies. “When [her textile company] hired young girls as informal models for her latest children’s fashion, Amalija arranged for Melania to walk the runway.”
A photo taken in 1977 shows Melania, aged about 7, participating in one of those fashion shows. Less than a decade later, at the age of 16, Melania began her modeling career in earnest, which brought her to New York in the mid-90s.
Young Melania Trump (second from right) at a fashion show in 1977 at the Slovenian textile factory where her mother worked for 33 years.
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A source close to the Trump family previously told PEOPLE that Amalia — who became a U.S. citizen with her husband Viktor in 2018 — was very involved in the lives of her daughter and grandson Barron.
“[Amalija] she has a great relationship with Melania and Barron,” a source told PEOPLE. “They love her. She is selfless and takes care of her family. Melania has always been super good with her mom as well as Barron.”
Donald Trump says Melania’s mother is ‘very sick’ over her absence from the celebrations
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Barron Trump, President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and her mother Amalija Knavs.
Olivier Douliery/ Abaca Press (Sipa via AP Images)
The source added that Barron has become especially close to Amalia – especially since she and Viktor, 79, have lived in Mar-a-Lago, where the Trumps also live, in recent years.
“There were times when Barron was with his grandparents more than Melania, and a lot more than Donald,” the source said.
Melania Trump is ‘very protective’ of Barron and spends some time making friends at Mar-a-Lago: Sources
Melania announced her mother’s death on social media on Tuesday night. “It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother Amalija,” the former first lady wrote in a statement to xformerly known as Twitter.
“Amalija Knavs was a strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth and dignity. She was completely dedicated to her husband, daughters, grandson and son-in-law. We will miss her immensely and we will continue to respect and love her legacy,” the statement continued.
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