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.
4. Ivanka Trump
Ivanka Trump had a full modeling era long before she pivoted to politics, power suits, and pastel coats. If you are only familiar with her White House wardrobe, please prepare yourself. At a 1999 Thierry Mugler show, young Ivanka hit the runway with radioactive green eyeshadow, bleached brows, and hair that looked like it had its own gravitational pull.
Was it fashion? Was it performance art? Who knows — but it definitely wasn’t your typical summer job at your dad’s company. Say what you want about her modeling days, but Ivanka was putting in the work — and rocking some seriously big hair while she was at it.
5. Tiffany Trump
Long before her White House engagement and fancy Mar-a-Lago wedding, Tiffany Trump was just a little kid twirling around at a grown-up party — in pink loungewear, no less. In one sweet photo, she’s dancing with her dad, curls bouncing, looking like a tiny “bedtime Barbie.” Honestly, she totally stole the spotlight.
The contrast between this adorable moment and her later debut in full glam, including that shimmering Elie Saab wedding gown, is proof that even Trump women have to grow into their rhinestone stilettos.
6. Eric Trump and Lara
Before she became an RNC figure and headline regular, Lara Trump (née Yunaska) had had more of a laid-back, girl-next-door vibe. In a 2002 New Year’s Eve photo, Lara is all sharp cheekbones and subtle makeup — totally different from the super-polished look she rocks today.
Speculation around cosmetic tweaks aside, this throwback proves one thing: Lara didn’t just marry into the Trump family, she evolved to match the aesthetic like a true shapeshifter.
7. Don Jr. and Vanessa
Before Trump Tower proposals and tabloid divorces, Donald Trump Jr. proposed to Vanessa Haydon with a massive diamond and a photo op. She had natural brunette locks, barely-there makeup, and a “cool-girl-who-just-went-to-French-class” vibe. Fast forward a decade, and she looks straight out of the Trump family mold — blonde, polished, and allegedly enhanced.
Even after divorcing Don Jr., Vanessa has kept the signature Trump glamour alive. Some habits are hard to break.
8. Kimberly Guilfoyle
You know Kimberly Guilfoyle now as a red-lipsticked firebrand in bold bodycon, but rewind to 2004 and you’ll find a very different woman. Speaking at the GLAAD Awards as San Francisco’s first lady (yep, she was married to Gavin Newsom), Kimberly looked buttoned-up, bespectacled, and downright scholarly in a blazer and updo.
From polished attorney to glam GOP powerhouse, her transformation could fuel its own reality show. But back then she looked more like a law professor than the woman shouting, “The best is yet to come!” into a mic.
Whether they were inspired by Ivana’s unapologetic glamour or shaped by the media glare of the Trump brand, one thing’s for sure — these transformations weren’t accidental. The evolution was calculated, committed, and probably came with a personal stylist on speed dial.
So the next time you see one of the Trump women looking camera-ready on the campaign trail, remember: she didn’t just wake up like this — she time-traveled through decades of fashion reinvention to get there.
