Melania Trump Looked So Different When She First Began Dating Donald

Donald Trump and Melania Trump (née Knauss) first met in 1998 in New York City, and Melania looked so different in these early shots of them out on the town. Melania's had a notable hair transformation over the years, and she was a dark brunette back when she and Donald first got together. Now, she goes for a warmer, lighter balayage effect. She also dressed much more daringly back then, opting for plunging necklines, sleeveless dresses, and fitted looks. Now, she's far more conservative in her clothing choices. Her eyebrows were thinner; plus, she actually looked happy. 

The two met when a former modeling agent, Paolo Zampolli, invited Melania to a New York Fashion Week party, and Donald was there. Of course, he wasn't there alone, and that became a big part of their early relationship. "He wanted my number, but he was with a date, so of course I didn't give it to him," Melania told Harper's Bazaar in 2016. "I said, 'I am not giving you my number; you give me yours, and I will call you.' I wanted to see what kind of number he would give me — if it was a business number, 'What is this? I'm not doing business with you.'" It turns out that Donald gave her every phone number he had, and so judging from their decades-long marriage, things went well for the two.

Throwback photos of Melania Trump show us what a supermodel stunner she's always been. She's still gorgeous, but her style and affect has definitely changed. Gone are the carefree dates that she and Donald Trump used to go on when they were newly dating. It's not like they were unknown or unbothered by paparazzi; their relationship has always been marked by public interest — or public censure. To be sure, there are red flags in Donald and Melania's marriage, but they've evolved together, and there's something to be said for that.

But Melania's life significantly changed when Donald decided to enter the political sphere. The public interest came with a shaper edge of criticism, and her much more covered-up fashion makes it seem like she wishes to shield herself from the public gaze. What a marked difference from the early days of their dating, where Melania was all smiles, laughing for the cameras. Sure, there are other changes, too. The lighter hair, the austere — though very expensive — wardrobe, the mature makeup. But the biggest shift is Melania's attitude, as it's hard to imagine her looking this happy now.