Melania's early modelling photos spark internet fascination

Great euphoria swept through the Republicans when it emerged that their representative, Donald Trump, would return to the White House after four years. The world's eyes are now on the President-elect as he celebrates his success with those closest to him. Internet users' attention was particularly captured by a photo taken during a rally in Florida that showed the whole family but was missing the most important woman in his life.

Called to the forefront, Melania Trump will once again be in the media spotlight. For the businesswoman accustomed to the flash of cameras, it poses no challenge. Even during her teenage years, she mastered the art of posing for photos, successively developing her modelling career.

The American of Slovenian roots was noticed by photographer Stane Jerko at not quite 17 years old during a fashion show in Ljubljana. Interestingly, teenage Melania showed no interest in developing a career in this direction. She was there waiting for her friend, who was fascinated by work on the runways, unlike her.

It was January 1987 when I went home just before the end of the fashion show. On the stairs of the Festival Hall, I saw a girl that immediately caught my eye. There stood a tall, slender and attractive long-haired girl with distinct eyes - the photographer recalled their first meeting in an interview with "Today."

Melania Knauss, as she was known before marrying the future president, was reluctantly persuaded by Jerko to participate in a trial photoshoot. Despite initial shyness, she quickly adapted, surprising each time with increasing ease on set. As the photographer noted, she began to take an interest in fashion not only from a designer's perspective. She eagerly expanded her knowledge about contemporary hair and makeup trends and observed how to set lighting during sessions properly. Over time, modelling became her life passion, resulting in contracts with modelling agencies in Milan and Paris in later years.

Photos from that memorable year of 1987, which was a genuine breakthrough for her, have now found a second life on TikTok. Many commentators found it particularly hard to recognise Melania in archival frames.

I would never have recognised her; A completely different person; She looked completely different; No way, that's not her - incredulous internet users said.

Platform users compared her resemblance to, among others, Madonna in her early career days, singer Björk, and even... a young Joaquin Phoenix. Additionally, there are opinions that the 54-year-old woman now looks much better than during her teenage years.

Check out the TikTok where you can admire old photos of Melania.