Resurfaced Photos of Melania Trump's Modeling Days Show the Early Dynamics of Her Relationship With Donald Trump

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Donald Trump’s relationship with now-wife Melania Trump is getting a fresh set of eyes in celebrity photographer Manny Hernandez’s new book, Candids Miami 2. The coffee-table publication, coming out on Nov. 18, shows just how shy the model was during her early years of dating the former president.

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Hernandez captured her in 1999 at a party for Ocean Drive magazine in Miami when she went by her maiden name, “Melania Knauss.” The then-29-year-old model was sitting on a couch in a rather protective position with her legs and arms crossed while holding a copy of the magazine. (See the photo HERE.) She’s wearing a black-lace slip dress and a silver cross around her neck, but her straightened auburn locks and dramatic makeup have that youthful glow that give no hint that she’s the future first lady.

“She wasn’t married to Donald Trump at the time, they were dating. Melania was fairly reserved, maybe because she didn’t speak much English and was much younger than Trump,” Hernandez told the Daily Mail. “But she loved her cover, that’s for sure.” The photographer was very familiar with Melania’s future husband because he was a fixture on the Miami scene during that era. “At the time he was the big mogul from New York. He would work the room and make his way into all the pictures. I don’t know if he chased fame or if fame chased him,” remarked the creative.

Buy Now 'Candids Miami' $23.97

The snapshot of Donald Trump that he included in his new book shows his famous scowl outside of Liquid nightclub in 1998. His usual uniform — a blue suit and crisp white shirt — is on full display, and nobody can miss the orange combover. It’s easy to see that early on in their relationship Donald Trump ruled the roost. With their very separate lives now, Melania may have found her voice because she no longer seems to be the meek young model sitting on a Miami couch anymore.

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