Melania Trump is reportedly very close to her older sister: Who is Ines Knauss?

In the shadow of the Trump large dynasty lives a woman that few people have known about until now: Ines Knauss, Melania Trump's older sister. The second election of Donald Trump has thrown every single person who is connected to him back into the spotlight, including his little-known in-laws.

So, who is Ines Knauss, the older sister of former top model Melania Trump?

Mourning for their mother Amalija Knauss

When Melania and Ines' mother Amalija Knauss, all eyes were on their family.

Amalija Knauss died on January 9 2024 at the age of 78. She was described by Melania as a 'beloved mother' and a 'strong woman with grace and dignity'. The memorial service, which brought the entire family together, also drew attention to the relationship between Melania and her sister Ines, who was little-known to the public and played a central role in the life of the former First Lady despite leading a reclusive life.

The sisters grew up in the small town of Sevnica in what was then Yugoslavia. Their parents, Amalija and Viktor, encouraged Melania's modelling career early on, but also recognized Ines' creative potential. While Melania made an international career as a model, Ines devoted herself to the creative side of the business.

The discreet sister

Perhaps Ines Knauss didn't quite make it to the top in the fashion industry because she was different from the rest. French photographer Ale de Basseville told the New York Post:

Ines wasn't like other girls in the industry who acted like queens. She was polite and friendly.

This down-to-earth attitude also characterized her relationship with her sister. While Melania Trump became famous as First Lady during Donald Trump's first term as US President, her sister Ines Knauss leads a life away from the media hype. She avoids the public eye. She neither took part in her brother-in-law Donald Trump's sometimes very turbulent election campaign nor did she ever comment on political issues. Nevertheless, the two sisters share an unbreakable bond.

A close and unbreakable bond

Ines Knauss is an artist who initially tried her hand in the fashion world - just like Melania. But while Melania made a career as a model, Ines devoted herself to the creative side of the business and worked as a designer. As a fashion designer, she tried to go her own way, but her career never really took off. Today, Ines Knauss lives in a $1.3 million loft in the Upper East Side of New York City, just a stone's throw away from the Trump Tower.

While she lives a rather discreet life, several media have reported on posts from what could be her Instagram and Facebook accounts. These accounts have pictures of Melania and her family, and of Barron when he was young.

It remains unverified whether the account really belongs to Ines Knauss.

This article has been adapted from Oh!MyMag DE.

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Sources used:

Newsweek: Who Is Ines Knauss? Melania Trump's Sister

Brigitte.de: Wow! Melania Trump and her big sister are so different

New York Post: Melania Trump has a close friend in NYC – her trusted sister