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

Donald Trump’s relationship with now-wifeMelania Trumpis 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 duringher early years of dating the former president.

Hernandez captured her in 1999 at a party forOcean Drivemagazine 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 photoHERE.) 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 thatshe’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 theDaily Mail. “Butshe 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.

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. Withtheir 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.