How Melania Trump has barely aged a day in over 20 years; as the former First Lady could be heading back to the White House: the skincare, diet and fitness routines that have preserved her famous model looks

As November's US election edges ever closer, with her husband now facing Kamala Harris after Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race, Melania Trump is firmly front and centre once more, after a few low-key years following the couple's White House exit. 

The 54-year Slovenian-American beauty, who was First Lady during Donald Trump's 2017-2021 presidency, looks every inch as model-esque as she did when her husband first starting taking his political ambitions to a new level 20 years ago. 

Melania, who grew up in Sevnica, Yugoslavia (now Slovenia), has been on glowing form recently as the election race hots up - showing off her age-defying looks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin earlier this week. 

In Milwaukee on July 18th, Melania looked ever inch the model Republican wife, with the 54-year-old donning a stylish double-breasted red skirt suit, manicure perfect nails and her highlighted hair suitably tousled 

Side-by-side with her husband and his grandson Tristan Trump, Melania looked comfortable back in the spotlight after enjoying a more low

In Republican red, Melania donned a smart business suit, with her highlighted flaxen locks flowing and her nails manicured to perfection.

Famous for keeping an often steely expression, the ex-model smiled widely during the appearance, showing off her flawless pearly whites. 

In 2016, Melania spoke out about her determination to age gracefully, firmly denying that she'd had any cosmetic enhancement. 

She said: 'I didn’t make any changes. A lot of people say I am using all the procedures for my face. I didn’t do anything. I live a healthy life, I take care of my skin and my body.'

She added passionately: 'I'm against Botox, I’m against injections; I think it’s damaging your face, damaging your nerves. It’s all me. I will age gracefully, as my mom does.'

Amish Patel, Award-Winning Aesthetics Practitioner, Skincare Expert at Intrigue Cosmetic Clinic told FEMAIL: 'If Melania has had any aesthetics or surgical work done over the years, it is very subtle and doesn't look out of context with her actual age. 

'She clearly looks after her skin, and I suggest, looking at her smooth complexion, that she has a good skincare routine embracing retinol and hyaluronic acid.' 

Here, FEMAIL rolls back the years to examine the beauty regime that has kept Mrs Trump looking as catwalk ready in 2023 as she was over two decades ago...  

2000

 How Melania looked nearly a quarter of a century ago in 2020, pictured at Fashion Week in New York when she was just 30 - and still known as Melania Knauss

The new millennium saw the US introduced to Melania's catwalk capabilities on a major scale, as her new romance, a certain Mr Trump, helped her land the cover of GQ in 2000. Where was she? Pictured reclining in his private jet of course.  

Her looks back then were just as they are now, razor-sharp cheek bones, glowing skin, with her makeup natural and her trademark blond bangs not yet in place. 

The year 2000 also saw Melania and Donald briefly split as the entrepreneur-turned-politician focused his efforts on his first steps towards the White House; he and Melania, who had met the colourful US TV star in 1998, were reconciled later that year. 

2001 

Melania Knauss and Donald Trump are now quite the couple on the New York party scene, with the model's fine bone structure and piercing blue eyes leaving the future President clearly smitten

The successful model, who was born in 1970, has taken care of her genetic blessings - beautiful bone structure, striking eyes and a perfect pout, carefully from the off. 

Petra Sedej, one of Melania's closest friends when she was a teenager in her native Slovenia, said the young model-in-the-making was always pristine, telling Tatler earlier this year that her friend always looked perfect, with 'mascara and everything' even when they were at school. 

2002 

In the early years of the their relationship, Melania opted for dark brunette locks and a neutral lip, with a shorter, choppier fringe than she's become known for 

While in 2003, Melania's hair may have been a little edgier - with a sharper fringe and a darker colour, and her makeup more neutral in tone, but Melania's trademark soft pout, which has now seen her through decades in the public eye, is already firmly in place by the early noughties.    

2003 

As Melania and her man get more serious, the pair are seen on the celebrity circuit, with the Slovenian American model being more playful with her looks in the early noughties

Perhaps Melania's boldest looks came in 2003, when she was yet to hone her much-loved, tousled locks and glowing makeup. 

By Donald Trump's side at the Playboy 50th anniversary party in 2003, she wore a more risque dress than she's come to favour as the years have gone on and a deep brunette colour on her hair. Intense eyes at the camera? Of course.  

2004 

A year before her wedding to Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach and Melania's trademark tousled blond locks, tanned skin and pristine teeth are in place

One year ahead of her wedding and Melania's high glamour look, including pearly white perfect teeth, tousled brunette locks with blond running through and glossed lips ensure she grabs as many headlines as her ever more politically ambitious husband. This look is one that is sticking around.  

 2005

At the Police Athletic League Women of the Year lunch in 2006, Melania, a newlywed, had toned down the blonde in her hair

The couple's nuptials were billed as akin to an 'American-royal wedding', with Palm Beach shutting down as the couple walked down the aisle.

The big day reaffirmed Melania's undying appreciation of impactful makeup for big occasions, something that she hasn't shrugged off as the decades have rolled by. 

Sally Singer, ex Vogue digital creative director, said in 2017 that Melania 'is wedded to a slightly old-fashioned idea of femininity, saying even Mario Testino could not get her to sit for a portrait with her makeup off.'

2006 

Just three months after the birth of Barron in 2006, Melania looked sensational at the afterparty for The Apprentice season finale in June that year

In 2006, Melania was blooming - in every way, after falling pregnant with the couple's only son, Barron Trump, at the age of 35. 

The model, who was determined to keep her newborn away from the spotlight, kept a low profile in the early years after her son's birth - but looked sensational when she did make an appearance that year - including at the afterparty of The Apprentice Season 5 finale, just three months after giving birth. 

2007 

A strong lip and striking eye shadow, with a simple pair of diamond earrings, saw Melania appear more glamorous the year after she gave birth to the couple's son

New mom Melania's love of brighter highlights and glamorous makeup was firmly back in place by 2007; Mrs Trump, showing her cordial relationship with another former Mrs Trump, attended the The Ivanka Trump Launch of her Fine Jewellery Collection on Madison Avenue in 2007.

Melania has said that following a healthy diet and attending Pilates classes regularly helped her get back in shape following Barron's birth. 

2008

Same earrings, different year: Melania has rarely wavered from her tried-and-tested look through the years; the former First Lady pictured in New York at the screening of Keira Knightley film The Duchess

By 2008, Melania was a firm fixture once again on the US celebrity circuit, looking elegant on red carpets and attending premieres. Her makeup style has been honed since her modelling days, with her go-to makeup artist Nicole Bryl creating the look that she would sport on Inauguration Day and continues to today.

Her trademark smoky eye is often the biggest statement in her look, with Bryl striving for a 'gentle, flawless glow' for her client to enhance her natural bone structure.

2009 

The smoky eye, full eyebrows and a more subtle lip colour in 2009; Melania pictured at a Broadway show in 2009

Melania has spoken out about her regime on frequent occasions with her flawless skin attributed to drinking lots of water, and eating fresh fruit and vegetables - it's rumoured the Slovenian beauty is partial to a Diet Coke or too though.

2010

Channeling Elle Macpherson? Melania's honey hair pictured as Mr and Mrs Trump attended a Skating with the Stars gala in New York

Melania in 2010, more than a decade after going public with her romance with one of the most famous men in the world, and Melania's glossy look has been honed to perfection, with Mrs Trump chanelling the supermodels she would have walked alongside in the 90s.

2011

A subtle change in makeup as Melania launched her own QVC clothing brand in 2011

Timeless: Melania, again in her favoured weighty diamond block earrings, sticks with what she knows, showcasing dewy skin and a golden glow

As the former model began to carve out her own career in fashion design, using the power of her husband's name, Melania launched a clothing range for QVC. A jewelry collection also followed. 

Melania has, say her friends who knew her early in her career, only ever been 'serious and focused' on being a success, with the then future First Lady not interested in the drug-fuelled parties that were the mainstay for catwalk stars at the time. 

2012 

A serious political wife: By 2012, Trump had made clear his intention to be president one day, and Melania's look evolved to be more stateswoman-like 

 By now in her early 40s, Melania in 2012 looks almost identical to how she did 12 years earlier when she began a familiar face on the US celebrity circuit. Keeping the same expression while in public, a soft pout, has ensured continuity in how she looks - something she stands by today.   

2013

Wearing her trademark middle parting with swooping bangs, Melania stayed true to her glowing makeup and brunette locks as she stepped even further into the spotlight  

By 2013, Melania's name was very much on the bill alongside her husband, with the couple hosting the Celebrity Apprentice All-Star Event With Donald and Melania Trump. Her neutral manicure and well-practised pose are already perfected.  

2014

Pictured at The New York Ball for the 20th Anniversary Benefit For The European School Of Economics at Trump Tower in 2014, the 

Experimentation with her hair came in 2014 as the soon-to-be First Lady opted for a dramatic side parting...but the earrings, the beautiful teeth, the slick of pink lip gloss and, yes the smoky eye, are all exactly as she likes them.  

 2015

Melania pictured at the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Celebration in New York in 2015

As Donald Trump became an ever more serious contender in the race to run the Free World, Melania became increasingly regal in her looks, donning diamond jewellery and elegant gowns.     

2016 

A year later, Melania's penchant for looking stirringly at the camera - this time with a particularly defined pair of eyebrows 

Back to the parting in the middle for the hair...and Melania's eyebrows are a little more defined by 2016, suggesting she's had microblading or a similar treatment to give a precise finish on the brows.    

2017

Channeling Jackie O: Melania Trump, then 46, looked every bit the First Lady at Donald Trump's inauguration in January 2017

Less than a month later, the First Lady had settled into her new role, with her famous bangs highlights framing her natural makeup

Donald Trump's inauguration as president in 2017 wasn't just a big day for him, it was also a major moment for Melania, who wore a chic Ralph Lauren ensemble. 

Her make-up artist Nicole Bryl revealed afterwards that the products used to enhance Melania's natural beauty came to around $901 (£760). 

The makeup artist later revealed that she'd used products including Face Lifting Water ($450) and Face Perfecting Serum ($225), adding in a 'delicate smokey eye for understated grandeur'. Along with the eye, she used Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil in Cruz and the brand's Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss in Lovechild on the lips.

Her hair? Melania's longtime hairstylist Mordechai Alvow revealed to Us Weekly that he decided to give the former model an updo because 'it was important to make sure her hair not interfere with the clean lines and monochrome color' of her Ralph Lauren ensemble. 

2018

2018 was a year of international visitors, and Melania began to tone down her highlights a little: pictured  during Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta's visit to Washington in August that year

By 2018, Melania Trump was into the swing of things as First Lady and had a stellar stylist to help perfect herlook in the shape of Herve Pierre Braillard. 

The French-American designer, who worked for Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta, originally designed Trump's ivory inaugural gown.

Maintaining her perfect skin has likely been made easier by her healthy diet too. The ex model has said in the past that she's a fan of 'organic energy-boosting smoothies' packed with skin-enhancing ingredients including 'banana, blueberries, ground flax seeds, liquid omega-3 and vitamin D'. 

 2019

Gentle tweaks? Melania at the 97th Annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in President's Park in December 2019

In more recent years, there have been perhaps some subtle signs of enhancement but nothing too invasive, says Amish Patel, Aesthetics Practitioner and Skincare Expert at Intrigue Cosmetic Clinic.

He explains: 'From recent images, we can't see any noticeable wrinkles on her forehead or extended lines around the eyes, which could suggest, perhaps, that she has had anti-wrinkle injections to soften these. 

'I can't see any noticeable changes to her face, although we would expect some volume loss to the cheeks and lips. However, good genes and bone structure also affect how youthful someone looks as they grow older.' 

2020 

Four years ago, pictured at the White House's unveiling of the Trump's Christmas tree; Melania's defined eyebrows and frosted pink lip - and the ever-present tan remain firmly in place

The then First Lady never looks nothing short of immaculate during her public appearances, testament to hard work, says Aesthetics Practitioner Patel. 

'Melania also clearly looks after herself, which is a significant factor in the ageing process. A healthy diet full of vitamins and antioxidants, drinking plenty of water, avoiding too much sugar or alcohol, and getting enough sleep play a role. 

'Melania is also said to enjoy pilates and tennis, which, as a combination of exercise, help destress and boost the blood flow to the skin - another tick in the anti-ageing beauty book.'

 2021

Introducing her husband on stage at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland in January 2021

Smokey eye? Check. Pearly lip? Check. Blonde bangs? Check. Bronzed cheekbones? Check! Melania in 2023 is Melania in 2000, with the former First Lady sticking resolutely to her preferred makeup and expression.

2022 

Heading back to the White House? In 2022, Trump pulled the trigger on his latest election campaign in November - with Melania by his side

2023

Melania arrives at Trump Towers in Manhattan on June 8th, 2023 in New York City

2024 

Fresh-faced at 54...Melania pictured at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last week

There have been more gear changes to Melania's hair over the decades than her makeup, says Patel.

'Melania has always dressed classically and elegantly throughout the years in the public eye. 

'As the years have passed, whilst her hairstyle might not have radically changed, she has gone lighter with more honey and golden hues, which are flattering on maturing skin. 

'As we age, our skin tone changes, so very dark hair can be harsher on the complexion. The classic haircut is timeless and soft on the face.'