Ivana Marie Trump, born Ivana Marie Zelní?ková on February 20, 1949, in Zlín, Czechoslovakia, was a Czech-American businesswoman, socialite, and model who became one of the most recognizable figures in New York society during the 1980s. She first gained international attention not merely as the wife of real estate mogul Donald Trump, but as a formidable business executive in her own right, holding key managerial positions within the Trump Organization. Her journey from a small European town to the pinnacle of American glamour and commerce made her a symbol of ambition and reinvention, and her legacy as a self-described "survivor" continued to influence her various entrepreneurial ventures long after her high-profile divorce.

Before her rise to fame in the United States, Ivana led a life marked by resilience and determination. An accomplished skier in her youth, she competed in national competitions in Czechoslovakia, which eventually led her to study physical education at Charles University in Prague. In the early 1970s, she emigrated to Canada, where she worked as a model and began building a new life away from the constraints of her home country. It was in New York City in 1976 that she met Donald Trump, and the two married in 1977. Settling into her role as a partner in his burgeoning empire, Ivana quickly proved indispensable, taking on the role of vice president of interior design for the Trump Organization. Her keen aesthetic sense and sharp business acumen were instrumental in the development of several high-profile properties, including the Grand Hyatt Hotel and Trump Tower, cementing her reputation as a hands-on executive rather than a mere figurehead.

Throughout the 1980s, Ivana and Donald were the quintessential power couple, dominating tabloids and society pages alike. Ivana's professional portfolio expanded significantly as she assumed the presidency and CEO position of Trump's Castle casino resort in Atlantic City, where she was credited with turning the struggling property into a profitable venture. She later managed the iconic Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, a role that showcased her flair for luxury hospitality and cemented her status as a leading businesswoman in a male-dominated industry. However, the couple's fairy-tale image shattered in 1990 when their divorce became one of the most sensationalized legal battles in American history, with Ivana's testimony and subsequent settlement of approximately $14 million in cash and property dominating headlines for months.

Following the divorce, Ivana reinvented herself as a brand, launching successful lines of clothing, fashion jewelry, and beauty products sold through QVC UK and the Home Shopping Network. She also became a published author, penning an advice column for Globe titled "Ask Ivana" from 1995 to 2010, alongside several books that included works of fiction, self-help, and her 2017 autobiography, Raising Trump, which offered an intimate look at her life and her three children. Her ability to transform personal adversity into commercial success made her a pioneering figure in the world of celebrity entrepreneurship. Ivana Trump passed away on July 14, 2022, at her home in New York City, leaving behind a complex legacy as a trailblazing businesswoman, a devoted mother, and an enduring pop-culture icon whose life story transcended the headlines.