There have been many ups and downs in Ivanka Trump’s life, from rich kid to reality star to former senior advisor in her father’s (Donald Trump) administration. So how did this former tabloid kid become one of America’s most powerful women?
She was a prominent advisor to her father during his presidency and was often seen supporting him in his political endeavors. Along with being a judge on a reality show, The Apprentice, the eldest daughter of the 45th president of the United States, held the position of executive vice president at the Trump Organization.
But because of her well-known last name, the media focused a lot of attention on her debut. Sadly, Trump had to defend herself against a false report about her $10,000 catwalk rumors, which brought unwanted attention to her ego and greed.
Ivanka Trump’s Modeling Career Began With a Rocky Start
According to The List, Ivanka Trump, 42, made her official on-camera debut in 1996 for a Tommy Hilfiger jeans advertising campaign. Alongside other famous kids like Kidada Jones and Kimberly Stewart, she made her debut at the age of just fourteen.
Donald Trump’s second child’s modeling career owes a lot to the Trump name, which has gained popularity for numerous reasons. The former US president “had a longstanding, informal relationship” with Elite Model Management, according to a 1997 New York Times article. The latter is the prestigious modeling agency in New York, known for having helped other star kids, like Jenny McCarthy and Drew Barrymore, launch their careers.
Ivanka’s modeling debut caused a great deal of division in the community of modeling talent agents back then. Natasha Esch, the former president of Wilhelmina Modeling Agency at the time, told People in 1996:
“I do not think Ivanka would have started a career based solely on her looks.”
Alright, let us face it: people were attracted to her last name. NEXT Model Management co-founder Joel Wilkenfeld was one of the people who believed Ivanka Trump had “what it takes” to be a successful model. She made her runway debut in 1996, walking for Italian fashion designer Enrico Coveri.
However, it was also accompanied by rumors, one of which stated that she had demanded supermodel pay in the days leading up to her runway debut. This suggested that Trump was asking for $10,000 in exchange for walking the catwalk, according to The List.
Ivanka Trump Addressed Rumors Surrounding $10,000 Catwalk
Former fashion model and well-known businesswoman Ivanka Trump was once at the center of a controversy over her alleged desire to walk the catwalk for an astounding $10,000. A question regarding that report was posed to her while the Inside Edition segment (via YouTube) about her runway debut was being filmed.
She shot back, categorically denying that she was asking for a supermodel fee. Trump added that she did not model for financial gain at the time, but rather because she loved it. In an attempt to promptly squash these rumors, she admitted:
“I don’t need to model. My family has many and they can support me and I model because I love to model, and it’s something I enjoy doing. So, I don’t think it’s fair that they made me sound greedy about it and all. Because, I model because I love to model and that’s really all there is to it.”
She has always desired to become well-known independently of the Trump family. In a 2006 interview with Marie Claire, she stated:
“I love the name my father has given me, but I’m also Ivanka Trump as a person. I knew that for ‘Trump’ to be sustainable it couldn’t just be about my father. It has to be about us as a family in some broader context.”
Forbes featured her on its cover in 2013 and referred to her as “the emerging power behind the family empire”. Additionally, in 2007 and 2008, Trump was listed on Vanity Fair’s yearly International Best Dressed List. She also wrote books, such as Women Who Work: Rewriting the Rules for Success and The Trump Card: Playing to Win in Work and Life.
Well, her story defies prejudices and serves as motivation for women everywhere to follow their passions with courage.
