The news of Ivana Trump's death shocked the world on July 14, 2022. Ivana was the first wife of former President of the United States, Donald Trump, but more than that she was a strong and inspiring woman. Her daughter Ivanka said of her mother that "there was nothing she couldn’t do in heels". This is a tribute to Ivana Trump...

Ivana Trump was born Ivana Marie Zelnickova on February 20, 1949, in communist Czechoslovakia.

From a very young age, Ivana demonstrated a talent for skiing, a skill that allowed her to join the Czechoslovakian ski team for the Munich Olympics in 1972 as an alternate. In those years she obtained a master's degree in physical education from Charles University in Prague, reaffirming her passion for sports.

The skier always had intentions of leaving her hometown, and although she had many opportunities when she traveled to sports competitions, it was not until she married her childhood friend, Alfred Winklmayr, of Austrian origin, that she was able to leave her country. Their relationship, more than love, was a deal to help Ivana fulfil her dreams outside Czechoslovakia and without the reprimands of the communist government of those years.

After a year of marriage and a decision to separate from Winklmayr, Ivana migrated to Canada in 1975, where she initially worked as a ski instructor. She later began her career as a model for some of the major companies located in Montreal.

During the time Ivana lived in Canada, she also began a relationship with George Syrovatka, a ski store manager whom she would later marry. However, their marriage was a brief one, as they were husband and wife for less than a year, as the skier moved to New York City to pursue her show business career.

It was in the United States where Ivana met one of the most prominent tycoons, Donald Trump, who became fascinated by the model's beauty, tenacity and determination. Nine months after their first meeting, they walked down the aisle. It is said that Trump was able to expand his businesses thanks to the combination of his shrewdness with Ivana’s skills in terms of public relations.

Ivana and Donald had three children together; Donald Jr, Ivanka and Eric. During their marriage they formed one of the most powerful couples in the United States, until he committed an infidelity with model and aspiring actress Marla Maples. Within two months of discovering the truth, Ivana filed for divorce and took the reins of the separation, accused Donald of having given her "cruel and inhuman" treatment and demanded a $25 million settlement, of which she wanted $10 million in cash.

More than annoyance or anger over Donald Trump's infidelity, Ivana took advantage of her separation to exploit her talents in every way. She wrote several books and novels, created a fashion empire, and became an inspiration to many women. The businesswoman built a great connection with the women of her time, encouraging them to take divorces and separations with humor, with her now-famous quote: "Remember girls don’t get mad at them, take everything away from them."

Ivana was one of the most recognized businesswomen in the United States. After her divorce from Donald Trump, she founded several profitable companies of her own such as Ivana Haute Couture and Ivana Inc., specialized in selling beauty products, clothing and jewelry through television channels. She also created the perfume and fashion company, House of Ivana.

What about Ivana’s love-interests apart from Donald? The businesswoman found love more than once. In 1995, she married Riccardo Mazzucchelli, but they divorced only two years later, when she accused him of having broken the confidentiality clause of their prenuptial agreement. Then we have Rossano Rubicondi, 24 years her junior, to whom she said "I do" to in April 2008, in a luxurious ceremony at Mar-a-Lago. Although they divorced a few years later, they continued an on-and-off relationship until he died in 2021 at the age of 49.