Former first lady Melania Trump said she “stands proudly behind her nude modeling work,” in a video posted Wednesday on social media promoting her upcoming memoir.
The 45-second clip, posted on X (formerly Twitter), opens with a voice-over by Trump defending the modeling. She then asks, “Why has the media chosen to scrutinize my celebration of the human form in a fashion photo shoot?”
She continued, “Are we no longer able to appreciate the beauty of the human body?”
The video does not feature her modeling photos but instead shows well-known nude statues and artworks.
Getty Images/AFP
Trump had a modeling career dating back to her teen years. She was discovered by a Slovenian photographer at 16 and signed with a modeling agency in Milan a couple of years later.
She modeled in Paris and Milan for some years before moving to New York in 1996. Over the years, she has appeared on several major magazine covers, including posing nude for the cover of GQ in 2000.
“We should honor our bodies and embrace the timeless tradition of using art as a powerful means of self-expression,” Trump said in the video, which then cuts to an image of her forthcoming memoir, Melania. The video ends with a link to purchase the book.
The memoir, which Trump’s website says will include “stories and images never before shared with the public,” is scheduled to be released October 8. It will cover important childhood moments, meeting Donald Trump and her time as first lady.
Newsweek submitted an online contact form to the memoir’s publisher, Skyhorse Publishing, seeking comment.
Trump was born and raised in Slovenia. She started dating the former president in 1998, and they were married in 2005. The following year, she became a naturalized American citizen.
She has been more active on social media recently, largely in connection with the memoir.
Four days ago, Trump posted a different video promoting her memoir that called out the FBI for its 2022 raid on the Trumps’ Mar-a-Lago estate in connection with classified documents her husband possessed.
“I never imagined my privacy would be invaded by the government here in America,” the former first lady said. “The FBI raided my home in Florida and searched through my personal belongings. This is not just my story, it serves as a warning to all Americans, a reminder that our freedom and rights must be respected.”
She previously shared a video discussing the failed assassination attempt on her husband during a Pennsylvania campaign rally in July, urging viewers to “uncover the truth.” The clip ended with the release date of her book.
Updated 9/18/24, 1:24 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional context and information. The headline was updated for clarity.
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