Ivana Trump has passed away at the age of 73.
As reported by ABC News, the Trump family released a statement announcing the sad news of Ivana's passing, describing her "an incredible woman -- a force in business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty, and caring mother and friend."
The statement continued: "Ivana Trump was a survivor. She fled from communism and embraced this country. She taught her children about grit and toughness, compassion and determination.
"She will be dearly missed by her mother, her three children, and ten grandchildren."
Although no cause of death has officially been announced, the FDNY says that Manhattan paramedics responded to a call at an Upper East Side apartment where Ivana Trump lived just after 12:30PM on Thursday (July 14). It has been reported that responders found a 73-year-old woman suffering from cardiac arrest.
Many will remember Ivana as the first wife of former United States president Donald Trump. The pair were married between 1977 and divorced in 1992. The couple share three children - Donald Trump Jr., 44, Ivanka Trump, 40, and Eric Trump, 38.
In a statement posted to his social media platform Truth Social, former POTUS Donald Trump remembered his late wife as a "wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great and inspirational life".
The former president added: "Her pride and joy were her three children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. She was so proud of them, as we were all so proud of her."
Born Ivana Marie Zelníčková on February 20, 1949, she was raised under communist rule in the former Czechoslovakia.
In 1971, Ivana married Alfred Winklmayr - an Austrian ski instructor and her platonic friend - as a means of obtaining Austrian citizenship. The marriage would mean she would not be seen as a defector, and could still return to Communist Czechoslovakia to visit her parents.
Following their divorce, Ivana would move to Canada, where she would eventually become a model.
The career move led her to meet future husband Donald Trump in New York City with a group of models.
She worked for years in Trump's business empire, first as vice president of interior design, and later as president of the Trump’s Castle casino resort in Atlantic City.
A successful businesswoman in her own right, she also created her own clothing line and authored multiple bestselling books.
As well as Alfred Winklmayr and Donald Trump, Ivana was also married to Italian entrepreneur and businessman Riccardo Mazzucchelli from 1995-1997, and to Italian actor and model Rossano Rubicondi, whom she was married to from 2008-2009. However, following their divorce, Trump and Rubicondi continued an on-and-off-again relationship up until 2019. Rubicondi died two years later.
In later life, Ivana made several appearances on popular reality TV shows, including the UK version of Celebrity Big Brother and Italy's version of Dancing With the Stars.
Our thoughts are with Ivana's family, friends, and fans at this time.
