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Naked photo of Melania Trump with another woman being sold on artist's website for staggering amount
A decades-old nude picture of Melania Trump posing with another female model has resurfaced online with a staggering price tag.
Long before becoming first lady, the 56-year-old worked internationally as a fashion model under her maiden name, Melania Knauss.
Melania's modeling career has attracted attention, particularly over risque images taken during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Among them is a photograph showing her posing with model Emma Eriksson, who is hugging her from behind. Both women appear naked in the image, with Melania's breasts visible.
Nude photograph listed for $32,000
The shoot dates to 1995, when Melania was 25. The images were featured in the now-defunct French men's magazine Max and resurfaced during President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
The photograph is now being offered through photographer Alexandre de Basseville's website for $32,000.
De Basseville, who photographed Melania during that period, previously said: "I always loved women together, because I have been with a lot of women who desired the ménage à trois."
His description accompanying the image reads: "From Antiquity to Renaissance women were considered like goddesses.
"Traveling my only vision to bring art and fascination through women in love to jump into a post expressionism."
"The bridge of unconscious immortal way of woman spirits to become one day reality. Eastern Europe girl’s coming from nowhere projecting to the international history’s passing over legendary Hollywood stars to become the First Lady," he added.
De Basseville has also recalled how Melania stood out from other models working at the time.
"She was not like a typical model that I was seeing every day at that time.
"My wife, Ines Rivera, at that time was like a supermodel for Victoria’s Secret," he said, per WWD.
"It was the time of Amber Valletta and Shalom Harlow. All these girls were living together on Christopher Street, near Sheridan Square and in TriBeCa."
He added: "She was not like a typical or regular woman, who you could meet - in the way she talks, the way she acts, the way she lives. She has been preparing for something. There was something in her that was different."
Melania defended her nude modeling work
In September 2024, Melania addressed criticism of her modeling career in a video posted to X while promoting her memoir, and made it clear she stands by her decision to pose nude.
"Why do I stand proudly behind my nude modeling work? The more pressing question is: Why has the media chosen to scrutinize my celebration of the human form in a fashion photo shoot?" she said. "Are we no longer able to appreciate the beauty of the human body?"
"Throughout history, master artists have revered the human shape, evoking profound emotions and admiration," she continued. "We should honor our bodies and embrace the timeless tradition of using art as a powerful means of self-expression."
The video showed a series of paintings and sculptures depicting the nude human form.
The first lady's modeling résumé included work with photographers including Patrick Demarchelier, Helmut Newton, Arthur Elgort, Ellen von Unwerth, Peter Arnell, Antoine Verglas, and Mario Testino.
Verglas, who worked with Melania around 12 times in 1996, remembered her as reserved but professional.
"I loved her beauty, stature and elegance. She was pretty reserved. She was not an extroverted person. We were never close, but we worked together a dozen times. She was always very professional and nice to the staff and the people on the team around us," he said.