A native of the Czech Republic, Ivana Trump was educated in public schools and received a master's degree in physical education from Charles University in Prague, where she went on to become a member of the National Czech Republic Ski Team. Ivana immigrated to Canada in 972 and worked for many years as a fashion model before moving to the United States.
From May 1987 until September 1991, Ivana served as president of The Plaza Hotel in New York, one of the world's finest luxury hotels, directing a staff of more than 1,400 employees and overseeing a major renovation project. Ivana was chosen by her peers as "Hotelier of the Year" for her work at The Plaza and was featured in WHERE Magazine and other publications in recognition of her accomplishments within the industry. Under her leadership, The Plaza was recognized as the seventh best luxury hotel in the world, and the best luxury hotel in the USA Ivana was also CEO of The Trump Castle Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City from 1985 to 1987, managing a staff of 4,500. Under her leadership, The Trump Castle became one of the most profitable casinos in the world.
September of 1991 saw Ivana opening up the doors of Ivana Inc., the springboard for her future entrepreneurial success. In February 1993, Ivana signed a contract to present an exclusive line of fashion and jewelry on the Home Shopping Network. She debuted her spring collection in April 1993 and almost immediately sold out the entire line, with sales figures topping all Home Shopping charts. Ivana continues to make monthly appearances on the Canadian Shopping Channel with her fragrance, cosmetics, body care, skin care, hair care, jewelry and accessories under her company name, "House of Ivana." Her products now appear on the Internet at www.ivanaworld.com. Her worldwide recognition has resulted in numerous licensing arrangements for her entire "House of Ivana" collection. Ivana's fame and celebrity has led her to her affiliation with the Fifth Avenue Channel, a network consisting of high-end retailers. The House of Ivana product line, and the list of countries that now show it, continues to grow and expand.
Not satisfied with "just being" a businesswoman, wife, mother and entrepreneur, Ivana has found time to appear in many TV commercials, She has appeared on behalf of The Comfort Inn Hotels, and for a humorous Pizza Hut commercial, she joined her ex-husband Donald Trump to nibble on crusted pizza. She also has been licking her fingers while eating Kentucky Fried Chicken and enjoying sandwiches at Arby's. She also made several cameo appearances in movies, including an appearance in the 1996 box office smash "The First Wives Club."
Ivana also has authored three books. "For Love Alone," her first novel, was published in hardcover by Pocket Books in April 1992, and was featured as a "CBS Movie of the Week" in Spring of 1996. For Love Alone was also named on The New York Times Best Seller list. Ivana's second novel, Free To Love, was published in October 1993 and returns to the world of the super-rich, old and new money, ill-gotten and hard-won. The response to For Love Alone and Free To Love was so powerful and personal that Ivana decided to do a non-fiction, motivational, women's advice guide. The Best Is Yet To Come offers advice to the thousands of women who have asked for her help through the years. This book led to Ivana's signing on as weekly advice columnist for the Globe Newspaper, where she draws on her life experiences to offer advice to readers. Ivana's books have been translated into 25 languages in 40 countries.