Donald Trump’s second marriage, to Marla Maples, was brief and often surrounded by intense media attention. After the couple separated, Maples gradually stepped away from the spotlight, choosing instead to devote her time to raising their daughter, Tiffany Trump. Years later, many still wonder what path her life has taken since those highly publicized days.
Maples was born on October 27, 1963, in Cohutta, Georgia, where she spent what she later described as an idyllic childhood. Reflecting on those early years, she once said her upbringing felt “storybook-perfect.” Growing up, she was widely admired for her beauty and charisma.
During high school, Maples became a well-known figure among her peers. She was crowned homecoming queen and stood out not only socially but also in athletics. After graduation, she enrolled at the University of Georgia to study marketing. However, after roughly two and a half years, she chose to leave college behind.
Her ambitions soon shifted to New York City — a move that would ultimately alter the course of her life. As Maples pursued opportunities in the city, the marriage between Donald Trump and his first wife, Ivana Trump, was already facing serious strain.
Maples later said she first crossed paths with Trump in 1985 and that the connection between them was immediate. Still, she noted that the timing wasn’t ideal. For a period, the two mainly communicated over the phone rather than meeting publicly. Over time, however, Maples realized how she truly felt.
“By ’88, I knew I truly loved this guy,” Maples said in a NewYork magazine interview.
How Marla Maples met Donald Trump
Over the following years, Maples and Trump encountered each other repeatedly. Eventually, Ivana Trump began to suspect something was happening. Maples later claimed she believed there had been a plan for Trump’s marriage to end. Wanting to avoid adding to the situation, she said she attempted to keep her distance and stay out of the conflict.
Despite those efforts, the story soon became public. The New York gossip column Page Six published her photograph and name, thrusting her into a media storm. Maples later described an uncomfortable meeting with Ivana in Colorado shortly after newspapers across New York began reporting on the situation.
“When we saw each other in Colorado, Ivana and I, it was just a moment of both of us wanting to know the truth,” Maples said.
“It was good that the truth became known, but that was also when the real pain began. I realized that we had both been deceived. You’re left in a very uncomfortable position – and the world knows about it.”
Not long after that encounter, Maples said she was watching a boxing match on television when a news flash announced that Donald and Ivana were divorcing.
Relationship with Donald Trump
At the time, Maples insisted she wanted no part in the turmoil and decided to “run away as far as possible.” Rumors circulated about her whereabouts, but she ultimately remained connected to Trump, and the two began a relationship.
“I loved this man. Yes, I was young, but it was my choice. I was romanced, I had Mister Charm all over me, and it was very hard to say no. When that man wants something, he’ll stop at nothing to get it. And I also believed in the good of him,” Maples recalled.
Being in a relationship with Donald Trump meant adapting to a fast-paced and glamorous lifestyle. Maples often had to maintain a polished public image — with perfectly styled hair, professional makeup, and designer outfits becoming the norm. Looking back, she later suggested that the image sometimes made her feel like a version of herself crafted for the spotlight.
Despite the complicated beginning, the couple eventually married. In 1993, Marla Maples and Donald Trump tied the knot and welcomed their daughter, Tiffany Trump, that same year. Their marriage, however, did not last. By 1999, the pair had finalized their divorce.
Speaking later to Access Hollywood, Maples reflected on the relationship and acknowledged how different their personalities were.
“Well, he and I, were so different, as you could probably imagine,” she said. “I think you always hope in a marriage that you can bring the best out in each other. But after many years, we realized we weren’t.”
Marla Maples prenup
Before the wedding, Maples signed a prenuptial agreement that reportedly strongly protected Trump’s wealth. According to Vanity Fair, she had hoped for a settlement of $25 million, but the agreement instead stated she would receive $1 million if the couple separated within five years.
She was also set to receive an additional $1 million intended for purchasing a home. The arrangement included child support payments of $100,000 annually for Tiffany until she turned 21. However, the payments could stop earlier if Tiffany took a full-time job, joined the military, or enlisted in the Peace Corps.
A quieter life in California
Following the divorce, Maples largely withdrew from public attention. She relocated to Los Angeles with Tiffany and began building a life centered around wellness and family.
The pair settled in Calabasas, an upscale neighborhood outside Los Angeles. After years immersed in a high-profile lifestyle, Maples sought something simpler. She often tried to recreate elements of the rural upbringing she had experienced in Georgia — cooking organic meals, enjoying quiet evenings, and focusing on a more grounded routine.
Small pleasures became part of their daily life, including a backyard trampoline and regular mother-daughter outings.
“We loved going to the movies together. That was our big night out,” Marla Maples told People Magazine in 2016.
“We were always together,” Tiffany added. “She gave me the chance to have a normal childhood.”
Maples has also spoken openly about the challenges of raising a child on her own.
“You don’t know how to [be a single mom] until you’re in it and you find a way,” she said. She added that she never allowed bitterness to define the experience. “What I’ve learned to do is to take responsibility for what’s happening in my life and not be a victim.”
Even though she and Trump lived on opposite sides of the country, Maples made sure Tiffany maintained a connection with her father.
“I would bring her into New York a couple times a year and let her go see her dad in the office and let her go have diner with him and [Donald’s wife] Melania,” Marla told People. “I just said it’s important for her to form her own relationship with him, without my input. I wanted to create some consistency where she could see him.”
Marla Maples today
Over the years, Maples also explored various entertainment and media opportunities. She appeared in productions such as Dallas, Clueless, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In addition, she worked in journalism, once interviewing NBA legend Michael Jordan for the program Inside Edition.
She also ventured into music, releasing her album The Endless in 2013, and later appeared as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars in 2016.
Although Maples has not played a major role in Trump’s political career, she reportedly helped introduce Trump to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., contributing to discussions that eventually led to the wellness-focused “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
Health and spirituality now play a central role in Maples’ life. Through social media, she frequently shares glimpses of her workouts, yoga routines, and wellness practices.
Her time in California eventually came to an end, however. Today, Maples — now 62 — has returned to New York, where she is developing SoulShine Journeys, a spiritual travel initiative designed to help participants focus on personal reflection, growth, and renewal.
In 2025, she experienced another major life milestone: becoming a grandmother. Her daughter Tiffany and her husband, Michael Boulos, welcomed their son, Alexander Trump Boulos, on May 15, 2025. Maples embraced the new chapter enthusiastically, even giving herself the playful nickname “Gran Mar Mar.”
When Tiffany shared the news online, Maples responded with excitement.
“No greater joy in the world.”
“Michael and Tiffany this Gran Mar Mar loves you all so much!! You rocked it, my girl!” she added.
