She once lived in Trump Tower and dominated tabloid headlines. Today, Marla Maples starts her mornings with meditation and green juice. After a high-profile divorce, she chose a quieter path far from the political spotlight.
Marla Maples once stood beside one of the most powerful — and polarizing — men in America, her blonde hair gleaming beneath the flashbulbs as Manhattan’s elite looked on.
Marla Maples attends New York Fashion Week on February 9, 2019, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images.
But when the curtain finally fell on her headline-making marriage to Donald Trump, Marla made a choice that stunned the society pages: she walked away from the glittering chaos and chose a life far from the spotlight.
A Glittering Life That Never Quite Fit
Born in 1963 in the tiny town of Cohutta, Georgia, Marla’s early years were a world away from gold-plated penthouses and black-tie galas. Raised in a close-knit, small-town community, she later attended the University of Georgia before setting her sights on New York City — determined to carve out a future in acting.
Donald Trump and Marla Maples attend the 1992 Soap Opera Digest Awards in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
Her career would eventually span more than 15 film roles, including appearances in “Happiness” and “Black and White.” She also stepped onto television sets for shows such as “Spin City” and “The Nanny,” and lit up Broadway stages in productions including “The Will Rogers Follies” and “Love, Loss and What I Wore.”
Magazine covers followed, so did relentless media attention. Yet beneath the designer gowns and choreographed smiles, Marla admitted she never truly felt at ease in that rarified world.
Donald Trump and Marla Maples attend an event on circa 1992 in New York City, New York. | Source: Getty Images
In past interviews, she described formal galas and high-profile events as a role she felt expected to play — an image carefully constructed for public consumption. The reality, she suggested, was far quieter. She preferred evenings at home to dazzling red carpets. For her, a genuine connection mattered more than status.
Then, in 1999, after her divorce from Donald, she made a decisive move that would redefine her life. With their daughter, Tiffany, in tow, Marla relocated to Calabasas, California — a world away from Manhattan’s tabloid frenzy. “That was my choice, raising her outside of the spotlight,” Marla said in a previous interview.
The transition meant largely raising Tiffany on her own. While she described Donald as a dependable financial provider, she made clear that the day-to-day responsibilities rested squarely on her shoulders.
