Last updated on April 25th, 2023 at 07:49 am
Marla Maples is an American actress, television personality, and former beauty pageant titleholder. She was born on October 27, 1963, in Dalton, Georgia, USA. Maples first gained public attention in the late 1980s as a contestant in beauty pageants, winning the Miss Resaca Beach Poster Girl contest in 1984 and Miss Hawaiian Tropic USA in 1985.
Maples is best known for her marriage to businessman and former US President Donald Trump, which lasted from 1993 to 1999. The couple had one child together, Tiffany Trump. After her divorce from Trump, Maples continued to work as an actress and television personality. She has appeared in various television shows, movies, and reality TV programs, including “The Nanny,” “Spin City,” and “Dancing with the Stars.”
In recent years, Maples has become a wellness advocate and has launched a line of wellness products. She also hosts the podcast “The Spiritual GPS,” where she discusses topics such as spirituality, personal growth, and healing.
Marla Maples Early Life and Education
Marla Maples was born on October 27, 1963, in Dalton, Georgia, USA. She grew up in the town of Cohutta, Georgia, with her parents, Ann and Stan Maples, and her sister, Tracy. Her father was a real estate developer, and her mother was a homemaker.
Maples attended Northwest Whitfield High School in Tunnel Hill, Georgia, where she was a cheerleader and a member of the school’s dance team. She later attended the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, where she studied journalism. Maples then transferred to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee, to continue her studies.
While in college, Maples worked as a model and won several beauty pageants, including the Miss Georgia USA pageant in 1983. She later moved to New York City to pursue a career in entertainment and acting, where she met and eventually married Donald Trump in 1993.
Marla Maples Marriage with Donald Trump
Marla Maples and Donald Trump were married from 1993 to 1999. The two met in 1985 while Trump was still married to his first wife, Ivana Trump. Maples and Trump began dating in 1989, and their relationship was highly publicized in the media. Maples and Trump had one child together, a daughter named Tiffany, who was born in 1993.
The couple’s marriage was marked by controversy and media attention. Maples and Trump’s relationship had been an extramarital affair while he was still married to Ivana Trump, and this was a source of controversy when they later married. The couple’s high-profile divorce in 1999 was also highly publicized, and it was reported that Maples received a settlement of around $2 million in the divorce settlement.
Despite the end of their marriage, Maples and Trump have maintained a cordial relationship over the years, and their daughter Tiffany has been active in her father’s political campaigns and events.
Marla Maples Divorce from Donald Trump
Marla Maples married Donald Trump, who was then a prominent businessman and real estate mogul, on December 19, 1993. The couple had been dating for several years before their marriage and had one child together, a daughter named Tiffany Trump, who was born in 1993.
However, the couple’s marriage was short-lived, and they separated in May 1997, citing irreconcilable differences. Maples filed for divorce from Trump in June 1997, and their divorce was finalized in June 1999.
The divorce proceedings were highly publicized, and there were reports of disputes over their prenuptial agreement, custody of their daughter, and financial settlements. In the end, Maples reportedly received a settlement of $2 million, as well as child support for their daughter Tiffany. Despite the end of their marriage, Maples and Trump have both stated publicly that they remain friendly and committed to co-parenting their daughter.
Marla Maples Career
In addition to her appearances in movies and TV shows, Maples has also appeared in several music videos. She was featured in Michael Bolton’s “That’s What Love Is All About” and KISS’s “Forever” music videos.
Maples has also made appearances on reality TV shows, including “Dancing with the Stars” in 2016, where she was partnered with professional dancer Tony Dovolani. She also appeared on the reality show “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” in 2013.
Maples has been involved in several charitable causes throughout her career. She has worked with organizations such as the American Red Cross, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
Maples has been an advocate for wellness and healthy living. She has spoken publicly about her commitment to a healthy lifestyle and has even developed her line of wellness products, called “Marla’s Miracle.”
Maples has also been involved in the fashion industry throughout her career. She has worked as a model, and in 1997, she launched her clothing line, called “Marla Wear.”
In recent years, Maples has focused on her spiritual practice and has become a certified yoga instructor. She has spoken about the role that meditation and mindfulness play in her life and has worked to promote the benefits of these practices to others.
Overall, Marla Maples has pursued a diverse range of interests throughout her career, from acting and modeling to wellness and spirituality. She has been successful in multiple areas and has used her platform to promote charitable causes and healthy living.
Radio and Music
In addition to her career in acting and entertainment, Marla Maples has also pursued interests in radio and music. She hosted her talk radio show called “Awakening with Marla” on Contact Talk Radio, where she interviewed naturopathic doctors, authors, and astrologers on topics related to spirituality and personal growth.
Maples also released an album called “The Endless” in August 2013, which features a collection of new age and ambient music aimed at promoting spiritual awakening and transformational energy. The album includes contributions from thought leaders such as the Dalai Lama, Michael Beckwith, and Deepak Chopra.
Maples’ music has been recognized with a Hollywood Music in Media Award in 2012 for the best New Age/Ambient song category. She won the award for “House of Love,” which was featured on her album “The Endless.”
Philanthropy
Marla Maples has been involved in various other philanthropic efforts. She is a supporter of the Dream Foundation, which fulfills the wishes of terminally ill adults. She has also been an advocate for the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Maples has worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. She has also been involved with the Eric Trump Foundation, which supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
In 2017, Maples participated in the Reality Rally charity event in Temecula, California, which raises funds for Michelle’s Place, a breast cancer resource center.
Maples has also been involved in environmental causes and has supported the Rainforest Foundation Fund, which works to protect rainforests and the rights of indigenous people living in them. She has also been involved in the World Wildlife Fund, which works to protect endangered species and their habitats.
Marla Maples Personal life
Marla Maples has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Johnathon Freeman, with whom she eloped in 1984. They later divorced in 1987.
Maples gained much media attention in the early 1990s when she began dating businessman and future President of the United States, Donald Trump, while he was still married to his first wife, Ivana Trump. Maples and Donald Trump married in December 1993, a few months after the birth of their daughter, Tiffany Trump.
However, their marriage was short-lived, and they separated in May 1997, with their divorce being finalized in June of that year. The details of their divorce settlement were kept confidential.
Maples has been involved in several romantic relationships since her divorce from Donald Trump, including with Italian TV personality Giuseppe Cipriani and actor Michael Bolton. She has also been linked to other high-profile men, including former Spanish Prime Minister, José María Aznar.
Maples is an advocate for holistic health and wellness and has been a longtime follower of yoga and other spiritual practices. She has spoken publicly about the importance of finding balance and inner peace in one’s life.