Businessman who Introduced Trump to Melania Wants to Bring Him Closer to Brazil

01/30/2017 - 17h28

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PATRÍCIA CAMPOS MELLO

SPECIAL ENVOY TO WASHINGTON, D.C

Businessman who Introduced Trump to Melania Wants to Bring Him Closer to Brazil

He introduced the Slovenian model Melania Knauss to then-billionaire of the real estate sector Donald Trump 19 years ago. He now promises to become a Brazilian Affairs ambassador working close to the U.S. first family.

"I want to be known as the Brazilian friend of the president and the first lady," says Italian Paolo Zampolli, 46, married to the former Brazilian model Amanda Ungaro, 31, and father of Giovanni, 7, who has a Brazilian passport.

Zampolli was the owner of model agency Metropolitan when he hired Melania in Milan, Italy and took her to the U.S. In New York, Zampolli organized one of his famous parties full of models in 1998.

He invited Trump, who also frequently attended parties with beautiful women, to sit at his table. Melania, a friend of Zampolli's girlfriend at the time, was there too. "Melania, this is Donald. Donald, this is Melania," he said.

"Melania is gorgeous, any man would fall for her. But I was surprised when I saw them together so quickly," says Zampolli, who speaks a little Portuguese.

After the cupid's arrow hit the target, Zampolli was invited by Trump to be the development director at Trump Organization and began his career in the real estate sector. He did not stay at the company for long, but their friendship did not come to a close.

Zampolli married the Brazilian model Amanda, the daughter of a notary public clerk in Londrina when she was 19 years old. "She is taller than me [she is 1.82 meters tall and he swears that he is 1.80], but she fits in the bed, we have a huge bed," says Zampolli.

At Trump's inauguration day, Zampolli and Amanda received VIP treatment - they sat at the first lady's table during dinner and participated in the inauguration ceremony, went to the official Liberty Ball and later attended a small get-together only for "friends and family" at the Trump International Hotel. "Trump is still the same, very friendly,' says Amanda.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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