The first night of the Republican National Convention included a much-anticipated speech from Donald Trump's wife, Melania.

Melania has been relatively quiet throughout her husband's campaign, preferring to allow Trump's daughter Ivanka to act as surrogate for her father.

She has occasionally introduced her husband at campaign events and given interviews to select media outlets, but she's never publicly expressed political opinions of her own.

If Trump becomes president, Melania would be an unusual first lady. A former model born and raised in Slovenia (formerly part of Yugoslavia), Melania is Trump's third wife, and she is 24 years his junior.

How did a young model growing up in a communist country end up on the brink of becoming first lady of the United States? Here are some facts about her fascinating life: