Meet Melania Trump’s former best friend, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff: the former Vogue PR and Met Gala organiser wrote an exposé about Donald Trump’s wife in 2020, but what’s happened since?

Jul 17 , 2024

Who is Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Melania Trump’s ex-bestie who wrote a book about her after their relationship soured? Photos: AFP, Getty Images

Winston Wolkoff worked at Vogue and started organising Met Galas – she and Melania met after Donald asked for Anna Wintour’s help to introduce his then new wife to New York society

She and Melania hit it off and celebrated life milestones together, but the relationship soured; in 2020, Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship with the First Lady was published

Former US first lady Melania Trump and former Vogue PR Stephanie Winston Wolkoff used to have monthly lunches at the exclusive Mark Hotel in Manhattan or other upscale spots in New York City. But now, six years after the pair fell out, Winston Wolkoff appears to remain bitter about the Trumps.

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff was once close to ex-first lady Melania Trump. Photo: Getty Images

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has had an eventful month, to say the least. He was shot at during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania over the weekend, with the bullet piercing his ear; days later, he officially became the nominee at the Republican National Convention, with JD Vance – Ohio senator and author of Hillbilly Elegy – announced as his running mate. Meanwhile, legal pressure continues to mount on Trump as he faces multiple charges, and his personal life remains under scrutiny. So where does Melania stand amid all of this?

Her former pal Winston Wolkoff isn’t afraid to offer her views, claiming, for instance, that the Trump marriage was all a sham created by TV execs for The Apprentice.

Here’s how the Met Gala organiser got to know the Trump family.

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff is Melania Trump’s ex-bestie

David Wolkoff, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Melania Trump and Donald Trump in 2008 – the two families were once close. Photo: Getty Images

So how did the friendship begin, anyway?

Per The New York Times, Winston Wolkoff and Melania became friends in 2003 after Donald asked Vogue’s Anna Wintour to help him introduce Melania to New York society. Melania was “presented” at the 2004 Met Gala, wearing a Versace dress and flaunting an engagement ring, as Donald had just proposed. Winston Wolkoff and Melania connected, and the two women went on to attend milestone events in each other’s lives like baby showers and birthday celebrations.

What is Stephanie Winston Wolkoff’s background?

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff in 2017. Photo: Getty Images

Winston Wolkoff’s parents, Barbara and Barry Batinkoff, got divorced when she was in high school, per The New York Times. Her mother married Bruce Winston, son of famous jeweller Harry Winston. Bruce adopted Stephanie and she took his name.