She still feels young and is engaged to a ‘toy boy' 23 years her junior. In Dubai, Ivana Trump talks about her children and her real estate ventures.
Ivana Trump has many strings to her bow: Olympic skier, former model, sharp businesswoman, and doting mamma to her brood. She was one half of one of the most famous power couples of the 1980s, and like her ex-husband, Donald Trump, she has continued to reinvent herself with great success.
The 58-year-old president of Ivana Inc flew into Dubai to launch her real estate venture, Le Diamond, with the Darvesh Group; a slew of super luxe towers in major Asian cities.
When married to Donald Trump, she was vice president for interior design for all his buildings, including Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, where she supervised construction and later managed the property. Today, Ivana has lines of clothing, cosmetics and jewellery that are sold online and through television shopping channels.
The woman who out-trumped The Donald in a $20 million (Dh73 million) divorce settlement is much less formidable in person. Super fit, coiffed to perfection and disarmingly funny, Ivana chatted with tabloid! about all that makes her tick: her businesses, her brood and her beau (Italian actor-singer Rossino Rubicondi, who at 35, is just 23 years her junior).
Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials. Tell us more…
My fiancé, Rossino Rubicondi, is a much younger man — you could say he's my toy boy.
We have been together for six years. We don't fear the difference in age at all.
Like I say, I'd much rather be a babysitter than a nursemaid.
An older man won't be able to keep up with me.
We are getting married this April at our family home Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida [the same estate where Donald Trump married Melania Knaus in 2005]. I have bought a beautiful dress for the ceremony. Unfortunately, I cannot reveal the designer.
You have six homes, which one is your favourite and why?
All of them are different, and special. My New York townhouse is very grand — it's done in the Louis XV style, with lots of mouldings and columns. My Palm Beach home is on the ocean, so there are a lot of pastels: turquoise, peach and sea foam in that home — very light and fresh. In St Tropez, I have a lot of hand-painted furniture and tapestries from Provence. It's like a fisherman's home — low maintenance — since the kids are always coming over and it has to withstand the sand and the sea. I have also used a lot of ironwork and stained glass. In London, I went for a pastel colour scheme, which is very relaxing and soothing. In my condominium project on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, we have used a lot of natural stones and woods because we are in the middle of a rainforest.
Which are your favourite times spent with your children?
We are a very close bunch. I love travelling and vacationing with my three children: Don Jr, Ivanka, and Eric. The best times I spend with my children are on my yacht, which floats in the Caribbean in winter and in the Mediterranean in summer. We just fish or go scuba diving.
I have no problem at all with ageing. But I don't want to be called grandma. We decided that Kai [Don Jr's daughter, Kai Madison Trump, who was born just before Mother's Day last year] would call me Ivana ma. I like being a
"glamma" — a glamorous grandma.
What's in the pipeline?
I am now writing a book for women (and men) about business. Everybody has some talent which they can turn into business. My book will tell them how to go out and get the money for the project, and how to take their business to the next level.
I always say life is too short. Fulfil your dreams, don't just lie down and die.
You've got to have a passion for whatever you do.
What is your best business tip?
I never follow the herd, I always follow my instincts. I do what I think is right and move ahead. I have not regretted any of my business decisions. I surround myself with professional people. Once you do that, you cannot fail.
What do you like about Dubai?
In other cities you have to deal with bureaucracy. Dubai encourages you to be imaginative.
Two years back I was here to promote my project with Damac, La Residence in Beirut.
Unfortunately the war started and we had to stop our work there. I would not go around promoting a project when people are dying and missiles are flying. But the moment the situation normalises, we will resume. Since my work with Damac was over, I signed up with the Darvesh group.
My design for Le Diamond is going to be modern, sophisticated, but not trendy. The bathrooms are going to be unbelievable: with double jacuzzis and steam rooms. There's going to be a spa stocked with my products. It's going to be very grand.
I have done so many real estate ventures for so long: I have operated casinos and managed major hotel properties. I was president and chief executive of the Plaza Hotel in New York, which has 1,400 rooms and 400 suites.
With experience, you just get better and better.
The Lady is a Trump!
She grew up in Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia, south of Prague. At the age of six, Ivana took up competitive skiing and won the first downhill race she competed in.
She has also written several books including the bestselling novels For Love Alone and Free to Love, and self-help book The Best is Yet to Come: Coping with Divorce and Enjoying Life Again.
Following her divorce, Ivana starred in The First Wives Club and became famous for her line: "Remember girls, don't get mad, get everything!"
