Ivana Trump, the first wife of Donald Trump, died yesterday at the age of 73, as reported by the former US president via the Truth Social platform. The tycoon did not specify the causes of the death of his ex-wife, whom the family describes as “a survivor” – in reference to her childhood in communist Czechoslovakia – who “raised her children with tenacity, compassion and the determination”.

“I am deeply saddened to inform all who loved her, of whom there are many, that Ivana Trump has passed away at her home in New York.” It is with these words that the former tenant of the White House announced the loss of his wife between 1977 and 1992, mother of his three eldest: Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric.

“Our mother was an incredible woman: a force in business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty, and a loving mother and friend. Ivana Trump was a survivor. He fled communism and embraced this country,” says the letter published by the family.

Ivana Zelnícková was born in the Czechoslovak town of Zlin, where she made a name for herself as a skier before landing in New York via Canada, where she had emigrated with her first husband, Alfred Winklmayr, to work as a model. In the city of skyscrapers, she met Donald Trump in 1976. A year later, they got married and started building a real estate empire. Ivana became vice president of interior design for the consortium, getting involved in iconic projects such as the Trump Tower or running the Plaza Hotel.

The couple, tabloid fodder in the 1980s, divorced in 1992 after Trump met his second wife, Marla Marples. After the breakup, Ivana designed clothes and jewelry and continued her real estate business. He married twice more and recomposed his relationship with Trump. They spoke once a week.