The former model looked remarkably at ease in a white two-piece, decades after her relationship with the future president made her one of America’s most closely watched women.
She shared the revealing vacation snapshot from Florence, Italy, on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, alongside glimpses of Italian food, ancient architecture, and private moments of reflection. Her identity would be familiar to anyone who remembers the spectacular collapse of Donald Trump’s first marriage, but the reactions to her latest appearance told a very different story.
Some netizens thought that this former model, who was once married to Donald Trump, looked amazing in her bikini at the age of 62. | Source: Instagram/marlamaples
Her White Bikini Became the Standout Look
The 62-year-old posed beneath an umbrella in a simple white bikini, showing off her tanned physique and relaxed vacation style. With the Italian sun overhead and no elaborate setting competing for attention, the swimwear photograph became the clear standout in her Florence carousel.
She changed into a cream-colored tank top and matching shorts for other parts of the trip. In one picture, she held a rosary, while another showed her visiting an ancient church in the same neutral outfit.
The collection also offered a taste of Florence through a tempting pasta dish and a steaming cappuccino. A peaceful villa view completed the picture of a getaway shaped by friendship and quiet reflection.
Her caption read, “Florence… thank you. 🇮🇹 For the beauty…for the friendships…for the conversations…for the moments of quiet contemplation beneath centuries of faith and artistry. And the food… some flavors are simply beyond words.”
Fans Praised Her Bikini Look, but the Rosary Drew Criticism
The woman enjoying that peaceful Italian break was Marla Maples, the Georgia-born model and actress who became the president’s second wife.
Several people in the Instagram comments immediately praised Marla’s appearance. One person wrote, “Looking beautiful and relaxed.” Another added, “A very beautiful lady. The bikini looks fabulous on you.❤️” A third admirer declared, “😍 You are spectacular !”
Someone else focused on the white two-piece: “That suit though 🔥😍 [sic].” The rosary prompted a less enthusiastic response. One commenter wrote, “A rosary is not a trinket to drape around a coffee cup. That is disrespectful [sic].”
The divided comments placed one small controversy beside a much larger wave of compliments. Most of the attention remained on how confident and comfortable Marla looked at 62.
Her Romance With Donald Trump Became Public Spectacle
Long before her quiet afternoon in Florence, Marla occupied the center of a tabloid storm involving Donald and Ivana Trump. During the summer of 1989, she was reportedly seen sunbathing and cycling along the Atlantic City boardwalk while her relationship with Donald remained largely hidden from Ivana.
A November 1990 Vanity Fair account reported that Marla stayed aboard the Trump Princess while Ivana was away. One disputed story claimed Donald once sent a limousine to remove Marla from the yacht before his wife arrived unexpectedly.
Their secretive arrangement unraveled during the 1989 holiday season in Aspen. Donald placed Marla in a three-level penthouse overlooking Aspen Mountain, while Ivana and the Trump children were also spending the week at the resort.
On December 31, Ivana noticed Marla and a friend eating at Bonnie’s, a popular restaurant partway down the mountain. A loud argument between Donald and Ivana soon shifted toward Marla as other diners watched.
Ivana demanded to know whether Marla was the woman who had been involved with her husband. Marla shouted, “It’s out, it’s out! It’s finally out!”
Ivana insisted that she had a happy marriage and ordered Marla to stay away. Marla replied, “As long as you’re happy, Ivana. Be happy.”
Donald stood in the middle of the confrontation before telling Marla that she should leave. The dispute between him and Ivana continued onto the slopes, exposing their marital crisis before an audience of resort guests.
Marriage Came With Strict Financial Terms
Donald and Ivana divorced in 1992. Marla gave birth to Tiffany Trump on October 13, 1993, and married Donald later that year. Their wedding followed negotiations over a demanding prenuptial agreement.
A 2019 report said Marla reportedly wanted $25 million, but the final agreement promised her $1 million if the couple separated within five years and another $1 million to purchase a home.
Donald also agreed to pay $100,000 a year in child support until Tiffany turned 21. The payments could stop earlier if Tiffany began full-time work, enlisted in the military, or entered the Peace Corps.
Marla reportedly believed the couple would replace the agreement with better terms after several years. One person familiar with their relationship claimed she traveled with her wedding dress so she would be ready if Donald suddenly decided to marry her.
Their relationship had already endured periods of uncertainty. At one point, Donald reportedly ended it by sending Marla a letter through FedEx before they eventually reconciled.
A Beach Encounter Brought Fresh Trouble
Another damaging episode arrived on April 16, 1996. At approximately 4 a.m., a police officer discovered Marla beneath a lifeguard stand on a deserted beach near Mar-a-Lago with Donald’s bodyguard, Spencer Wagner.
Marla maintained that she had gone to the beach for a bathroom break. Spencer initially denied that anything romantic had occurred, but Donald fired him four months later.
Spencer later told a tabloid that he and Marla had been intimate. His former wife, Mary Miller, offered a more complicated account, claiming Spencer always told her privately that he had never cheated with Marla.
Mary also said Spencer had described Marla as aggressive toward him and fond of partying in Miami. She believed the scandal damaged his career and left him struggling to recover after Donald dismissed him.
Spencer died from a drug overdose on January 1, 2012, according to Inside Edition. Mary said the ordeal “crushed him.” And Donald and Marla announced their separation the year after the beach incident. Their divorce was finalized in 1999, and Marla never remarried.
Family Became Her True Priority
Marla built a new life in California, where she raised Tiffany away from much of the attention surrounding the Trump family. She later appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” before returning to Palm Beach in 2022.
The move brought her closer to Tiffany, Tiffany’s husband, Michael Boulos, and their growing family. Marla has called time with her grandson, Alexander Boulos, her “true priority.”
She has also described Alexander’s 4:44 a.m. birth time as spiritually meaningful. Marla considers 4:44 an “angel number” associated with divine blessing and protection, according to Hola.
After years when her private life supplied relentless tabloid material, Marla now appears happiest focusing on family, spirituality, and experiences that bring her peace. Her sunlit Florence photos showed a woman enjoying exactly where life has taken her.
