A native of Czechoslovakia, Ivana Trump was educated in the public schools there and received a Masters Degree in Physical Education from Charles University in Prague, where she went on to become a member of the Czechoslovakian Women's Ski Team.

Ivana immigrated to Canada in 1972 and worked for many years as a fashion model before moving to the United States.

From May 1988 until September 1991, Ivana served as President of The Plaza Hotel in New York City, one of the world's finest hotels, with a staff of over 1,400 people. Ivana was chosen by her peers as "Hotelier of the Year" by Where Magazine for her work at The Plaza.