Ivanka Trump Opens up About Her Mother Ivana, Calling Her a Trailblazer Who Did It All ‘In 5-Inch Heels’ 

By all accounts, Ivanka Trump had a pretty idyllic childhood. In a recent interview on Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast, the First Daughter opens up about her parents (of course, as we all very much know, Ivana Trump and Donald Trump), her childhood, and the pivotal role her mother played in shaping who she is today.

When you think of Ivanka Trump, President Donald J. Trump comes to mind. And while her famous father certainly holds a major role in her life, he isn’t the only one in the family who has had a major impact. The mother of three (Arabella Rose Kushner, Joseph Frederick Kushner, and Theodore James Kushner) credits her own mother and grandmother as being instrumental figures in her life. 

Ivanaka Trump On Her Mother Ivana

Ivana Trump was an icon in her time, embodying 1980s style. At a time when men dominated the boardroom, working their way up the corporate ladder, Ivana shattered the glass ceiling. And of course, as Ivanka says, she did it all in five-inch heels. 

How did Ivana influence her daughter? Ivanka spoke candidly to Bartlett, revealing, “My mother was an incredible trailblazer. An amazing example for me of strength and resilience and glamour and determination and ambition. And she was a great mother, too.”

She continued, “So she showed me a lot at a time when you know not many women were doing what my mother was doing inside the boardroom and on the construction sites. So she made it look incredibly easy, but it was and continues to be very challenging to balance work and life like that, especially at a time where what she was doing was so singular. So she really, my mother served as an unbelievable role model for me, for what is possible. How to be an amazing mother who is loving and nurturing and fun and provides for her children and also to be unabashedly and doggedly pursuing one’s goals in a professional capacity.” 

Like most working mothers, Ivanka realizes that it took a village to raise her (and her brothers, Donald Trump Jr.and Eric Trump). With this in mind, she explains, “But she would also say she couldn’t do it alone and she wasn’t pretending she could. So she surrounded us with people who loved us.”

Who Helped Raise Ivanka Trump?

While she credits her mother for being an “amazing mentor,” she also opened up about her grandmother. Affectionately known as “Babi,” Ivanka’s grandmother, Marie Zelnickova, had a major role in raising the Trump children. As she tears up, Ivanka says, “She taught me a type of unconditional love and tenderness…I have a lot of love for this woman.” 

What Did Ivanka Say About Donald Trump and Her Childhood?

Even though her parents’ fame and money gave Ivanka advantages most children don’t have, her early years weren’t always easy. She notes, “I grew up the child of wealthy and accomplished parents. And so I do think there’s like a natural barrier that goes up. You’re worried about people, especially when you’re a kid, liking you for the wrong reasons. I see this now with my son. You know, he wants to be loved by his friends, and I appreciate that, that’s good for who he is, not for who we are, and certainly not for what we have.”

Michael Jackson At the Nutcracker?

Being the daughter of Donald Trump has always put Ivanka in a somewhat different position from other children. And she certainly knows it. The First Daughter recounted her experience as a young ballet dancer getting the chance to perform a small role in the Nutcracker. 

At the time, Michael Jacksonwas living in Trump Tower. And like any other proud father, Donald Trump invited the pop star to watch his daughter dance. So what happened? According to Ivanka, it was kind of a disaster, “In retrospect, I could be like, wow, what a cool experience. But I was horrified…I was so embarrassed. I thought we had ruined the Nutcracker. Everyone was dancing with one glove…I had things like that happen that were so far from normal that it’s actually comical in retrospect.”