President Donald Trump might be famous for his orange glow, but his wife Melania Trump has perfected her own bronze hue… which she surprisingly does herself in the comfort of her own home.
Melania’s look has certainly changed over her husband’s years in office, including the depth of her tan.
Now, the mom-of-one is famous for her deep, fake tan no matter the season, a look that is especially popular with A-listers on the red carpet for a pop of color that shows up in photos.
While the Slovenia-born model might look naturally sun-kissed, two former housekeepers who worked for her and her husband on his New Jersey golf course previously opened up about how she gets her hue.
In The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump, a biography about the current First Lady, housekeepers recounted how she regularly applied tanning spray and used it almost every time she left the house.
They explained that the bronzer washed off in the shower, which meant the maids had to ‘make sure any traces were removed from the white surfaces in the bathroom.’
To find out how Melania, 55, gets her famous glow, the Daily Mail spoke to professional tan artists about the products she might use and the best possible techniques to achieve her coloring.
Natalia Radosz, a spray tan expert and founder of the celebrity beloved Glow 2 Go in New York City, said ‘it’s clear Melania prefers a deeper, bronzed look.’
Melania and Donald Trump are both famous for their deep, dark tans, but Melania’s is easy to get at home
Melania’s look has certainly changed over her husband’s years in office, including the depth of her tan (seen above in February 2026)
First, it is all about choosing the correct tanning product. The former model opts for an olive-tinged one, so she does not have to deal with an inadvertent Oompa Loompa hue.
‘Her tan appears to lean toward an olive tone, which often means a solution with violet or olive undertones to prevent the tan from looking orange,’ Radosz revealed.
‘It is also likely that she uses body makeup or bronzing products on top of her spray tan, which is common for public appearances and photography,’ Radosz continued.
Celebrity tan artist Brittney Bennett at Be Bronze told the Daily Mail that ‘after 16 years of doing celebrity tans, reading a tan is second nature to me.’
Bennett, however, believes that on occasion Melania’s tan ‘pulls warm and orange which immediately tells me the product she is using is either lower quality DHA, she is leaving it on too long or the color bases of the product are not good for her undertones.’
Fake tanning products can range from around $6 for a small drugstore product to $125 for a more expensive sun glow from a luxury brand like Sisley. Of course, getting a professional fake tan is the most expensive option, with some celebrity tan artists charging hundreds of dollars.
‘The application itself looks fairly even so the technique is not really the issue, it’s the product,’ Bennett, whose products have been used on Victoria’s Secret Angels and stars like Megan Moroney, said.
Bennett suggested ‘a well-formulated solution matched properly to her skin tone’ for a more natural bronze.
The First Lady has perfected a deep, streak-free glow, which is surprisingly easy to emulate at home
Melania often shows off a deeper glow during big events, which photographs better (as seen above with King Charles and Queen Camilla)
When it comes to getting a Melania-inspired glow, Radosz said ‘prep is everything,’ including exfoliating 24 hours before and ‘focusing on dry areas like the elbows, knees, and ankles’ to make sure the product is not clinging to dry skin.
‘If you shave, do it the day before your tan, not right before because open pores could make the tan stick to certain areas,’ Radosz, whose company has tanned reality stars like Ciara Miller, Amanda Batula, Emira D’Spain and Hannah Berner, recommended.
‘After applying the tan, it’s very important to avoid any sweat or moisture until your first rinse,’ Radosz advised.
‘Even a small amount of water or sweat can cause the solution to move and potentially leave streaks.’
Natalia Radosz, a spray tan expert and founder of the celebrity beloved Glow 2 Go in New York City, said ‘it’s clear Melania prefers a deeper, bronzed look’
Melania showed off her now-signature golden glow when she worked the red carpet at the premiere of her movie on January 29, 2026
Radosz also revealed there is a reason why housekeepers were finding Melania’s color in the shower, but it is not alarming.
‘Most spray tans contain a temporary bronzer, which helps your tech see where the tan has been applied,’ Radosz said. While it might appear like you are far more tan immediately following the appointment, much of it will easily rinse.
‘Once you rinse evenly, the bronzer washes off and you’re left with the developed tan underneath,’ Radosz continued.
Bennett said not to ‘panic when you see the color running down the drain,’ because it is only the cosmetic bronzer coming off.
