Born in Cohutta, Georgia, in 1963, Marla Maples developed a multi-faceted career spanning film, television, and public speaking. After early success in regional beauty pageants, she transitioned into acting and media production. Her professional life encompasses a broad range of roles, from Broadway musicals and screen acting to the development of talk radio programming and music production.
Early Career and Education
Maples attended Northwest Whitfield High School in Tunnel Hill, where she was active in student government and sports. After graduating in 1981, she briefly attended the University of Georgia before pursuing opportunities in pageantry. She secured titles including Miss Resaca Beach Poster Girl in 1983 and Miss Hawaiian Tropic in 1985. Her entry into entertainment included a role in the 1986 film Maximum Overdrive and a 1990 advertising campaign for No Excuses jeans.
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Her performance career included a stint on Broadway in The Will Rogers Follies starting in 1992. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, she appeared in various films, such as Executive Decision, Happiness, and A Nanny for Christmas. On television, she served as a co-host for the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants and competed in season 22 of Dancing with the Stars. She later hosted the talk radio program Awakening with Marla and produced the album The Endless.
Public Life and Advocacy
Maples married Donald Trump in 1993, with whom she had one daughter, Tiffany. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1999. In subsequent years, she shifted her focus toward wellness advocacy, spirituality, and public speaking. She has served as a keynote speaker for various international summits on science and spirituality and remains involved with non-profit organizations including Kids Creating Peace and The Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine.
Fast facts
- Born: 1963, Cohutta, Georgia
- Citizenship: United States
- High School: Northwest Whitfield High School
- Broadway Role: Ziegfeld's Favorite, The Will Rogers Follies
- Musical Album: The Endless (2013)
- Television Competition: Dancing with the Stars (2016)
- Marriage: Donald Trump (1993–1999)
Questions readers ask
What is the background of Marla Maples's career?
She is an actor, television presenter, singer, and producer who has worked in film, Broadway, and talk radio.
Does she remain active in public life?
Yes, she works as a keynote speaker focused on wellness, spirituality, and motivation.
Achievements
- Worked as television actor, television presenter and actor
