Melania Trump’s Leopard Coat at Women of Courage Awards, Explained

To cohost Tuesday’s International Women of Courage awards at the U.S. State Department with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, First Lady Melania Trump was unmissable in a leopard-print calfskin coat. But the Palm Beach-based designer, Milly Park, who created the style was in the dark Tuesday afternoon that it had been worn publicly.  

In its 19th year, the Secretary of State’s IWOC award has recognized 200-plus women from more than 90 countries, who have shown exceptional courage and leadership — often at great personal risk. U.S. diplomatic missions overseas nominate one woman of courage candidate from their respective host countries, and finalists are selected and approved by senior department officials.

This year’s honorees included the president of the National Human Rights Commission Henriette Da of Burkina Faso; Amit Soussana, an Israeli attorney and advocate for the hostages that remain under Hamas control following the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks; Major Velena Iga, an activist working to combat violence against women and curb human trafficking in Papua New Guinea; Angelique Songco, a leader of the small team of rangers that are protecting the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park from illegal fishing and poaching in the Philippines; Georgiana Pascu, an advocate who has secured rights and safe treatment of thousands of children and adults with disabilities in Romania; Zabib Musa Loro Bakhit, founder and executive director of Women for Justice and Equality in South Sudan; Namini Wijedasa, an award-winning journalist who has chronicled the human toll of Sri Lanka’s civil conflict and its aftermath, and Amat Al-Salam Al-Hajj, founder and president of the Abductees’ Mothers Association in Yemen. In addition, the 2025 Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award was dedicated to the women student protest leaders of Bangladesh, who took action last summer.

Extolling the power of universal love, Trump said, “Today we celebrate courage, a strength that is based in love.” She also praised the women, who speak out for justice and empower voices, while propelling others forward and “instigating progress.” The first lady said, “Their journeys remind us of true courage…showing that love is a form of true justice.”

For the indoor event, Trump sported a leopard-print belted jacket from the American designer Milly Park, who said she sent it to the first lady as a gift in December to Mar-a-Lago. Reached by phone Tuesday afternoon, Park wasn’t aware that Trump had worn the look, (which will retail for between $11,000 and $12,000) from her fall collection . “Oh, I see, yes, I guess this is it,” Park said, adding that she had sent three special pieces to Trump. “I didn’t know. I’ve been so busy.”

The Cavallino leopard-print calfskin coat was featured on Milly Park’s runway last month. The Palm Beach, Fla.-based company does about 70 percent of its production in New York. Launched last spring, Park is a self-taught designer, who never worked with any other apparel companies. Mentored by her grandmother, Park said she has been designing, embroidering and making clothes and patterns since she was a child.

Born in Venezuela, she was raised in Canada before migrating to the U.S. about a decade ago. Park, who became a U.S. citizen, divides her time between Palm Beach and Marbella, Spain. The Milly Park brand offers ready-to-wear, sportswear, swimwear, bridal and custom for women, as well as designs for men and children. As for Trump’s choice, Park said, “I’m beyond honored and shocked that the first lady wore my piece today.…This is something to celebrate about.”

Whether there was a note of acknowledgement sent to Park for her parcels is uncertain. The designer said, “I’m not sure. I could have [received one]. My husband and I have been traveling so much. And I’ve been so focused on launching my new collection, which just happened at the Palm Beach [International] Boat Show on March 20. I could possibly have something in the mail but I haven’t checked it.”

Trump’s fashion sense has been in the news recently, after an eBay seller posted a wedding gown that was said to be a John Galliano-designed Dior one for the first lady’s 2005 nuptials. The frock, which is no longer on eBay, was offered at a starting bid of $45,000. Dior declined to comment, an eBay spokesperson said the company does not have an authentication process for bridal, and a source told WWD that Trump’s wedding gown was stowed away in Mar-a-Lago.