Michelle Obama, America’s former First Lady and undeniably a trendsetter in fashion, needs little introduction. Now away from the political spotlight, the elegant Mrs. Obama has given us a sneak peek into her life at the White House and beyond.
She engaged in a heart-to-heart with the one-and-only Oprah Winfrey on her 2020 Vision: Your Life In Focus tour, and one topic that undoubtedly had the audience in stitches revolved around the social dynamics at the Capitol. Mrs. Obama quips, “If there’s a party, people usually over-drink because they’re nervous because they don’t know what to expect.
The drinks at the White House are strong, so we’ve seen some people falling out, and I’m not going to mention any names.” Unseen appearances of Beyoncé and Ryan Reynolds under the Obama administration were some party highlights, more about which she ponders on in her acclaimed memoirs.
Her memoir ‘Becoming’ went on to become a best-seller, lingering on the New York Times list for over a year. Not stopping there, she followed it up with ‘The Light We Carry’ in 2022, shedding light on relationships, personal growth, and the recipe for success.
Michelle has never shied away from vocalizing the ups and downs of her marriage with Barack Obama, especially given its high-profile status. On her ‘Becoming’ book tour, she revealed her initial reluctance towards the idea of becoming the First Lady, even expressing her disbelief at the possibility of America electing a Black President. Despite this, Barack’s historic win in the 2008 Presidential Election reshaped US politics.
Michelle’s dedication to supporting her spouse through the 10-year-long challenging phases of their marriage is notable. Her dedication came at personal costs, including shelving plans for her career to aid Barack’s senatorial and presidential campaigns.
As first lady, Michelle’s initiatives were especially focused on the growth of young women, children, and minorities. Her emotional recount of stepping down from her role echoes, “[I] cried for 30 minutes straight, uncontrollable sobbing because that’s how much we were holding it together for eight years without really being able to show it all.”
Post the White House era, Michelle has been more than just a fashion icon. Her 2019’s book ‘Becoming’ was adapted into a Netflix documentary, providing deeper insights into her pre, during, and post-political journey. Obama said in the documentary, “You know, it’s just all different, and it’s different forever. It’s not getting back on track. But it’s creating my next track … I’m figuring out what I want to do, what I care about.”
She continues to rally for causes close to her heart like voter access and women’s rights, despite distancing from politics. Her politically charged ‘When We All Vote’ initiative endeavors to make the electoral process friendlier for historically marginalized groups. Keeping the family legacy alive, Michelle emphasized, “The House didn’t define us. It’s the values that defined us.”
