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Role Model From far left : the First Lady talking girls ’ education with actress Yara Shahidi at Glamour ’ s Inter national Day of the Girl panel in 2016 ; as a Glamour Woman of the Year in 2009
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Thank You , FLOTUS !
For your example . For your authenticity . And most of all , for your damn good advice .
ichelle Obama is a hugger . We at Glamour learned this back in 2007 , when we first met her on the campaign trail for her husband , then senator Barack Obama . She extended her arms along with a smile . In the 10 years that have followed , Mrs . Obama has sat down with Glamour five more times — most recently on the International Day of the Girl this past fall . ( Girls worldwide joined via Skype and asked FLOTUS , whom one called “ the First Lady of the World ,” their questions about confidence , her Let Girls Learn initiative , and her favorite novel .) By her words and example , she ’ s taught women and girls everywhere to be proud of their intelligence , to speak their minds , and to advocate for themselves and others . ( She also nails the fashion thing ; see page 100 .) As she leaves the White House , we ’ re revisiting her best Glamour moments . What will Mrs . O do next ? One request : Memoir , please !
On nailing a job interview : “ We , as women , don ’ t like to talk about ourselves . This is one time where you have to brag a little bit . You ’ ve got to pump your chest out . You ’ ve got to [ wheel ] out your bag of goodies . You ’ ve got to pull yourself out of the team and shine a light on yourself .” — May 2015
On prioritizing yourself :“ I have always tried to put my kids first and then … put myself a really close second , as opposed to fifth or seventh . One thing that I ’ ve learned from male role models is that they don ’ t hesitate to invest in themselves , with the view that , if I ’ m healthy and happy , I ’ m going to be a better support to my spouse and children . And I ’ ve found that to be the case .” — December 2009
On reframing labels : “ Aggressive . That ’ s the word that [ has ] been used for me often . Too aggressive , too loud , too bossy …. Well , aggressive is assertive . Loud is confidence . It ’ s how you take those words . Maybe they were said to you , or about you , in a negative light , but you turn them around and you make them positive attributes . Because , let me tell you , to compete … you ’ re going to have to be aggressive . And you ’ ve got to be confident . And there are times when you need to be loud and speak your mind . I ’ ve had to do that in every room of power that I ’ ve sat in .” — October 2016
On finding an equal partner : “[ Barack ] was always special , you know ? And not special , like , He ’ s gonna be important , he ’ s gonna be president . He was special in terms of his honesty , his sincerity , his compassion for other people . Cute ’ s good . But cute only lasts for so long , and then it ’ s , Who are you as a person ? Don ’ t look at the bankbook or the title . Look at the heart . Look at the soul . Look at how the guy treats his mother and what he says about women … and , more important , how does he treat you ?” — December 2009
White House Field Trip Mrs . Obama , Sarah Jessica Parker , and Kerry Washington discuss support for military families for Glamour ’ s May 2015 cover story .
OBAMA AND SHAHIDI : PAUL MORIGI / GETTY IMAGES FOR GLAMOUR . OBAMA IN RED : MATTHIAS VRIES-MCGRATH . OBAMA , PARKER , AND WASHINGTON : PATRICK DEMARCHELIER