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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