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| {{Short description|Former First Lady of the United States}}
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| {{redirect|First Lady Michelle Obama|the painting|First Lady Michelle Obama (painting)}}
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| {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
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| {{Infobox officeholder | | {{Infobox officeholder |
| | image = Michelle Obama 2013 official portrait.jpg | | | name = Michelle Obama |
| | caption = Obama in 2013
| | | image name = Michelle Obama 2013 official portrait.jpg |
| | alt = Official portrait of Michelle Obama in the Green Room of the White House
| | | office = [[First Lady of the United States]] |
| | office = [[First Lady of the United States]] | | | term_start = January 20, 2009 |
| | president = [[Barack Obama]]
| | | term_end = January 20, 2017 |
| | term_label = In role
| | | president = [[Barack Obama]] |
| | term_start = January 20, 2009 | | | predecessor = [[Laura Bush]] |
| | term_end = January 20, 2017 | | | successor = [[Melania Trump]] |
| | predecessor = [[Laura Bush]] | | | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1964|1|17}} |
| | successor = [[Melania Trump]] | | | birth_place = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S. |
| | birth_name = Michelle LaVaughn Robinson
| | | birthname = Michelle LaVaughn Robinson |
| | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|1|17}} | | | death_date = |
| | birth_place = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S. | | | death_place = |
| | death_date = | | | party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] |
| | death_place = | | | spouse = [[Barack Obama]] (m. 1992) |
| | party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | | | relations = |
| | spouse = {{marriage|[[Barack Obama]]|October 3, 1992}} | | | children = * Malia |
| | children = {{flatlist| | | * Sasha |
| * [[Malia Obama|Malia]] | | | residence = [[Washington, D.C.]]<br />[[Kenwood, Chicago|Kenwood]], [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] |
| * [[Sasha Obama|Sasha]]
| | | alma_mater = {{plainlist| * [[Princeton University]] |
| }}
| | * [[Harvard Law School]] |
| | parents = {{Plainlist| | |
| * [[Family of Barack Obama#Fraser C. Robinson III|Fraser Robinson III]] (father) | |
| * [[Marian Shields Robinson|Marian Shields]] (mother) | |
| }} | | }} |
| | relatives = {{Plainlist| | | | signature = |
| * [[Obama family]] (by marriage)
| | | occupation = |
| * [[Craig Robinson (basketball)|Craig Robinson]] (brother)
| | | net worth = |
| }}
| | | website = |
| | education = {{Plainlist| | | | footnotes = |
| * [[Princeton University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|AB]])
| | | caption = Official portrait, February 2013 |
| * [[Harvard University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
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| }}
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| | signature = Michelle Obama signature.svg | |
| }} | | }} |
| | '''Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama''' (born January 17, 1964) is a former author and attorney who served the a[[First Lady of the United States]] from 2009 to 2017 as the wife of the President [[Barack Obama]]. She was the first [[African Americans|African American]] woman to serve as this role. Like many other first ladies, Michelle has worked as a spokesperson for a cause. The cause she supports is better nutrition and exercise for children. She has done work with the [[Disney Channel]] and [[Nickelodeon]] to support this cause. |
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| '''Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama'''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-12-23|title=First Lady Michelle Obama|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama|access-date=2021-03-04 |publisher=whitehouse.gov |language=en}}</ref> (born January 17, 1964) is an American attorney and author who served as the [[first lady of the United States|First Lady of the United States]] from 2009 to 2017. She was the [[List of African-American firsts|first African-American]] woman to serve in this position. She is married to the 44th [[President of the United States]], [[Barack Obama]]. | | == Life == |
| | [[File:Defense.gov photo essay 091110-N-0696M-261.jpg|thumb|left|Obama (right) with [[Barack Obama]] (left)]] |
| | [[File:Defense.gov_News_Photo_101115-A-0193C-016 - President Barack Obama right Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta and First Lady Michelle Obama enter the East Room of the White House to begin the Medal.jpg|thumb|right|Obama with her husband and [[Salvatore Giunta]]]] |
| | Obama was born '''Michelle LaVaughn Robinson''' at Provident Hospital of Cook County in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] on January 17, 1964.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/data/ct-michelle-obama-chicago-map-htmlstory.html|title=Michelle Obama's Chicago: 10 key locations|last=Rumore|first=Kori|website=chicagotribune.com|access-date=2020-04-12}}</ref> She went to [[Princeton University]] and [[Harvard University|Harvard Law School]]. She and [[Barack Obama]] were married on October 3, 1992, and they have two children, Malia (born July 4, 1998) and Sasha (born June 10, 2001). For a long time, she lived in [[Chicago]] with her family. Then, her husband became a junior [[Senator]] for the State of Illinois. After that, he ran for president of the USA and won. Michelle became the [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]] of the [[United States]] and lived in the [[White House]] with her husband and two children. Her husband was elected on November 6, 2012, to a second term as president, so she served as First Lady until January 20, 2017. |
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| Raised on the [[South Side of Chicago]], Illinois, Obama is a graduate of [[Princeton University]] and [[Harvard Law School]]. In her early legal career, she worked at the law firm [[Sidley Austin]] where she met Barack Obama. She subsequently worked in nonprofits and as the associate dean of Student Services at the [[University of Chicago]] as well as the vice president for Community and External Affairs of the [[University of Chicago Medical Center]]. Michelle married Barack in 1992, and together they have two daughters.
| | On September 17, 2014, Obama visited [[St. Jude Children's Research Hospital]] in Memphis, Tennessee. Kids there asked her questions. She said when she was asked who in her family that she liked to prank the most that her husband was the person, also saying they love to scare each other. Their daughters also try to scare them, but are not good, as their mother claimed. She also said the Truman Balcony is her favorite part of the White House. When asked about what she liked most about being First Lady of the United States, she answered that she enjoyed meeting the [[Pope Francis|Pope]] and also spoke of being around [[Beyoncé]] and her fans at one of her concerts. She showed how excited she was by saying "Oh, my stars!"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/09/18/michelle-obama-dishes-on-beyonce-concerts-family-pranks-and-presidential-dogs-on-air-force-one/|date=September 18, 2014|title=Michelle Obama dishes on Beyonce concerts and presidential dogs on Air Force One|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> |
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| Obama campaigned for her [[Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign|husband's presidential bid]] throughout 2007 and 2008, delivering a keynote address at the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]]. She has subsequently delivered acclaimed speeches at the [[2012 Democratic National Convention|2012]], [[2016 Democratic National Convention|2016]], and [[2020 Democratic National Convention|2020]] conventions.
| | In June 2018, she spoke to the [[American Library Association]] saying of her time in the White House as having had "no time for mistake".<ref>http://time.com/5320323/michelle-obama-ala-conference.'Making{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Mistakes Was Not an Option.' Michelle Obama on the Pressure of Being 'The First'|</ref> |
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| As first lady, Obama served as a role model for women and worked as an advocate for poverty awareness, education, nutrition, physical activity, and healthy eating. She supported American designers and was considered a fashion icon.<ref>{{cite news |last=Donahue |first=Wendy|date=November 12, 2008|title=Michelle Obama emerges as an American fashion icon|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/shopping/chi-michelle-obama-1112_qnov12,0,5421281.story|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Christina|last= Bellantoni|date=April 10, 2009 |title=Michelle Obama settling in as a role model |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/10/michelle-obama-settling-in-as-a-role-model/ |work=[[The Washington Times]]|access-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref>
| | ==Family== |
| | [[File:Obama_and_family_of_Christina_Taylor_Green_2011.jpg|Obama with family of Christina Taylor in 2011.|thumb|left]] |
| | Michelle Obama's brother, Craig Robinson, is the head coach of the Oregon State University men's basketball team. Her father, Fraser Robinson, was a pump operator for the Chicago Water Department.<ref>{{cite web|title=Michelle Obama Biography|url=http://www.biography.com/people/michelle-obama-307592|publisher=[[Biography]].com}}</ref> Her mother Marion Robinson stayed home to raise her and her brother Craig. Her children are Sasha and Malia Ann Obama. |
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| After her husband's presidency, her influence remained high; in 2020, Obama topped [[Gallup's most admired man and woman poll|Gallup's poll of the most admired woman in America]] for the third year running.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trump, Michelle Obama top Gallup's 2020 most admired lists|url=https://www.wthitv.com/content/news/Trump-Michelle-Obama-top-Gallups-2020-most-admired-lists-573506701.html|date=December 30, 2020|access-date=January 2, 2021|website=WTHI News}}</ref>
| | ==Career== |
| | Michelle Obama became a lawyer after graduating from law school. While working at the law firm Sidley Austin, she met her future husband.<ref name="womanbehind">{{cite news|accessdate=January 22, 2008 |
| | |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/221458,CST-NWS-mich21.article |title=The woman behind Obama |author=Rossi, Rosalind |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=January 20, 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215230648/http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/221458,CST-NWS-mich21.article|archivedate=February 15, 2008}}</ref> |
| | In 1991, she left the company to work in the mayor's office as an Assistant to the Mayor, then she pursued various jobs outside the city including executive director, associate dean and executive vice president. After her husband’s inauguration, she focused on lifestyle and fitness, and she launched the Let’s Move campaign to eliminate childhood obesity. Her approval rating was 71% in March of 2010. (Gale Biography in context) |
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| == Family and education == | | ==Books== |
| {{See also|Family of Barack Obama#Michelle Obama's extended family}} | | These books were written or [[ghostwriter|ghostwritten]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=EDWARD-ISAAC DOVERE |title=Waiting for Obama |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/05/obama-2020-election/590056/ |accessdate=24 May 2019 |work=[[The Atlantic]] |date=23 May 2019 |language=en |quote=he’ll occasionally point out in conversation that he’s writing this book himself, while Michelle used a ghostwriter}}</ref> and published by Michelle Obama while she was First Lady and afterwards: |
| | * {{cite book | title=[[American Grown]] | year=2012 | publisher=Crown Publishing Group | location=New York | isbn=978-0307956026}} |
| | * {{cite book | title=[[Becoming (book)|Becoming]] | year=2018 | publisher=Crown Publishing Group | location=New York | isbn=978-1524763138}} |
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| === Early life and ancestry === | | ==References== |
| Michelle LaVaughn Robinson was born on January 17, 1964, in [[Chicago]], Illinois, to Fraser Robinson III (1935–1991),<ref name=TFToMOtFL /> a city water plant employee and [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[precinct captain]], and [[Marian Shields Robinson]] (b. July 30, 1937), a secretary at [[Spiegel (catalog)|Spiegel's catalog store]].<ref name="womanbehind">{{cite news|access-date=January 22, 2008 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/221458,CST-NWS-mich21.article |title=The woman behind Obama |author=Rossi, Rosalind |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=January 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215230648/http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/221458%2CCST-NWS-mich21.article |archive-date=February 15, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Her mother was a full-time homemaker until Michelle entered high school.<ref name="PAW2009">{{cite journal |title=Mrs. Obama goes to Washington |author=Slevin, Peter |date=March 18, 2009
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| |journal=[[Princeton Alumni Weekly]] |volume=109 |pages=18–22 |issue=10}}</ref>
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| The Robinson and Shields families trace their roots to pre-[[American Civil War|Civil War]] African Americans<!--Please do not change this – talk.--> in the [[Southern United States|American South]].<ref name=TFToMOtFL>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/10/08/us/politics/20091008-obama-family-tree.html|title=The Family Tree of Michelle Obama, the First Lady|access-date=September 23, 2014|date=October 7, 2009|work=[[The New York Times]]|author1=Dance, Gabriel |author2=Elisabeth Goodridge |name-list-style=amp }}</ref> On her father's side, she is descended from the [[Gullah]] people of South Carolina's [[Lowcountry|Low Country]] region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islandpacket.com/2009/04/04/804596/examining-michelle-obamas-lowcountry.html#ixzz1SPm5xZif |title=Examining Michelle Obama's Lowcountry roots|work=[[The Island Packet]]|date=April 4, 2009 |access-date=August 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927083448/http://www.islandpacket.com/2009/04/04/804596/examining-michelle-obamas-lowcountry.html |archive-date=September 27, 2011}}</ref> Her paternal great-great grandfather, Jim Robinson, was born into [[Slavery in the United States|slavery]] in 1850 on [[Friendfield Plantation]], near [[Georgetown, South Carolina]].<ref name="soil">{{cite news |author=Murray, Shailagh |title=A Family Tree Rooted in American Soil: Michelle Obama Learns About Her Slave Ancestors, Herself and Her Country |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/01/AR2008100103169.html |work=[[The Washington Post]] |page=C01 |date=October 2, 2008 |access-date=October 9, 2008}}</ref><ref name="cabin">{{cite news | title=From slave cabin to White House, a family rooted in black America | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5092944.ece | author=Bone, James |work=[[The Times]] | location=London | date=November 6, 2008 | access-date=November 7, 2008}}</ref> He became a [[freedman]] at age 15 after the war. Some of Obama's paternal family still reside in the Georgetown area.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7470764.stm|work=BBC News |title=Michelle: Barack's bitter or better half?|author=Levinson, Molly|date=June 4, 2008|access-date=April 4, 2009}}</ref><ref name=NPR>{{cite news | access-date=April 3, 2009 | url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11831859 |title=Spouses on the Campaign Trail: Michelle Obama Sees Election as Test for America |author=Norris, Michele|work=All Things Considered|date=July 9, 2007| publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> Her grandfather Fraser Robinson, Jr. built his own house in South Carolina. He and his wife LaVaughn (née Johnson) returned to the Low Country from Chicago after retirement.<ref name="soil" />
| | ==External links== |
| | {{commonscat|Michelle Obama}} |
| | {{wikiquote-en}} |
| | * [https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/first-ladies/michelleobama Michelle Obama's White House Biography] |
| | * {{url|https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/first-families/michelle-obama/|Michelle Obama at whitehouse.gov}} |
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| Among her maternal ancestors was her great-great-great-grandmother, Melvinia Shields, born into slavery in South Carolina but sold to Henry Walls Shields, who had a 200-acre farm in [[Clayton County, Georgia]] near Atlanta. Melvinia's first son, Dolphus T. Shields, was biracial and born into slavery around 1860. Based on DNA and other evidence, in 2012 researchers said his father was likely 20-year-old Charles Marion Shields, son of Melvinia's master. They may have had a continuing relationship, as she had two more mixed-race children and lived near Shields after emancipation, taking his surname (she later changed her surname).<ref name="swarns">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/us/dna-gives-new-insights-into-michelle-obamas-roots.html|title=Meet Your Cousin, the First Lady: A Family Story, Long Hidden|last=Swarns |first=Rachel L. |date=June 16, 2012|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 20, 2014}}</ref>
| | {{US First Ladies}} |
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| As was often the case, Melvinia did not talk to relatives about Dolphus's father.<ref name="NYT-maternal ancestry">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/us/politics/08genealogy.html |title=In First Lady's Roots, a Complex Path From Slavery|last1=Swarns |first1=Rachel L. |last2=Kantor |first2=Jodi |date=October 7, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 20, 2014}}</ref> Dolphus Shields, with his wife Alice, moved to [[Birmingham, Alabama]] after the Civil War. They were great-great-grandparents of Michelle Robinson, whose grandparents had moved to Chicago.<ref name="NYT-maternal ancestry" /> Other of their children's lines migrated to [[Cleveland, Ohio]] in the 20th century.<ref name="swarns" />
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| All four of Robinson's grandparents had multiracial ancestors, reflecting the complex history of the U.S. Her extended family has said that people did not talk about the era of slavery when they were growing up.<ref name="swarns" /> Her distant ancestry includes Irish, English, and Native American roots.<ref>{{cite news|author=Produced by Meghan Louttit/The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/06/22/us/first-lady-family-q-and-a.html |title=The First Family: A New Glimpse of Michelle Obama's White Ancestors – Interactive Feature |location=Southern States (US)|work=The New York Times |date=June 22, 2012 |access-date=December 14, 2012}}</ref> Among her contemporary extended family is [[Rabbi]] [[Capers Funnye]]; born in Georgetown, South Carolina. Funnye is the son of her grandfather Robinson's sister and her husband, and he is about 12 years older than Michelle. Funnye converted to Judaism after college. He is a paternal first cousin once-removed.<ref name="NYT090402">{{cite news | first=Zev | last=Chafets | title=Obama's Rabbi | date=April 5, 2009 | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/magazine/05rabbi-t.html?em=&pagewanted=all | work =[[New York Times]] | access-date = April 5, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="fwd">{{cite web |url=http://www.forward.com/articles/14121/ |title=Michelle Obama Has a Rabbi in Her Family |access-date=September 2, 2008 |author=Anthony Weiss |date=September 2, 2008 |work=[[The Jewish Daily Forward]] }}</ref>
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| Robinson's childhood home was on the upper floor of 7436 South Euclid Avenue in Chicago's [[South Shore, Chicago|South Shore]] [[Community areas of Chicago|community area]], which her parents rented from her great-aunt, who had the first floor.<ref name="womanbehind" /><ref name="WaPo2009-02-01">{{cite news | first= Eli | last=Saslow | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/31/AR2009013101876.html?sid=ST2009013102074 | title=From the Second City, An Extended First Family |work=The Washington Post | date=February 1, 2009 | access-date=July 24, 2010}}</ref><ref name=NY052404>{{cite news | access-date=January 22, 2008 |url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2004/05/31/040531fa_fact1 |author=Finnegan, William|title=The Candidate: How the Son of a Kenyan Economist Became an Illinois Everyman |work=The New Yorker|date=May 31, 2004}}</ref><ref name=MOAL>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1849421,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014224908/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1849421,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 14, 2008|title=Michelle Obama, A Life | access-date=January 8, 2009 | date=October 13, 2008 |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|author=Pickert, Kate}}</ref> She was raised in what she describes as a "conventional" home, with "the mother at home, the father works, you have dinner around the table".<ref name=FLIW /> Her elementary school was down the street. She and her family enjoyed playing games such as [[Monopoly (board game)|Monopoly]], reading, and frequently saw extended family on both sides.<ref name=MOSS /> She played piano,<ref>{{cite news|author=Peter Conrad|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/nov/18/becoming-by-michelle-obama-book-review-peter-conrad|title=Becoming by Michelle Obama – review|newspaper=The Guardian|date=November 18, 2018}}</ref> learning from her great-aunt, who was a piano teacher.<ref>Bond, p. 40.</ref> The Robinsons attended services at nearby South Shore United Methodist Church.<ref name="WaPo2009-02-01" /> They used to vacation in a rustic cabin in [[White Cloud, Michigan]].<ref name="WaPo2009-02-01" /> She and her 21-month-older brother, [[Craig Robinson (basketball)|Craig]], skipped the second grade.<ref name="womanbehind" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.firstladies.org/biographies/firstladies.aspx?biography=45|title=Michelle Obama Biography|date=February 5, 2009|publisher=National First Ladies' Library|access-date=April 6, 2016}}</ref>
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| Her father suffered from [[multiple sclerosis]], which had a profound emotional effect on her as she was growing up. She was determined to stay out of trouble and be a good student, which was what her father wanted for her.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/09/09/first-lady-michelle-obama-remembers-the-struggles-of-her-father-in-talk-to-atlanta-students/|title=First Lady Michelle Obama Remembers The Struggles of Her Father in Talk To Atlanta Students|first=Maria|last=Boynton|date=September 9, 2014|publisher=atlanta.cbslocal.com|access-date=February 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303111127/http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/09/09/first-lady-michelle-obama-remembers-the-struggles-of-her-father-in-talk-to-atlanta-students/|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> By sixth grade, Michelle joined a gifted class at Bryn Mawr Elementary School (later renamed Bouchet Academy).<ref>{{cite news|first=Rosalind |last=Ross |title=Kids at Michelle Obama's old school see reflection |date=November 10, 2008 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1270055,CST-NWS-kids10.article |work=Chicago Sun-Times |access-date=November 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114121740/http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1270055%2CCST-NWS-kids10.article |archive-date=November 14, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She attended [[Whitney M. Young Magnet High School|Whitney Young High School]],<ref name="West">{{cite news| url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-09-01/features/0408310383_1_michelle-obama-sidley-austin-brown-best-laid-plans|title=Her plan went awry, but Michelle Obama doesn't mind – Chicago Tribune|last=West|first=Cassandra|date=September 1, 2004|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=August 21, 2010}}</ref> Chicago's first [[magnet school|magnet high school]], established as a selective enrollment school, where she was a classmate of [[Jesse Jackson]]'s daughter [[Santita Jackson|Santita]].<ref name=MOSS>{{cite news| url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1835686,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080826024420/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1835686,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 26, 2008 |title=Michelle Obama's Savvy Sacrifice|access-date=October 12, 2008|date=August 25, 2008 | work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|author=Newton-Small, Jay}}</ref> The round-trip commute from the Robinsons' South Side home to the [[Near West Side, Chicago|Near West Side]], where the school was located, took three hours.<ref name=tn /> Michelle recalled being fearful of how others would perceive her, but disregarded any negativity around her and used it "to fuel me, to keep me going".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20141014/south-shore-above-79th/michelle-obama-recalls-stressful-childhood-south-shore-at-whitney-young|title=Michelle Obama Recalls Stressful Childhood in South Shore, at Whitney Young|date=October 14, 2014|publisher=DNAinfo|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112045239/http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20141014/south-shore-above-79th/michelle-obama-recalls-stressful-childhood-south-shore-at-whitney-young|archive-date=January 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/michelle-obama-get-personal-empower-youth|title=First lady gets personal in education push|date=November 12, 2013|publisher=MSNBC|first=Morgan|last=Whitaker}}</ref> She recalled facing [[gender discrimination]] growing up, saying, for example, that rather than asking her for her opinion on a given subject, people commonly tended to ask what her older brother thought.<ref name=2015CNN>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/04/politics/michelle-obama-qatar-education/|title=In Qatar, Michelle Obama delivers pointed message on women's rights|date=November 4, 2015|first=Kevin|last=Liptak|publisher=CNN}}</ref> She was on the honor roll for four years, took [[advanced placement]] classes, was a member of the [[National Honor Society]], and served as [[student council]] treasurer.<ref name="womanbehind" /> She graduated in 1981 as the [[salutatorian]] of her class.<ref name=tn />
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| === Education and early career ===
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| Robinson was inspired to follow her brother to [[Princeton University]], which she entered in 1981.<ref name="PAW2009" /><ref name="boston-globe-2008">{{cite news |last=Jacobs |first=Sally |url=http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/06/15/learning_to_be_michelle_obama/?page=full |title=Learning to be Michelle Obama |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=June 15, 2008 |access-date=December 30, 2018 }}</ref>
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| She majored in sociology and minored in [[African-American studies]], graduating ''[[latin honors|cum laude]]'' with a Bachelor of Arts in 1985 after completing a 99-page senior thesis titled "Princeton Educated Blacks and the Black Community" under the supervision of Walter Wallace.<ref name="womanbehind" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Robinson|first=Michelle LaVaughn|editor-last=Wallace|editor-first=Walter|editor2-last=Princeton University. Department of Sociology|title=Princeton Educated Blacks and the Black Community|url=https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/dsp01th83m1205}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Princeton sociologist Walter Wallace dies at age 88|url=https://www.princeton.edu/news/2015/12/08/princeton-sociologist-walter-wallace-dies-age-88|publisher=[[Princeton University]]|access-date=May 28, 2020}}</ref>
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| Robinson recalls that some of her teachers in high school tried to dissuade her from applying, and that she had been warned against "setting my sights too high".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/politics-news/michelle-obama-recalls-being-told-shed-never-get-into-prince.html| title=Michelle Obama Recalls Being Told She'd 'Never Get Into' Princeton|date=November 13, 2013 |publisher=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/michelle-obama-kicks-new-education-initiative-washington-high-school-article-1.1514284|title=Michelle Obama kicks off new education initiative at Washington, D.C. high school|date=November 12, 2013|work=New York Daily News}}</ref> She believed her brother's status as an alumnus{{snd}}he graduated in 1983,<ref name=Bond41 /> before being hired as a basketball coach at [[Oregon State University]] and [[Brown University]]<ref name="craig">{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10884778/craig-robinson-fired-oregon-state-beavers|title=Oregon State fires Craig Robinson|access-date=August 23, 2014|date=May 5, 2014|author=Goodman, Jeff|publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>{{snd}}may have helped her during the admission process,<ref>{{cite book|title=Michelle Obama: First Lady of Hope|page=[https://archive.org/details/michelleobamafir00ligh/page/20 20.]|year=2008|publisher=Lyons Press|isbn=978-1-59921-521-1|url=https://archive.org/details/michelleobamafir00ligh/page/20}}</ref> but she was resolved to demonstrate her own worth.<ref name=Bond41>{{cite book|title=Michelle Obama, a Biography|first=Alma Halbert|last=Bond|pages=41–42|publisher=Greenwood|year=2011|isbn=978-0-313-38104-1}}</ref> She has said she was overwhelmed during her first year, attributing this to the fact that neither of her parents had graduated from college,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nj.com/education/2014/02/michelle_obama_recounts_difficult_freshman_year_at_princeton_in_new_video.html|title=Michelle Obama recounts difficult first year at Princeton in new video|date=February 7, 2014|first=Kelly|last=Heyboer|publisher=nj.com}}</ref> and that she had never spent time on a college campus.<ref name=TIME2015>{{cite news|url=http://time.com/3915678/michelle-obama-commencement-chicago/|title=Michelle Obama to Chicago High School Grads: 'Stay Hungry'|publisher=Time|date=June 10, 2015}}</ref>
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| The mother of a white roommate reportedly tried (unsuccessfully) to get her daughter reassigned because of Michelle's race.<ref name="boston-globe-2008" /> Robinson said being at Princeton was the first time she became more aware of her ethnicity and, despite the willingness of her classmates and teachers to reach out to her, she still felt "like a visitor on campus".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/03/michelle-obama-princeton-harvard-116390|title=Michelle Obama, Race and the Ivy League|date=March 26, 2015|publisher=POLITICO| first=Peter| last=Slevin}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/10/AR2007051002573_2.html| title=Michelle Obama's Career Timeout|date=May 11, 2007|work=The Washington Post}}</ref> There were also issues of economic class. "I remember being shocked," she says, "by college students who drove [[BMW]]s. I didn't even know parents who drove BMWs."<ref name="tn" />
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| While at Princeton, Robinson became involved with the Third World Center (now known as the Carl A. Fields Center), an academic and cultural group who supported minority students. She ran their daycare center, which also offered after school tutoring for older children.<ref name="Biography Today">{{cite book|title=Biography Today|year=2009|page=[https://archive.org/details/biographytodaypr0000unse/page/117 117]|publisher=Omnigraphics|location=Detroit, Michigan|isbn=978-0-7808-1052-5|url=https://archive.org/details/biographytodaypr0000unse/page/117}}</ref> She challenged the teaching methodology for French because she felt it should be more conversational.<ref name=FWtWMO /> As part of her requirements for graduation, she wrote a sociology thesis, entitled ''Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community''.<ref name="thesis">Robinson, Michelle LaVaughn (1985), Sociology Department. "[http://libweb5.princeton.edu/theses/index.htm Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community (96 pages).] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527042623/http://libweb5.princeton.edu/theses/index.htm |date=May 27, 2019 }}" [[Seeley G. Mudd]] Manuscript Library, Princeton University. (Thesis currently unavailable from this library; see next footnote for links to text.)</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8642.html
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| |title=Michelle Obama thesis was on racial divide|access-date=April 19, 2008|date=February 22, 2008|work=[[Politico]] |author=Ressner, Jeffrey}}</ref> She researched her thesis by sending a questionnaire to African-American graduates, asking that they specify when and how comfortable they were with their race prior to their enrollment at Princeton and how they felt about it when they were a student and since then. Of the 400 alumni to whom she sent the survey, fewer than 90 responded. Her findings did not support her hope that the black alumni would still identify with the African-American community, even though they had attended an elite university and had the advantages that accrue to its graduates.<!--Needs more explanation.--><ref name=Bond44>{{cite book|title=Michelle Obama, a Biography|first=Alma Halbert|last=Bond|pages=44–45|publisher=Greenwood|year=2011|isbn=978-0-313-38104-1}}</ref>
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| Robinson pursued professional study, earning her [[Juris Doctor]] (J.D.) degree from [[Harvard Law School]] in 1988.<ref name=Princetonian>{{cite news|author=Brown, Sarah|url=http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2005/12/07/news/14049.shtml |title= Obama '85 Masters Balancing Act| work=[[Daily Princetonian]]|date=December 7, 2005|access-date=April 3, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220165725/http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2005/12/07/14049/| archive-date=February 20, 2009}}</ref> By the time she applied for Harvard Law, biographer Bond wrote, her confidence had increased: "This time around, there was no doubt in her mind that she had earned her place".<ref name=Bond44 /> Her faculty mentor at Harvard Law was [[Charles Ogletree]], who has said she had answered the question that had plagued her throughout Princeton by the time she arrived at Harvard Law: whether she would remain the product of her parents or keep the identity she had acquired at Princeton; she had concluded she could be "both brilliant and black".<ref>{{cite book|title=The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama|page=204| first=David|last=Remnick| year=2011|publisher=Vintage|isbn=978-0-375-70230-3}}</ref>
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| At Harvard, Robinson participated in demonstrations advocating the hiring of professors who were members of minority groups.<ref name="Newsweek20080225">{{cite news|access-date=April 3, 2009|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/112849 |title= Barack's Rock |last=Wolffe |first=Richard |work=[[Newsweek]]|date=February 25, 2008}}</ref> She worked for the [[Harvard Legal Aid Bureau]], assisting low-income tenants with housing cases.<ref>"Biography Today", p. 117</ref> She is the third first lady with a [[Postgraduate education|postgraduate degree]], after her two immediate predecessors, [[Hillary Clinton]] and [[Laura Bush]].<ref name="VLiCBTO" /> She later said her education gave her opportunities beyond what she had ever imagined.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/05/michelle-obama-in-qatar-outdated-laws-and-traditions-rob-girls-of-education|title=Michelle Obama in Qatar: 'outdated laws and traditions' rob girls of education|date=November 4, 2015|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>
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| === Family life ===
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| Michelle's mother Marian Robinson, was a stay-at-home mom.<ref name="Michelle Obama">{{Cite web|date=2021-01-13|title=Michelle Obama|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michelle-Obama|access-date=2021-03-11|website=Britannica}}</ref> Her father was Fraser C. Robinson III, who worked at the city's water purification plant.<ref name="Michelle Obama"/> Robinson's father, [[Family of Barack Obama#Fraser C. Robinson III|Fraser]], died from complications from his illness in March 1991.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nymag.com/news/politics/55360/|title=Michelle's Life|date=March 15, 2009|publisher=nymag.com}}</ref> She would later say that although he was the "hole in my heart" and "loss in my scar", the memory of her father has motivated her each day since.<ref name=TIME2015 /> Her friend Suzanne Alele died from cancer around this time as well. These losses made her think of her contributions toward society and how well she was influencing the world from her law firm, in her first job after law school. She considered this a turning point.<ref>Lightfoot, p. 53.</ref>
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| Robinson met [[Barack Obama]] when they were among the few African Americans at their law firm, [[Sidley Austin]] LLP (she has sometimes said ''only'' two, although others have noted that there were others in different departments).<ref name="WMMB">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/26/AR2008092602856.html|title=When Michelle Met Barack|last=Mundy|first=Liza|date= October 5, 2008|work=The Washington Post|access-date=October 25, 2008}}</ref> She was assigned to mentor him while he was a [[summer associate]].<ref name=MOCT>{{cite news|access-date=February 12, 2008|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/10/AR2007051002573_2.html|title=Michelle Obama's Career Timeout|author=Kornblut, Anne E.|date=May 11, 2007|work=The Washington Post}}</ref> Their relationship started with a business lunch and then a [[community organization]] meeting where he first impressed her.<ref name=MOHSMOMF />
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| Before meeting Obama, Michelle had told her mother she intended to focus solely on her career.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/what_michelle_obama_didnt_like_about_working_at_sidley_austin/|title=What Michelle Obama Didn't Like About Working at Sidley Austin|publisher=abajournal.com|date=October 6, 2008|first=Martha|last=Neil}}</ref> The couple's first date was to [[Spike Lee]]'s movie ''[[Do the Right Thing]]'' (1989).<ref>{{cite news|access-date=April 5, 2009|date=January 22, 2009
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| |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/michelle-obama/4317226/50-things-you-didnt-know-about-Michelle-Obama.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125035853/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/michelle-obama/4317226/50-things-you-didnt-know-about-Michelle-Obama.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 25, 2009|title=50 things you didn't know about Michelle Obama|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|location=London, UK|first1=Nick|last1=Greene|first2=Melissa|last2=Whitworth}}</ref> Barack Obama has said the couple had an "opposites attract" scenario in their initial interest in each other, since Michelle had stability from her two-parent home while he was "adventurous".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/obama-opens-up-about-his-father-his-mother-and-his-marriage/article/2566757|title=Obama opens up about his father, his mother and his marriage|first=Susan|last=Crabtree|publisher=Washington Examiner|date=June 22, 2015}}</ref> They married on October 3, 1992.<ref name=MOHSMOMF>{{cite news|first=Scott |last=Fornek |title=Michelle Obama: 'He Swept Me Off My Feet' |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=October 3, 2007 |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/585261,CST-NWS-wedding03.stng |access-date=December 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214054327/http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/585261%2CCST-NWS-wedding03.stng |archive-date=December 14, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After suffering a miscarriage, Michelle underwent [[in vitro fertilisation]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/09/michelle-obama-had-miscarriage-used-ivf-conceive-girls/|title=Michelle Obama had miscarriage, used IVF to conceive girls|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|first=Ben|last=Riley-Smith|date=November 9, 2018|access-date=November 15, 2018}}</ref> to conceive their daughters Malia Ann (born 1998) and Natasha (known as Sasha, born 2001).<ref name=Newsweek2007>{{cite news|access-date=April 3, 2009|title=Ground Support|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/70165?tid=relatedcl|author1=Springen, Karen|author2= Jonathan Darman|name-list-style=amp|work=Newsweek|date=January 29, 2007}}</ref>
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| <!--Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, was quoted by ''[[Washington Post]]'' correspondent [[Peter Slevin]] in his book ''Michelle Obama: A Life''<ref>''Michelle Obama: A Life'', Knopf Publishing (April 7, 2015); {{ISBN|978-0307958822}}.</ref> in an interview with [[WTTW]]'s ''Chicago Tonight'' in which Mrs Robinson addressed the issue of race. So? Looks like something is missing here – no quote and why is this here at this point in article?-->
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| [[File:ObamaHouseChicago.jpg|thumb|The Obama family home in Chicago]]
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| The Obama family lived on Chicago's South Side, where Barack taught at the University of Chicago Law School. He was elected to the state senate in 1996, and to the US Senate in 2004. They chose to keep their residence in Chicago after Barack's election rather than to move to Washington, DC, as they felt it was better for their daughters. Throughout her husband's [[Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign|2008 campaign for US President]], Michelle Obama made a "commitment to be away overnight only once a week{{snd}}to campaign only two days a week and be home by the end of the second day" for their two daughters.<ref name=PasadenaWeekly>{{cite news|title=Mother, wife, superstar|url=http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/mother_wife_superstar/6037|author=Piasecki, Joe|date=June 5, 2008|work=Pasadena Weekly|publisher=[[Southland Publishing]]|access-date=April 3, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416013539/http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/mother_wife_superstar/6037/|archive-date=April 16, 2009}}</ref>
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| [[File:Barack Obama family portrait 2011.jpg|thumb|left|Official portrait by [[Pete Souza]] of the Obama family in the [[Oval Office]], December 11, 2011|234x234px]]
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| She once requested that her then-fiancé meet her prospective boss, [[Valerie Jarrett]], when considering her first career move;<ref name=FLIW /> Jarrett became one of her husband's closest advisors.<ref name=MOIGaLM /><ref name=MOSHR>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120269904120358135|title=Michelle Obama Solidifies Her Role|access-date=February 12, 2008|date=February 11, 2008|author=Langley, Monica |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> The marital relationship has had its ebbs and flows; the combination of an evolving family life and beginning political career led to many arguments about balancing work and family. Barack Obama wrote in his second book, ''[[The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream]]'', that "Tired and stressed, we had little time for conversation, much less romance."<ref>{{cite news|title=Fame puts squeeze on family life: Many hurdles as Obamas seek balance|date=October 19, 2006|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Herrmann, Andrew}}</ref> Despite their family obligations and careers, they continued to try to schedule "date nights" while they lived in Chicago.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2008/11/21/whispers-poll-president-elect-obama-and-michelle-obamas-date-night.html|title=Whispers Poll: President-Elect Obama and Michelle Obama's Date Night|access-date=January 10, 2009|date=November 21, 2008|work=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|author=Bedard, Paul}}</ref>
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| The Obamas' daughters attended the [[University of Chicago Laboratory Schools]], a private school.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/the-rantings-of-a-pta-mom/|title=The Rantings of a P.T.A. Mom|access-date=October 13, 2008|date=September 9, 2008|work=The New York Times|author=Loh, Sandra Tsing}}</ref> As a member of the school's board, Michelle fought to maintain diversity in the school when other board members connected with the University of Chicago tried to reserve more slots for children of the university faculty. This resulted in a plan to expand the school to increase enrollment.<ref name="PAW2009" /> In Washington, DC, Malia and Sasha attended [[Sidwell Friends School]], after also considering [[Georgetown Day School]].<ref name="Sidwell">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/21/AR2008112103248.html|title=Obama Girls Will Go To Sidwell Friends: Elite Private School Is 'Best Fit' for Next First Family|author=Leiby, Richard L.|work=The Washington Post|date=November 22, 2008|access-date=December 9, 2008}}</ref><ref name=JOMF>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/170360|title=Just One More Frame!: How do you raise kids in the White House and 'keep them normal,' too?|access-date=January 9, 2009|date=November 22, 2008|work=Newsweek|author=Smalley, Suzanne}}</ref> In 2008, Michelle said in an interview on ''[[The Ellen DeGeneres Show]]'' that they did not intend to have any more children.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/michelle-im-done/?|title=Michelle Obama: 'I'm Done'|access-date=October 13, 2008|date=September 4, 2008|work=The New York Times|author=Zeleny, Jeff}}</ref> The Obamas received advice from past first ladies [[Laura Bush]], [[Rosalynn Carter]] and [[Hillary Clinton]] about raising children in the [[White House]].<ref name=JOMF /> [[Marian Robinson]], Michelle's mother, moved into the White House to assist with child care.<ref name=MOSWW>{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/11/07/michelle-obama-slights-working-women.html|title=Michelle Obama Slights Working Women|access-date=January 10, 2009| date=November 7, 2008|work=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|author=Erbe, Bonnie}}</ref>
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| === Religion ===
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| [[File:Obamas at church on Inauguration Day 2013.jpg|thumb|The Obamas attend a church service in Washington, D.C., January 2013.|245x245px]]
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| Michelle Obama was raised [[United Methodist]] and joined the [[Trinity United Church of Christ]], a mostly black congregation of the [[Reformed]] denomination known as the [[United Church of Christ]]. She and Barack Obama were married there by Rev. [[Jeremiah Wright]]. On May 31, 2008, Barack and Michelle Obama announced that they had withdrawn their membership in Trinity United Church of Christ saying: "Our relations with Trinity have been strained by the divisive statements of Reverend Wright, which sharply conflict with our own views."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/05/obama_resigns_from_trinity_uni.html|title=Obama resigns from Trinity United Church of Christ. UPDATE. Obama to answer questions about his church Saturday night|first=Lynn| last=Sweet|access-date=January 22, 2013|date=May 31, 2008|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209224315/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/05/obama_resigns_from_trinity_uni.html|archive-date=February 9, 2013}}</ref>
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| The Obama family attended several different Protestant churches after moving to Washington D.C. in 2009, including [[Shiloh Baptist Church (Washington, D.C.)|Shiloh Baptist Church]] and [[St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square (Washington, D.C.)|St. John's Episcopal Church]] on Lafayette Square, known as the Presidents' Church. At the 49th [[African Methodist Episcopal Church]]'s general conference, Michelle Obama encouraged the attendees to advocate for political awareness, saying, "To anyone who says that church is no place to talk about these issues, you tell them there is no place better{{snd}}no place better, because ultimately, these are not just political issues{{snd}}they are moral issues, they're issues that have to do with human dignity and human potential, and the future we want for our kids and our grandkids."<ref>{{cite press release|last=Obama|first=Michelle|title=Remarks by the First Lady at the African Methodist Episcopal Church Conference|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/06/28/remarks-first-lady-african-methodist-episcopal-church-conference|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|access-date=February 22, 2013}}</ref>
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| == Career ==
| | {{US-bio-stub}} |
| Following law school, Obama became an associate at the Chicago office of the law firm [[Sidley Austin|Sidley & Austin]], where she met her future husband Barack. At the firm, she worked on marketing and intellectual property law.<ref name="womanbehind" /> She continues to hold her [[law license]], but as she no longer needs it for her work, she has kept it on a voluntary inactive status since 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/lawlicenses.asp|title=Taking License|date=April 8, 2010|publisher=Snopes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Obamas' Law Licenses|url=http://factcheck.org/2012/06/the-obamas-law-licenses/|date=June 14, 2012|first=D'Angelo|last=Gore|publisher=[[FactCheck.org]]|access-date=June 22, 2012}}</ref>
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| In 1991, she held [[public sector]] positions in the Chicago city government as an Assistant to the [[Mayor of Chicago|Mayor]], and as Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development. In 1993, she became Executive Director for the Chicago office of [[Public Allies]], a non-profit organization encouraging young people to work on social issues in nonprofit groups and government agencies.<ref name=West /> She worked there nearly four years and set [[fundraising]] records for the organization that still stood twelve years after she had left.<ref name=MOSS /> Obama later said she had never been happier in her life prior to working "to build Public Allies".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2015/04/14/an-inside-look-at-michelle-obamas-life-before-the-white-house|title=Michelle Obama: Who she was before the White House|first=Peter|last=Slevin|date=April 14, 2015}}</ref>
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| In 1996, Obama served as the Associate Dean of Student Services at the [[University of Chicago]], where she developed the university's Community Service Center.<ref name=UCChron96>{{cite journal|journal=University of Chicago Chronicle|url=http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/960606/obama.shtml|title=Obama named first Associate Dean of Student Services|date=June 6, 1996|volume=15|issue=19|access-date=April 4, 2009}}</ref> In 2002, she began working for the University of Chicago Hospitals, first as executive director for community affairs and, beginning May 2005, as vice president for Community and External Affairs.<ref name=UChicago2005>{{cite press release|url=http://www.uchospitals.edu/news/2005/20050509-obama.html|publisher=University of Chicago Medical Center|title=Michelle Obama appointed vice president for community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals|date=May 9, 2005|access-date=April 4, 2009}}</ref>
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| She continued to hold the University of Chicago Hospitals position during the primary campaign of 2008, but cut back to part-time in order to spend time with her daughters as well as work for her husband's election.<ref name=ABCNews20080124>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4179656&page=1|publisher=[[ABC News]]|title=Michelle Obama: Mom First, Politics Second|author=Snow, Kate|date=January 24, 2008|access-date=April 4, 2009}}</ref> She subsequently took a leave of absence from her job.<ref name="blaze">{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-michelle_obama_first_ladynov09,0,7595775.story|title=Michelle Obama blazes a new trail|author=St. Clair, Stacy|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=November 8, 2008|access-date=November 20, 2008}}</ref>
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| According to the couple's 2006 [[Tax return (United States)|income tax return]], her salary was $273,618 from the University of Chicago Hospitals, while her husband had a salary of $157,082 from the [[United States Senate]]. The Obamas' total income was $991,296, which included $51,200 she earned as a member of the board of directors of [[TreeHouse Foods]], and investments and royalties from his books.<ref name=MOChw>{{cite news|access-date=February 12, 2008 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-05-10-michelle-obama_N.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070513022818/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2007-05-10-michelle-obama_N.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 13, 2007 |title=Michelle Obama: Campaigning her way |date=May 12, 2007 |work=[[USA Today]] |author=Keen, Judy }}</ref>
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| Obama served as a salaried board member of [[TreeHouse Foods]], Inc. ({{nyse2|THS}}),<ref name=TreeHouse>{{cite web|access-date=April 4, 2009 |url=http://www.treehousefoods.com/bio_michelle_obama.html |title=Board of Directors: Michelle Obama |publisher=TreeHouse Foods |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415173151/http://www.treehousefoods.com/bio_michelle_obama.html |archive-date=April 15, 2009 }}</ref> a major [[Wal-Mart]] supplier from shortly after her husband was seated in the Senate until she cut ties shortly after her husband announced his candidacy for the presidency; he criticized Wal-Mart labor policies at an [[AFL-CIO]] forum in [[Trenton, New Jersey]], on May 14, 2007.<ref name=SunTimesBlog200705>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/05/sweet_column_michelle_obama_qu.html |title=Sweet Column: Michelle Obama Quits Board of Wal-Mart Supplier |author=Sweet, Lynn |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=May 22, 2007 |access-date=April 4, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209000555/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/05/sweet_column_michelle_obama_qu.html |archive-date=February 9, 2009 }}</ref> She also served on the board of directors of the [[Chicago Council on Global Affairs]].<ref name=ChicagoCouncil>{{cite web|url=http://www.thechicagocouncil.org/chicago_council_board_directors.php|title=Directors|publisher=Chicago Council on Global Affairs|access-date=April 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218114043/http://www.thechicagocouncil.org/chicago_council_board_directors.php|archive-date=February 18, 2009}}</ref>
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| In 2021, the former first lady announced that she has been "moving toward retirement".<ref name="bbc.com">{{Cite web|date=2021-03-11|title=Michelle Obama: Former US first lady says she is 'moving towards retirement'|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56357820|access-date=2021-03-11|website=BBC News}}</ref> Though she continues to be active in political campaigns, the former first lady has said she is reducing the amount of work to spend more time with her husband.<ref name="bbc.com"/>
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| == Barack Obama political campaigns ==
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| === Early campaigns ===
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| During an interview in 1996, Michelle Obama acknowledged there was a "strong possibility" her husband would begin a political career, but said she was "wary" of the process. She knew it meant their lives would be subject to scrutiny and she was intensely private.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/01/19/a-couple-in-chicago|title=A Couple in Chicago|work=The New Yorker|first=Mariana|last=Cook|date=January 19, 2009}}</ref>
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| Although she campaigned on her husband's behalf since early in his political career by handshaking and fund-raising, she did not relish the activity at first. When she campaigned during [[Illinois Senate career of Barack Obama#Campaign for Bobby Rush's congressional seat|her husband's 2000 run]] for [[United States House of Representatives]], her boss at the University of Chicago asked if there was any single thing about campaigning that she enjoyed; after some thought, she replied that visiting so many living rooms had given her some new [[Interior decoration|decorating]] ideas.<ref name="NYT0825">{{cite news|author=Kantor, Jodi|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/us/politics/26michelle.html?scp=2&sq=Michelle%20Obama&st=cse|title=Michelle Obama, reluctant no more|work=The New York Times|date=August 25, 2008|access-date=August 27, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama|page=314|first=David|last=Remnick|year=2011|publisher=Vintage|isbn=978-0-375-70230-3}}</ref> Obama opposed her husband's run for the congressional seat, and, after his defeat, she preferred he tend to the financial needs of the family in what she deemed a more practical way.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama|page=332|first=David|last=Remnick|year=2011|publisher=Vintage|isbn=978-0-375-70230-3}}</ref>
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| === 2008 presidential campaign ===
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| [[File:Michelle Obama and Barack Obama enjoy a victory fist pound upon winning the Democratic Nomination.jpg|thumb|190px|The Obamas [[fist bump]] upon his winning the Democratic nomination.]]
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| At first, Obama had reservations about her husband's presidential campaign, due to fears about a possible negative effect on their daughters.<ref name=MONYT>{{cite news|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/o/michelle_obama/index.html|title=Michelle Obama|access-date=April 8, 2009|date=March 5, 2009|work=The New York Times|first1=Rachel L.|last1=Swarns|first2=Jodi|last2=Kantor}}</ref> She says she negotiated an agreement in which her husband was to quit smoking in exchange for her support of his decision to run.<ref name=MOoCF>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120248883340754123|title=Michelle Obama on Campaign, Family|access-date=February 12, 2008|date=February 11, 2008|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|author=Langley, Monica}}</ref> About her role in her husband's presidential campaign she has said: "My job is not a senior adviser".<ref name=MOIGaLM>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3199620|title=Michelle Obama: 'I've Got a Loud Mouth'|access-date=February 12, 2008|date=May 22, 2007|publisher=[[ABC News]]|author=Roberts, Robin|author-link=Robin Roberts (newscaster)}}</ref><ref name=MOpuric /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/05/22/news/iowa/819e27c77eaa19fc862572e30012e0d4.txt|title=Michelle Obama: I'm his wife, not adviser|access-date=April 3, 2008|date=May 22, 2007|work=[[Sioux City Journal]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415223824/http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/05/22/news/iowa/819e27c77eaa19fc862572e30012e0d4.txt|archive-date=April 15, 2009}}</ref> During the campaign, she discussed race and education by using motherhood as a framework.<ref name=FWtWMO>{{cite news|title=Focus: Women to Watch: Michelle Obama|author=Klein, Sarah A.|date=May 5, 2008|publisher=[[Crain Communications, Inc.]]|work=[[Crain's Chicago Business]]|page=29}}</ref>
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| In May 2007, three months after her husband declared his presidential candidacy, Obama reduced her professional responsibilities by 80 percent to support his presidential campaign.<ref name=FLIW>{{cite news|url=http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/12/michelle_obama200712|title=First Lady in waiting|work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|access-date=February 12, 2008|date=December 27, 2007|author=Bennetts, Leslie}}</ref> Early in the campaign, she had limited involvement in which she traveled to political events only two days a week and rarely traveled overnight;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/michelle-obama-interview|title=How Michelle Obama Does It: Michelle Obama: The real story behind her everyday life.|access-date=September 23, 2014|date=October 18, 2008|work=[[Redbook]]}}</ref> by early February 2008 her participation had increased significantly. She attended thirty-three events in eight days.<ref name=MOSHR /> She made several campaign appearances with [[Oprah Winfrey]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/07/MNC8UT9LM.DTL|title=Millions of cell calls for Clinton Big effort to contact list of likely backers gave her the state|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|access-date=February 15, 2008|date=February 7, 2008|author1=Marinucci, Carla|author2=John Wildermuth}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title={{-'}}I'm Tired of Politics as Usual'; Oprah Winfrey Makes Her Case for Sen. Obama's Presidential Candidacy|work=The Washington Post|date=December 19, 2007|author1=Kornblut, Anne E.|author2=Murray, Shailagh|name-list-style=amp|page=A1}}</ref> She wrote her own [[stump speech (politics)|stump speeches]] for her husband's presidential campaign and generally spoke without notes.<ref name=tn>{{cite news|url=http://www.style.com/vogue/feature/2007_Sept_Michelle_Obama|title=The natural|access-date=January 8, 2009|date=September 2007|work=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]|author=Johnson, Rebecca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116125432/http://style.com/vogue/feature/2007_Sept_Michelle_Obama|archive-date=January 16, 2009}}</ref>
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| During the campaign, columnist [[Cal Thomas]] on [[Fox News]] described Michelle Obama as an "[[Angry Black Woman]]"<ref name=AAMOLfaNI>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/us/politics/18michelle.html?|title=After Attacks, Michelle Obama Looks for a New Introduction|access-date=October 13, 2008|date=June 18, 2008|work=The New York Times|author1=Powell, Michael|author2=Jodi Kantor|name-list-style=amp}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/23/mann.michelle.obama|title=A First Lady of a different kind|author=Mann, Jonathan|publisher=CNN| date=May 23, 2008|access-date=April 4, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,367601,00.html|title=Transcript: 'FOX News Watch', June 14, 2008|date=June 16, 2008|access-date=April 4, 2009|publisher=[[Fox News]]}}</ref> and some web sites attempted to promote this image.<ref name=MUM>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/opinion/11dowd.html?|title=Mincing Up Michelle|access-date=October 13, 2008|date=June 11, 2008|work=The New York Times|author=Dowd, Maureen}}</ref> Obama said: "Barack and I have been in the public eye for many years now, and we've developed a thick skin along the way. When you're out campaigning, there will always be criticism. I just take it in stride, and at the end of the day, I know that it comes with the territory."<ref name="WatsonCovarrubias2012">{{cite book|first1=Robert P.|last1=Watson|first2=Jack|last2=Covarrubias|first3=Tom|last3=Lansford|first4=Douglas M.|last4=Brattebo|title=The Obama Presidency: A Preliminary Assessment|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kNxb9efuIrIC&pg=PA393|date=April 11, 2012|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-1-4384-4330-0|pages=393–|access-date=February 23, 2015}}</ref>
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| By the time of the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]] in August, media outlets observed that her presence on the campaign trail had grown softer than at the start of the race, focusing on soliciting concerns and empathizing with the audience rather than throwing down challenges to them, and giving interviews to shows such as ''[[The View (U.S. TV series)|The View]]'' and publications like ''[[Ladies' Home Journal]]'' rather than appearing on news programs. The change was reflected in her fashion choices, as she wore clothes that were more informal clothes than her earlier designer pieces.<ref name="NYT0825" /> Partly intended to help soften her public image,<ref name=AAMOLfaNI /> her appearance on ''The View'' was widely covered in the press.<ref>{{cite news|author=Stanley, Alessandra |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/19/us/politics/19watch.html?|title=Michelle Obama Shows Her Warmer Side on 'The View' | access-date=October 13, 2008 |date=June 19, 2008 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>
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| The presidential campaign was Obama's first exposure to the national political scene; she was considered the least famous of the candidates' spouses.<ref name=MOpuric>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/20041755|title=Michelle Obama plays unique role in campaign|access-date=February 12, 2008|date=July 30, 2007|publisher=[[NBC News]]|author=Zakin, Carly}}</ref> Early in the campaign, she told anecdotes about Obama family life; however, as the press began to emphasize her sarcasm, she toned it down.<ref name=MOChw /><ref name=MOoCF />
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| ''New York Times'' [[editorial|op-ed]] columnist [[Maureen Dowd]] wrote:
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| {{quote|I wince a bit when Michelle Obama chides her husband as a mere mortal{{snd}}a comic routine that rests on the presumption that we see him as a god{{nbs}}... But it may not be smart politics to mock him in a way that turns him from the glam [[John F. Kennedy|JFK]] into the mundane [[Gerald Ford]], toasting his own English muffin. If all Senator Obama is peddling is the [[John F. Kennedy#"Camelot Era"|Camelot]] mystique, why debunk this mystique?<ref name=MOpuric /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/opinion/25dowd.html?scp=7&sq=Michelle+Obama+Dowd&st=nyt|title=She's Not Buttering Him Up|access-date=February 12, 2008|date=April 25, 2007|author=Dowd, Maureen|work=The New York Times}}</ref>}}
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| [[File:Michelle Obama DNC 2008.jpg|thumb|left|Obama speaks at the 2008 Democratic convention.]]
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| On the first night of the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]], [[Craig Robinson (basketball)|Craig Robinson]] introduced his younger sister.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 2008 | url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1836039_1836038_1836032,00.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829203212/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1836039_1836038_1836032,00.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=August 29, 2008|title=Scorecard: First-Night Speeches: Craig Robinson: Grade: B+|work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=April 4, 2009 |author=Halperin, Mark}}</ref> She delivered her speech, during which she sought to portray herself and her family as the embodiment of the [[American Dream]].<ref name="NYT0826" /> Obama said she and her husband believe "that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond, and you do what you say you're going to do, that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them."<ref name="NPR0826">{{cite web|author=Naylor, Brian|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93981261|title=Interpreting Michelle Obama's speech|publisher=[[NPR]]|date=August 26, 2008|access-date=August 27, 2008}}</ref> She also emphasized loving her country, likely responding to criticism for having said that she felt "proud of her country for the first time".<ref name="NYT0826">{{cite news|author=Nagourney, Adam|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/us/politics/26dems.html?scp=6&sq=Michelle%20Obama&st=cse|title=Appeals evoking American Dream rally Democrats|work=The New York Times|date=August 26, 2008|access-date=August 27, 2008}}</ref><ref name="CST0826">{{cite news|author=Pallasch, Abdon M. |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1126753,CST-NWS-dem26.article |title=Michelle Obama celebrates Chicago roots |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=August 26, 2008 |access-date=August 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829130245/http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1126753%2CCST-NWS-dem26.article |archive-date=August 29, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="BG0826">{{cite news|author=Helman, Scott|url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/08/26/reaching_back_to_her_chicago_roots_obama_tells_an_american_story|title=Reaching back to her Chicago roots, Obama tells an American story|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=August 26, 2008|access-date=August 27, 2008}}</ref> The first statement was seen as a gaffe.<ref>{{cite news|title=Michelle Obama attacked over patriotism gaffe|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1579194/Michelle-Obama-attacked-over-patriotism-gaffe.html|first=Alex |last=Spillius|access-date=August 18, 2015|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=February 19, 2008}}</ref> Her keynote address was largely well-received and drew mostly positive reviews.<ref>{{cite news|author=Suellentrop, Chris|url=http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/michelle-obamas-high-note/?scp=7&sq=Michelle%20Obama&st=cse|title=Michelle Obama's high note|work=The New York Times|date=August 25, 2008|access-date=August 27, 2008}}</ref> A [[Rasmussen Reports]] poll found that her favorability among Americans reached 55%, the highest for her.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/michelle_obama_favorable_rating_reaches_highest_level_ever|title=Michelle Obama Favorable Rating Reaches Highest Level Ever|work=[[Rasmussen Reports]]|date=August 29, 2008|access-date=November 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912172214/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/michelle_obama_favorable_rating_reaches_highest_level_ever|archive-date=September 12, 2008}}</ref>
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| On an October 6, 2008, broadcast, [[Larry King]] asked Obama if the American electorate was past the [[Bradley effect]]. She said her husband's winning the nomination was a fairly strong indicator that it was.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blow.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/are-we-past-the-bradley-effect/?|title=Are We Past The 'Bradley Effect'?|access-date=October 13, 2008|date=October 9, 2008|author=Blow, Charles M.|work=The New York Times}}</ref> The same night she was interviewed by [[Jon Stewart]] on ''[[The Daily Show]]'', where she deflected criticism of her husband and his campaign.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/michelle-obama-dismisses-criticisms/?|title=Michelle Obama Dismisses Criticisms|access-date=October 13, 2008|date=October 9, 2008|author=Seelye, Katharine Q.|work=The New York Times}}</ref> On Fox News' ''[[America's Pulse]]'', [[E. D. Hill]] referred to the [[fist bump]] shared by the Obamas the night he clinched the [[Barack Obama presidential primary campaign, 2008|Democratic presidential nomination]], describing it as a "terrorist fist jab". Hill was taken off air and the show was cancelled.<ref name=FrtMOabm>{{cite news|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/fox-refers-michelle-obama-baby-mama-wbna25129598|title=Fox refers to Michelle Obama as 'baby mama': TV graphic read: 'Outraged liberals: Stop picking on Obama's baby mama'|access-date=October 13, 2008|date=June 12, 2008|publisher=[[Today.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/2118953/Fox-News-presenter-taken-off-air-after-Barack-Obama-%27terrorist-fist-jab%27-remark.html |title=Fox News presenter taken off air after Barack Obama 'terrorist fist jab' remark |access-date=October 13, 2008 |date=June 13, 2008 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=UK |author=Spillius, Alex |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719123315/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/2118953/Fox-News-presenter-taken-off-air-after-Barack-Obama-%27terrorist-fist-jab%27-remark.html |archive-date=July 19, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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| {{clear}}
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| === 2012 presidential re-election campaign ===
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| [[File:Obamas and Bidens on presidential election night 2012.jpg|thumb|left|Obama (far right) celebrates with [[Jill Biden]] after their husbands win re-election.]]
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| Obama campaigned for her husband's re-election in 2012. Beginning in 2011, Obama became more politically active than she had been since the 2008 election, though avoided discussions about the re-election bid.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/us/politics/michelle-obamas-mission-energizing-the-campaign.html?_r=0|title=First Lady Takes on the Role of Staff Energizer|date=November 18, 2011|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Jodi|last=Kantor}}</ref> By the time of the election cycle, she had developed a more open public image.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/us/politics/michelle-obamas-role-in-presidents-re-election-bid.html?_r=0|title=First Lady Strives for Caring Image Above Partisan Fray|date=September 3, 2012|first=Jodi|last=Kantor|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20359218,00.html|title=Michelle Obama in a Tie for Tallest First Lady|date=April 8, 2010|first=Stephen M.|last=Silverman}}</ref> Some commentators viewed her as the most popular member of the Obama administration,<ref name="2012POLITICO" /> noting that her poll approval numbers had not dropped below 60% since she entered the White House.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/can-michelle-obama-help-her-husband-win/|title=Can Michelle Obama help her husband win?|publisher=CBS News|date=July 24, 2012}}</ref> An Obama senior campaign official said she was "the most popular political figure in America".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/04/politics/michelle-obama-speech/|title=First lady seeks to reignite flame for president|date=September 4, 2012|publisher=CNN}}</ref> The positive assessment was reasoned to have contributed to her active role in the re-election campaign, but it was noted that the challenge for the Obama campaign was to use her without tarnishing her popularity.
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| Obama was considered a polarizing figure, having aroused both "sharp enmity and deep loyalty" from Americans, but she was also seen as having improved her image since 2008 when her husband first ran for the presidency.<ref name=2012POLITICO>{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2011/10/michelle-obama-shifts-into-2012-mode-066188|title=Michelle Obama shifts into 2012 mode|first=Julie|last=Mason|date=October 17, 2011|publisher=POLITICO}}</ref> Isabel Wilkinson of ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' said Obama's fashion style changed over the course of the campaign to be sensitive and economical.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/07/michelle-obama-s-signs-of-fashion-restraint-on-election-night.html|title=Michelle Obama's Signs of Fashion Restraint on Election Night|date=November 7, 2012|publisher=The Daily Beast|first=Isabel|last=Wilkinson}}</ref>
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| Prior to the first debate of the election cycle, Obama expressed confidence in her husband's debating skills.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/10/02/michelle-obama-husband-is-good-debater/|title=Michelle Obama: Husband Is 'Good Debater'|date=October 2, 2012|first=Laura|last=Meckler|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref> He was later criticized for appearing detached and for looking down when addressing Romney.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/04/politics/debate-5-things-learned/index.html|title=5 things we learned from the presidential debate|publisher=CNN.com|date=October 4, 2012|author1=Hamby, Peter|author2=Preston, Mark|author3=Steinhauser, Paul}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/mitt-romney-debate_n_1938052.html|title=Mitt Romney Versus Obama: 4 Key Moments From First Presidential Debate|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=October 4, 2012|author=Ward, Jon}}</ref> Consensus among uncommitted voters was that the latter had won the debate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57525698/poll-uncommitted-voters-say-romney-wins-debate/ |title=Poll: Uncommitted voters say Romney wins debate |publisher=CBS News}}</ref> After Obama's speech at the [[2012 Democratic National Convention]], the first lady was found through a CBS News/''New York Times'' poll conducted in September to have a 61% favorably rating with registered voters, the highest percentage she had polled since April 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/michelle-obama-ann-romney-get-positive-ratings-after-conventions|date=December 14, 2012|publisher=CBS News|title=Michelle Obama, Ann Romney get positive ratings after conventions}}</ref>
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| Obama aimed to humanize her husband by relating stories about him, attempting to appeal to female voters in swing states. Paul Harris of ''[[The Guardian]]'' said the same tactic was being used by [[Ann Romney]], wife of 2012 Republican candidate [[Mitt Romney]]. Polls in October showed their husbands tied at 47% for the female vote. However, Michelle Obama's favorability ratings remained higher than Ann Romney's at 69% to 52%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/26/michelle-obama-ann-romney-women|title=Michelle Obama and Ann Romney target female voters on campaign trail|date=October 26, 2012|first=Paul|last=Harris|work=The Guardian}}</ref> Despite Obama's higher poll numbers, comparisons between Obama and Romney were repeatedly made by the media until the election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2012/10/21/michelle-obama-and-ann-romney-compare-and-contrast/|title=Michelle Obama and Ann Romney: Compare and contrast|first=Ann|last=Groer|date=October 21, 2012|work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nymag.com/thecut/2012/11/ann-romney-vs-michelle-obama-2-women-30-days.html|title=Ann Romney Versus Michelle Obama: Two Women, 30 Days|first=Charlotte |last=Cowles|date=November 6, 2012|publisher=nymag.com}}</ref> But, as Michelle Cottle of ''[[Newsweek]]'' wrote, "...{{nbs}}nobody votes for first lady."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/battle-first-ladies-michelle-obama-vs-ann-romney-63859|title=BATTLE OF THE FIRST LADIES: MICHELLE OBAMA VS. ANN ROMNEY|date=November 9, 2012|first=Michelle|last=Cottle|work=Newsweek}}</ref>
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| == First Lady of the United States (2009–2017) ==
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| During her early months as First Lady, Obama visited [[homeless shelter]]s and [[soup kitchen]]s.<ref name=MIFOTS /> She also sent representatives to schools and advocated public service.<ref name=MIFOTS /><ref>{{cite web|last=Alter |first=Jonathan|date=March 7, 2009|title=An Army of Changemakers|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/188270|work=Newsweek|access-date=April 6, 2009}}</ref>
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| Obama advocated for her husband's policy priorities by promoting bills that support it. She hosted a White House reception for women's rights advocates in celebration of the enactment of the [[Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009]] [[Pay equity]] law. She supported the economic stimulus bill in visits to the [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development]] and [[United States Department of Education]]. Some observers looked favorably upon her legislative activities, while others said she should be less involved in politics. According to her representatives, she intended to visit all [[United States Cabinet]]-level agencies in order to get acquainted with Washington.<ref>{{cite news|last=Swarns|first=Rachel L.|date=February 7, 2009|title={{-'}}Mom in Chief' Touches on Policy; Tongues Wag|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/us/politics/08michelle.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 8, 2009}}</ref>
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| [[File:US Army 53373 First Lady Embarks on Mission to Help Military Families.jpg|thumb|right|Obama and General Charles R. Davis smile to the crowd before speaking on her mission to help military families, October 2009.]]
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| On June 5, 2009, the White House announced that Michelle Obama was replacing her then chief of staff, [[Jackie Norris]], with [[Susan Sher]], a longtime friend and adviser. Norris became a senior adviser to the [[Corporation for National and Community Service]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/06/05/Michelle-Obama-gets-new-chief-of-staff/UPI-61071244180466/|title=Michelle Obama gets new chief of staff|access-date=July 27, 2009|date=June 5, 2009|work=[[United Press International]]}}</ref> Another key aide, [[Spelman College]] alumna Kristen Jarvis, served from 2008 until 2015, when she left to become chief of staff to the [[Ford Foundation]] president [[Darren Walker]].
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| In 2009, Obama was named [[Barbara Walters]]' [[Barbara Walters' 10 Most Fascinating People|Most Fascinating Person]] of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/michelle-obama-named-1012998/|title=Michelle Obama Named "Most Fascinating" Person of 2009|author=Joyce Eng|date=December 10, 2009|work=TVGuide.com}}</ref> In her [[memoir]], ''[[Becoming (book)|Becoming]]'', Obama describes her four primary initiatives as First Lady: [[Let's Move!]], Reach Higher,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ReachHigher|title=Reach Higher (@ReachHigher)|via=Twitter|access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref> Let Girls Learn,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usaid.gov/letgirlslearn|title=Let Girls Learn {{!}} U.S. Agency for International Development|website=[[usaid.gov]]|access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref> and [[Joining Forces]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/JoiningForces|title=Joining Forces (@JoiningForces)|via=Twitter|access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref> Some initiatives of First Lady Michelle Obama included advocating on behalf of military families, helping working women balance career and family, encouraging national service, and promoting the arts and arts education.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama/|title=First Lady Michelle Obama|access-date=April 6, 2010|publisher=[[WhiteHouse.gov]]| url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407154631/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama|archive-date=April 7, 2010}}</ref><ref name=MOMMFHM /> Obama made supporting military families and spouses a personal mission and increasingly bonded with military families. According to her aides, stories of the sacrifice these families make moved her to tears.<ref name=MOMMFHM>{{cite web|last=Walsh|first=Kenneth T.|date=March 26, 2009|url=https://www.usnews.com/articles/news/obama/2009/03/26/michelle-obama-makes-military-families-her-mission.html|title=Michelle Obama Makes Military Families Her Mission: The first lady is often moved by accounts of personal sacrifice by service families|access-date=April 7, 2009|work=[[U.S. News & World Report]]}}</ref> In April 2012, Obama and her husband were awarded the Jerald Washington Memorial Founders' Award by the [[National Coalition for Homeless Veterans]] (NCHV). The award is the highest honor given to homeless veteran advocates.<ref>{{cite news|title=President Obama, Michelle Obama Receive Highest Award in Homeless Veteran Advocacy|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/27/veteran-homelessness-barack-obama_n_1459433.html|access-date=August 16, 2015|publisher=Huffington Post|date=April 27, 2012}}</ref>
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| Obama was again honored with the award in May 2015, accepting with [[Jill Biden]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Michelle Obama And Dr. Jill Biden To Receive 2015 Jerald Washington Memorial Founders' Award For Efforts To End Veteran Homelessness|publisher=PR Newswire|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/michelle-obama-and-dr-jill-biden-to-receive-2015-jerald-washington-memorial-founders-award-for-efforts-to-end-veteran-homelessness-300085779.html|access-date=August 16, 2015}}</ref>
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| [[File:Michelle-obama-bringbackourgirls.jpg|thumb|left|Obama holding a sign with the hashtag "#bringbackourgirls" in May 2014]]
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| In November 2013, a ''[[Politico]]'' article by [[Michelle Cottle]] accusing Obama of being a "feminist nightmare" for not using her position and education to advocate for women's issues was sharply criticized across the political spectrum.<ref name="miccot2013">{{cite web|last=Cottle|first=Michelle|date=November 13, 2013|title=Leaning Out: How Michelle Obama became a feminist nightmare|url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2013/11/leaning-out-michelle-obama-100244.html#ixzz2lRZasMzN|work=Politico|access-date=November 25, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Harris-Perry 2013">{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/michelle-obama-no-ones-feminist-nightmare|title=Michelle Obama a 'feminist nightmare'? Please.|last=Harris-Perry|first=Melissa|date=November 23, 2013|publisher=MSNBC|access-date=February 23, 2015}}</ref><ref name="howkur2013">{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/flunking-feminism-why-michelle-obama-keeps-playing-it-safe|title=Flunking Feminism? Why Michelle Obama keeps playing it safe|author=Howard Kurtz|publisher=Fox News|date=November 25, 2013|access-date=November 25, 2013}}</ref> Cottle quoted [[Linda Hirshman]] saying of Obama's trendy styles, promotion of gardening and healthy eating, and support of military families that "She essentially became the English lady of the manor, Tory Party, circa 1830s."<ref name="miccot2013" /> A prominent critic of Cottle was [[MSNBC]] host [[Melissa Harris-Perry]], who rhetorically asked "Are you serious?"<ref name="Harris-Perry 2013" /><ref name="howkur2013" /> Supporters of Obama note that the first lady had been one of the only people in the administration to address [[obesity in the United States|obesity]], through promoting good eating habits, which is one of the leading U.S. public health crises.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shen|first=Aviva|date=November 22, 2013|url=http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/11/22/2983381/michelle-obama-feminism-womens-work/|title=Michelle Obama Derided For Being A 'Feminist Nightmare{{'-}}|publisher=ThinkProgress.org|access-date=November 25, 2013}}</ref>
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| In May 2014, Obama joined the campaign to bring back school girls who had been [[Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping|kidnapped in Nigeria]]. The first lady tweeted a picture of herself holding a poster with the #bringbackourgirls campaign hashtag.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dearden|first=Lizzie|date=May 8, 2014|title=Bring Back Our Girls: Michelle Obama and Malala Yousafzai support campaign for return of kidnapped Nigeria schoolgirls|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/nigeria-kidnapped-schoolgirls-michelle-obama-joins-campaign-9336983.html|access-date=July 21, 2014|work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> Obama writes in her book about enlisting help for her initiative Let Girls Learn to produce and sing the song "This is for My Girls".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Leight|first=Elias|date=July 21, 2016|title=Watch Michelle Obama, Missy Elliott in 'Carpool Karaoke'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-michelle-obama-missy-elliott-sing-rap-in-carpool-karaoke-92148/|website=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref>
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| [[File:La primera dama Michelle Obama (25709737510).jpg|thumb|right|Obama with members of the public in 2016]]
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| Over the course of the Obama presidency, particularly during the second term, Michelle Obama was subject to speculation over whether she would run for the presidency herself, similarly to predecessor Hillary Clinton.<ref>{{cite news|last=Medved|first=Michael|date=June 23, 2011|title=Barack Obama or Michelle Obama Could Run For President in 2016 and Beyond|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/06/23/barack-obama-or-michelle-obama-could-run-for-president-in-2016-and-beyond.html|work=The Daily Beast}}</ref> A May 2015 Rasmussen poll found Obama had 22% of support to Clinton's 56% of winning the Democratic nomination, higher than that of potential candidates [[Elizabeth Warren]], [[Martin O'Malley]] and [[Bernie Sanders]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Zimmerman|first=Neetzan|date=May 14, 2015|title=Poll: Michelle Obama would be Hillary's strongest Dem rival in 2016|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news-campaigns/242068-poll-michelle-obama-would-be-hillarys-strongest-dem|work=The Hill}}</ref><ref name=Rasmussen>{{cite news|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/may_2015/what_if_michelle_obama_challenged_hillary_clinton_for_the_democratic_nomination|title=What If Michelle Obama Challenged Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Nomination?|date=May 14, 2015|publisher=rasmussenreports.com}}</ref> Another poll that month found that 71% of Americans believed Obama should not run for the presidency, only 14% approving.<ref name=Rasmussen /> On January 14, 2016, during a town-hall meeting, President Obama was asked if the first lady could be talked into running. He responded, "There are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes, and Michelle is not running for president. That I can tell you."<ref>{{cite news|last=Boyer|first=Dave|date=January 14, 2016|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jan/14/michelle-obama-wont-run-president-barack-says/|title=Michelle Obama won't run for president, Barack says}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-are-the-chances-michelle-obama-will-run-for-president/|title=What are the chances Michelle Obama will run for president?|first=Rebecca|last=Shabad}}</ref> On March 16, 2016, while speaking in [[Austin, Texas]], Obama denied that she would ever run for the office, citing a desire to "impact as many people as possible in an unbiased way".<ref>{{cite news|last=Watkins|first=Eli|date=March 16, 2016|title=Michelle Obama: 'I will not run for president'|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/16/politics/michelle-obama-president-sxsw/|work=CNN}}</ref> In the epilogue to ''Becoming'', Obama writes, "I have no intention of running for office, ever,"<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harvard|first=Sarah|date=November 17, 2018|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/michelle-obama-jimmy-kimmel-live-becoming-running-political-office-not-something-a8638881.html|title=Michelle Obama on running for political office: 'It's not something I would ever do'|website=[[The Independent]]|location=New York|access-date=December 30, 2019}}</ref> recognizing that "politics can be a means for positive change, but this arena is just not for me."<ref>{{Cite book|title=Becoming|last=Obama|first=Michelle|isbn=978-1-5247-6313-8|edition=First|location=New York|oclc=1030413521|date=November 13, 2018}}</ref>
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| === ''Let's Move!'' ===
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| {{Main|Let's Move!}}
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| Obama's predecessors Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush supported the [[organic movement]] by instructing the White House kitchens to buy [[organic food]]. Obama extended their support of healthy eating by planting the [[White House Kitchen Garden]], an organic garden, the first White House vegetable garden since [[Eleanor Roosevelt]] served as First Lady. She also had bee hives installed on the South Lawn of the White House. The garden supplied organic produce and honey for the meals of the First Family and for state dinners and other official gatherings.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bedard|first=Paul|date=March 28, 2009|title=Michelle Obama Goes Organic and Brings in the Bees|url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/3/28/michelle-obama-goes-organic-and-brings-in-the-bees.html|access-date=April 7, 2009|work=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401152253/http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/3/28/michelle-obama-goes-organic-and-brings-in-the-bees.html |archive-date=April 1, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="garden">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/19/AR2009031902886.html|title=Shovel-Ready Project: A White House Garden|last=Black|first=Jane|date=March 20, 2009|work=The Washington Post|access-date=May 3, 2009}}</ref><ref name=AaYoLtFLSOaL /><ref>{{cite news|date=June 17, 2009|title=White House Photo Blog: Wednesday, June 17, 2009: First Garden|url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/whitehouse/photos/0,27424,1905324,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620232842/http://www.time.com/time/politics/whitehouse/photos/0,27424,1905324,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 20, 2009|access-date=April 7, 2010|work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref>
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| [[File:Obama-DeGeneres-dance-20120201.jpg|thumb|left|Obama and [[Ellen DeGeneres]] dance on the second anniversary of ''Let's Move!''|236x236px]]
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| In January 2010, Obama undertook her first lead role in an administration-wide initiative, which she named "''[[Let's Move!]]''", to make progress in reversing the 21st-century trend of [[childhood obesity]].<ref name=AaYoLtFLSOaL>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/us/14michelle.html|title=After a Year of Learning, the First Lady Seeks Out a Legacy |access-date=April 6, 2010|date=January 14, 2010|page=A20|work=The New York Times|author=Stolberg, Sheryl Gay}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Darensbourg |first=Lauren |url=http://letsmove.gov/ |title=Let's Move! |publisher=Letsmove.gov |date=May 27, 2011 |access-date=August 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820100201/http://www.letsmove.gov/ |archive-date=August 20, 2011 }}</ref> On February 9, 2010, the first lady announced ''Let's Move!'' and President Barack Obama created the [[Task Force on Childhood Obesity]] to review all current programs and create a national plan for change.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.letsmove.gov/white-house-task-force-childhood-obesity-report-president |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413064800/http://www.letsmove.gov/white-house-task-force-childhood-obesity-report-president |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 13, 2011 |title=White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity Report to the President |publisher=Letsmove.gov |access-date=December 15, 2012 }}</ref>
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| Michelle Obama said her goal was to make this effort her legacy: "I want to leave something behind that we can say, 'Because of this time that this person spent here, this thing has changed.' And my hope is that that's going to be in the area of childhood obesity."<ref name=AaYoLtFLSOaL /> Her 2012 book ''[[American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America]]'' is based on her experiences with the garden and promotes healthy eating.<ref name="Benac">{{cite news|last=Benac|first=Nancy|title=Michelle Obama's Book on Growing Seeds and Healthy Kids|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20120601/NEWS/120609973|newspaper=The Ledger|date=June 1, 2012|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Her call for action on healthy eating was repeated by the [[United States Department of Defense]], which has been facing an ever-expanding problem of obesity among recruits.<ref>Daniel, Lisa|date=July 14, 2012 [http://www.defense.gov//news/newsarticle.aspx?id=117228 "Family Matters: Tackling Obesity, for Security's Sake."] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714203727/http://www.defense.gov/ |date=July 14, 2012 }} ''DoD'', July 23, 2012.</ref>
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| Several Republicans have critiqued or lampooned Obama's initiative. In October 2014, senator [[Rand Paul]] linked to Michelle Obama's Twitter account when announcing on the website that he was going to [[Dunkin' Donuts]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/17/rand-paul-to-michelle-obama-look-at-me-im-at-dunki/|title=Rand Paul to Michelle Obama: Look at me – I'm at Dunkin' Donuts|date=October 17, 2014|newspaper=Washington Times|first=Cheryl K.|last=Chumley}}</ref>
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| In January 2016, [[Chris Christie]], Republican [[Governor of New Jersey]] and presidential candidate, criticized the first lady's involvement with healthy eating while he was campaigning in [[Iowa]], arguing that she was using the government to exercise her views on eating.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chasmar|first=Jessica|date=January 19, 2016|title=Chris Christie: Michelle Obama 'has no business' meddling in school lunches|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jan/19/chris-christie-michelle-obama-has-no-business-medd/|newspaper=Washington Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Gunlock|first=Julie|date=January 21, 2016|title= Christie Takes a Tougher Tone against Michelle Obama's School-Lunch Reforms|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/430115/chris-christie-criticizes-michelle-obamas-school-lunches|work=National Review}}</ref> Obama had previously cited Christie as an example of an adult who struggled with obesity, a demographic she sought to diminish by targeting children since ''Let's Move!'' was "working with kids when they're young, so that they don't have these direct challenges when they get older."<ref>{{cite news|last=Camia|first=Catalina|date=May 8, 2013|title=Michelle Obama: Chris Christie is 'terrific'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/onpolitics/2013/05/08/michelle-obama-chris-christie-weight-loss/2144981/}}</ref> In February, Senator [[Ted Cruz]] said he would end Obama's health policies and return french fries to school cafeterias if his wife was First Lady.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ted Cruz Takes Shot at First Lady Michelle Obama|url=http://www.mediaite.com/online/ted-cruz-takes-shot-at-first-lady-michelle-obama/|work=[[mediaite.com]]|date=February 1, 2016}}</ref>
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| === LGBT rights ===
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| In the 2008 US presidential campaign, Obama boasted to gay Democratic groups of her husband's record on LGBT rights: his support of the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Illinois gender violence act, the [[Employment Non-Discrimination Act]], repealing [[Don't Ask Don't Tell]], and full repeal of the [[Defense of Marriage Act]], [[civil unions]]; along with hate crimes protection for sexual orientation and gender identity and renewed effort to fight [[HIV/AIDS|HIV and AIDS]]. They have both opposed amendments proposed to ban same-sex marriage in the [[Federal Marriage Amendment|federal]], [[Proposition 8|California]], and [[Florida Amendment 2|Florida]] constitutions. She said the US Supreme Court delivered justice in the ''[[Lawrence v. Texas]]'' case and drew a connection between the struggles for gay rights and civil rights by saying, "We are all only here because of those who marched and bled and died, from Selma to Stonewall, in the pursuit of a more perfect union."<ref>{{cite news |last=Wulfhorst |first=Ellen |date=June 27, 2008 |url=http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2008/06/26/michelle-obama-speaks-to-gay-democrats/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321071320/http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/2008/06/26/michelle-obama-speaks-to-gay-democrats|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 21, 2013|title=Michelle Obama speaks to gay Democrats|work=Reuters|access-date=January 22, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/06/the-audacity-of-hope-from-selm.php|title=The audacity of hope – 'from Selma to Stonewall'|access-date=January 22, 2013|work=TMP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307001621/http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/06/the-audacity-of-hope-from-selm.php|archive-date=March 7, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Michelle Obama Speaks to LGBT Delegates at Convention Lunch|url=http://www.towleroad.com/2008/08/michelle-obama.html|access-date=January 22, 2013|date=August 27, 2008|work=Towleroad}}</ref>
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| After the repeal of [[Don't Ask Don't Tell]] on September 20, 2011, Obama included openly gay service members in her national military families initiative.<ref>{{cite news|title=Michelle Obama Welcomes Gay Families to National Military Initiative|url=http://www.advocate.com/news/daily-news/2011/09/19/michelle-obama-welcomes-gay-families-national-initiative|access-date=January 22, 2013|date=September 19, 2011|work=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]}}</ref> On May 9, 2012, Barack and Michelle Obama came out publicly in favor of same-sex marriage. Prior to this, Michelle Obama had never publicly stated her position on this issue. Senior White House officials said Michelle Obama and Senior Adviser [[Valerie Jarrett]] had been the two most consistent advocates for same-sex marriage in Barack Obama's life.<ref>{{cite news |last=Haberman |first=Maggie |date=May 9, 2012 |title=Jarrett, Michelle Obama pushed for gay marriage |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/05/jarrett-michelle-obama-pushed-for-gay-marriage-123021.html |access-date=May 9, 2012 |work=[[Politico]]}}</ref> Michelle said:
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| <blockquote>This is an important issue for millions of [[Americans]], and for Barack and me, it really comes down to the values of fairness and equality we want to pass down to our girls. These are basic values that kids learn at a very young age and that we encourage them to apply in all areas of their lives. And in a country where we teach our children that everyone is equal under the law, discriminating against same-sex couples just isn't right. It's as simple as that.<ref>{{cite news|title=Michelle Obama Supports Marriage Equality So That 'Everyone Is Equal Under The Law{{'-}}|url=http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/06/01/494027/michelle-obama-supports-marriage-equality-because-everyone-is-equal-under-the-law/|access-date=January 22, 2013|date=June 1, 2012|work=Washington Wire}}</ref></blockquote>
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| At the [[2012 Democratic National Convention|2012 DNC]], Michelle said, "Barack knows the American Dream because he's lived it{{nbs}}... and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we're from, or what we look like, or who we love."<ref>{{cite news|title=Michelle Obama, Rahm Emanuel Make Gay Marriage a Selling Point at Convention|url=http://adage.com/article/campaign-trail/michelle-rahm-embrace-gay-marriage-speeches/237022/access-date=January 22, 2013|date=September 5, 2012|work=[[Advertising Age]]}}</ref>
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| === Domestic travels ===
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| [[File:Obama heads to Selma for 50th anniversary speech 150307-F-WU507-020.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.75|Malia and Sasha Obama prepare to enter Air Force One, Michelle Obama and President Obama behind them, on March 7, 2015.]]
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| In May 2009, Obama delivered the commencement speech at a graduating ceremony at [[UC Merced]] in [[Merced County, California]], the address being praised afterward by students who found her relatable. Kevin Fagan of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' wrote that there was chemistry between Obama and the students.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Michelle-Obama-inspires-UC-Merced-graduates-3232952.php|title=Michelle Obama inspires UC Merced graduates|date=May 17, 2009|first=Kevin|last=Fagan}}</ref>
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| In August 2013, Obama attended the 50th anniversary ceremony for the [[March on Washington]] at the [[Lincoln Memorial]]. Positive attention was brought to Obama's attire, a black sleeveless dress with red flowers, designed by [[Tracy Reese]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fashionista.com/2013/08/michelle-obama-wears-tracy-reese-to-commemorate-martin-luther-king-jrs-historic-march-on-washington|title=Michelle Obama Wears Tracy Reese To Commemorate March On Washington|publisher=fashionista.com|date=August 28, 2013|first=Tyler|last=McCall}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/fashion/alltherage/la-ar-michelle-obama-tracy-reese-march-on-washington-20130828-story.html|title=Michelle Obama wears Tracy Reese at March on Washington commemoration|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|first=Susan|last=Denley}}</ref> Reese reacted by releasing a public statement that she was honored the first lady "would choose to wear one of our designs during the celebration of such a deeply significant historical moment".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/08/28/michelle-obama-stands-out-in-tracy-reeses-flowers/2724623/|title=Michelle Obama shines in Tracy Reese's flowers|date=August 28, 2013|work=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/08/28/michelle-obama-march-on-washington-dress-pics-tracy-reese/|title=Michelle Obama Stuns for the March on Washington Anniversary|publisher=Hollywood Life|date=August 28, 2013|first=Katrina|last=Mitzeliotis}}</ref>
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| In March 2015, Obama traveled to [[Selma, Alabama]], with her family to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the [[Selma to Montgomery marches]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/03/selma_50th_anniversary_jubilee.html|title=Selma 50th anniversary jubilee: President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, 100 members Congress converge|date=March 7, 2015|publisher=gulflive.com}}</ref> After President Obama's remarks there, the Obamas joined original marchers, including [[John Lewis]], in crossing the [[Edmund Pettus Bridge]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Mason|first=Jeff|date=March 7, 2015|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-civil-rights-selma-idUSKBN0M30KB20150308#xYJrgmIQUdjPZfRE.97|title=On Selma anniversary, Obama says racial progress made but more needed|publisher=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Workneh|first=Lilly|date=March 7, 2015|title=President Obama, First Family Lead The Way in Historic March Across Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/07/obama-selma-bridge-march_n_6823938.html|work=The Huffington Post}}</ref>
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| In July 2015, Obama journeyed to [[Coachella Valley]] while coming to Los Angeles for that year's Special Olympics World Games.<ref>{{cite news |last=Atagi |first=Colin |date=July 27, 2015 |url=http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/politics/2015/07/26/michelle-obama-special-olympics/30702011/|title=Michelle Obama visits Coachella Valley|publisher=The Desert Sun}}</ref>
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| In October 2015, Obama was joined by Jill Biden and [[Prince Harry]] in visiting a military base in [[Fort Belvoir, Virginia]], in an attempt on the prince's part to raise awareness to programs supporting harmed service members.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/prince-harry-us_us_5630fe11e4b00aa54a4c2f05|title=Prince Harry Visits Virginia Military Base With Michelle Obama, Jill Biden|date=October 28, 2015|publisher=Huffington Post}}</ref> In December 2015, Obama traveled with her husband to [[San Bernardino, California]], to meet with families of the victims of [[2015 San Bernardino attack|a terrorist attack]] that occurred two weeks earlier.<ref>{{cite news|title=President Obama, First Lady Meet With Families of Victims in San Bernardino Terror Attack|url=http://ktla.com/2015/12/18/president-obama-first-lady-to-visit-san-bernardino-victims-families/|date=December 18, 2015|publisher=ktla.com}}</ref>
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| === Foreign trips ===
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| [[File:Michelle Obama at National Craft Museum, Delhi, 2010.jpg|left|thumb|Obama with children in [[Delhi]], November 8, 2010]]
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| On April 1, 2009, Obama met with Queen [[Elizabeth II]] in [[Buckingham Palace]], Obama embracing her before attending an event with world leaders.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2009/0402/michelle-obama-hugs-queen-breaks-royal-protocol|title=Michelle Obama hugs Queen – breaks royal protocol!|first=Jimmy |last=Orr|work=The Christian Science Monitor|date=April 2, 2009}}</ref> Obama praised her, though the hug generated controversy for being out of protocol when greeting Elizabeth.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/g20-summit/5091915/Michelle-Obama-hugs-the-Queen.html|title=Michelle Obama hugs the Queen|date=April 2, 2009|newspaper=The Telegraph|first=Murray|last= Wardrop}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/30017148/ns/world_news-europe/t/michelle-obama-charms-britain-hugs-queen/#.VueAG2NhqqA|title=Michelle Obama charms Britain, hugs queen|publisher=NBC News|date=April 2, 2009}}</ref>
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| In April 2010, Obama traveled to [[Mexico]], her first solo visit to a nation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/12/AR2010041202607.html|title=Robin Givhan examines Michelle Obama's first trip abroad alone|first=Robin|last=Givhan|date=April 13, 2010|work=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> In Mexico, Obama spoke to students, encouraging them to take responsibility for their futures.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/world/americas/15firstlady.html?_r=0|title=Mexico Embraces Michelle Obama|date=April 14, 2010|first=Marc|last=Lacey|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/13/obama.mexico/index.html|title=First lady Obama arrives in Mexico|date=April 14, 2010|publisher=CNN}}</ref> Referring to the underprivileged children, Obama argued that "potential can be found in some of the most unlikely places," citing herself and her husband as examples.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/14/AR2010041403709.html|title=The age of youth: Traveling abroad, first lady Michelle Obama makes kids Topic 1|first=Robin|last=Givhan|date=April 15, 2010|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/lady-michelle-obama-mexico-safe-travel/story?id=10377081|title=First Lady Michelle Obama Says Mexico Still Safe for Travel|date=April 14, 2010|publisher=ABC News}}</ref>
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| Obama traveled to Africa for the second official trip in June 2011, touring [[Johannesburg]], [[Cape Town]] and [[Botswana]] and meeting with [[Graça Machel]]. Obama was also involved with community events in the foreign countries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/06/20/michelle.obama.africa/|title=Michelle Obama and her daughters arrive in South Africa|publisher=CNN|date=June 20, 2011 }}</ref> It was commented by White House staff that her trip to Africa would advance the foreign policy of her husband.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mason|first=Jeffery|date=June 21, 2011|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/06/21/154146.html|title=Michelle Obama arrives in Africa, her second solo trip abroad as US First Lady|publisher=Al Arabiya News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Thompson|first=Krissah|date=June 25, 2011|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/44/post/michelle-obama-in-africa/2011/06/17/AGokaGZH_blog.html|title=First family goes on safari in South Africa}}</ref>
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| In March 2014, Obama visited China along with her two daughters Malia and Sasha, and her mother Marian Robinson. She met with [[Peng Liyuan]], the wife of Chinese president [[Xi Jinping]], visited historic and cultural sites, as well as a university and two high schools.<ref name="MichelleChinaVisit">{{cite news|title=First lady Michelle to visit China with daughters|url=http://www.chinanationalnews.com/index.php/sid/220316638/scat/9366300fc9319e9b/ht/First-lady-Michelle-to-visit-China-with-daughters|access-date=March 4, 2014|publisher=China National News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305092918/http://www.chinanationalnews.com/index.php/sid/220316638/scat/9366300fc9319e9b/ht/First-lady-Michelle-to-visit-China-with-daughters|archive-date=March 5, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/first-lady-michelle-obama-travels-to-china/|title=First lady Michelle Obama faces scrutiny for China trip with daughters, mom|date=March 18, 2014|publisher=CBS News}}</ref> Deputy National Security Adviser [[Ben Rhodes (White House staffer)|Ben Rhodes]] said the visit and intent in Obama journeying there was to symbolize "the relationship between the United States and China is not just between leaders, it's a relationship between peoples."<ref>{{cite news|last=Martinez|first=Michael|date=March 20, 2014|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/20/politics/michelle-obama-china/|title=Michelle Obama arrives in China for official visit|work=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=MacLeod|first=Calum|date=March 22, 2014|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/21/michelle-beijing-china-visit/6685835/|title=In China, Michelle Obama calls for universal rights|work=USA Today}}</ref>
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| In January 2015, Obama traveled to [[Saudi Arabia]] alongside her husband, following the death of [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|King Abdullah]]. She received criticism for not covering her head in a nation where women are forbidden from publicly not doing so,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/michelle-obama/11373787/Michelle-Obama-causes-outrage-in-Saudi-Arabia-by-not-wearing-headscarf.html|first=Andrew| last= Marszal|title=Michelle Obama causes outrage in Saudi Arabia by not wearing headscarf|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=January 28, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/01/28/first-lady-michelle-obama-catches-heat-for-choice-of-dress-in-saudi-arabia/|title=First Lady Michelle Obama Catches Heat For Outfit Choice in Saudi Arabia|publisher=CBS New York|date=January 28, 2015}}</ref> though Obama was defended for being a foreigner and thus not having to submit to Saudi Arabia's customs,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/amy-davidson/michelle-obama-doesnt-owe-anyone-head-scarf|title=Michelle Obama Doesn't Owe Anyone a Head Scarf|first=Amy| last=Davidson Sorkin|work=The New Yorker|date=January 28, 2015}}</ref> even being praised in some corners.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2015/01/27/michelle-obama-picks-loose-clothing-no-head-scarf-in-saudi-arabia/22403859/|title=Michelle Obama picks loose clothing, no scarf in Arabia|first=Maria|last=Puente|date=January 27, 2015|work=USA Today}}</ref> Obama was neither greeted nor acknowledged by [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|King Salman]] during the encounter.<ref>{{cite news|last=Greenhouse|first=Emily|date=January 27, 2015|title=What Michelle Obama Didn't Wear in Saudi Arabia|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-01-28/what-michelle-obama-didn-t-wear-in-saudi-arabia|work=Bloomberg}}</ref>
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| [[File:President and First Lady Obama, With Saudi King Salman, Shake Hands With Members of the Saudi Royal Family.jpg|thumb|Michelle and Barack Obama with [[King Salman]] of [[Saudi Arabia]] and members of the Saudi royal family, January 27, 2015]]
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| In June 2015, Obama undertook a weeklong trip to London and three Italian cities. In London, she spoke with students about international education for adolescent girls and met with both British prime minister [[David Cameron]] and [[Prince Harry]]. She was joined by her two daughters and mother.<ref>{{cite news|last=Superville|first=Darlene|date=June 12, 2015|title=Michelle Obama follows predecessors with foreign travel|url=https://news.yahoo.com/michelle-obama-follows-predecessors-foreign-travel-220044877--politics.html|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In November, she spent a week in [[Qatar]], her first official visit to the Middle East. She continued advancing her initiative for international education for women by speaking at the 2015 World Innovation Summit for Education for her "Let Girls Learn" initiative in [[Doha, Qatar]] and touring a school in [[Amman, Jordan]], where she met with female students.<ref name=2015CNN /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/michelle-obama-promote-education-initiative-mideast-trip/3027025.html|title=Michelle Obama to Promote Education Initiative in Mideast Trip|date=October 28, 2015|publisher=voanews.com}}</ref><ref name="instyle let girls learn">{{cite web|title=5 Things to Know About Michelle Obama's Let Girls Learn Initiative|url=https://www.instyle.com/celebrity/michelle-obama-let-girls-learn-initiative|website=InStyle.com|access-date=February 22, 2019}}</ref> During the Qatar trip, Obama had intended to visit Jordan as well, but the trip was canceled due to weather conditions. In Jordan, Obama had intended to visit an [[Amman, Jordan|Amman]] school, which had been constructed with assistance from U.S. funds.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20151105-disappointed-michelle-obama-calls-off-jordan-trip |title='Disappointed' Michelle Obama calls off Jordan trip |work=France24 |date=November 5, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222111840/http://www.france24.com/en/20151105-disappointed-michelle-obama-calls-off-jordan-trip |archive-date=December 22, 2015 }}</ref>
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| In March 2016, Obama accompanied her husband and children to [[Cuba]] in a trip that was seen by the administration as having the possibility of positively impacting relations between the country and America.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Parsons|first1=Christi|last2=Wilkinson |first2=Tracy|date=March 18, 2016|title=Obama's Cuba visit to augur a 'new beginning' between nations|url=http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-obama-cuba-advance-20160318-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Kimble|first=Lindsay|date=March 17, 2016|title=Malia and Sasha Obama Will Join the President and First Lady for Landmark Cuba Trip|url=http://www.people.com/article/barack-obama-michelle-cuba-trip|work=People}}</ref> Later that month, the first couple and their daughters traveled to [[Argentina]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Boyer|first=Dave|date=March 24, 2016|title=Obama brings two fuel-guzzlers to serve as Air Force One in Argentina|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/24/obama-takes-two-air-force-one-planes-argentina/|work=The Washington Times}}</ref> meeting with Argentine president [[Mauricio Macri]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Feldman|first=Jamie|date=March 24, 2016|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/michelle-obama-tango-dress_us_56f3de28e4b0c3ef5217fc0a|title=Michelle Obama Tangos in a Magnificent Metallic Dress|work=The Huffington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Krol|first=Charlotte|date=March 24, 2016|title=Barack and Michelle Obama tango in Argentina|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/12202837/Barack-and-Michelle-Obama-tango-in-Argentina.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324084405/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/12202837/Barack-and-Michelle-Obama-tango-in-Argentina.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 24, 2016|newspaper=The Telegraph}}</ref>
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| === Midterm elections ===
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| Obama campaigned for Democratic candidates in the [[2010 United States elections|2010 midterm elections]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/battle-10/249397/bill-clinton-follow-michelle-obama-stumping-bennet-michael-sandoval|title=Bill Clinton to Follow Michelle Obama in Stumping for Bennet|first=Michael|last=Sandoval|date=October 11, 2010|work=National Review}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/ken-walshs-washington/2014/07/28/michelle-obama-stumps-for-votes|title=Michelle Obama Stumps for Votes|publisher=US News|first=Kenneth T.|last=Walsh|date=July 28, 2014}}</ref> making her debut on the campaign trail in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/14/us/politics/14michelle.html?_r=0|title=Michelle Obama Hits Campaign Trail With Soft-Sell Message|date=October 13, 2010|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Sheryl Gay|last= Stolberg}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/13/AR2010101302542.html|title=Michelle Obama hits campaign trail for Democrats|first=Nia-Malika|last=Henderson|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 13, 2010}}</ref>
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| By the time she began campaigning, Obama's approval rating was 20 percentage points higher than her husband's.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/10/13/sweep.michelle.obama/|title=The Sweep: 'Reluctant warrior' Michelle Obama dives into midterms|first=Ed|last=Henry|date=October 13, 2010|publisher=CNN}}</ref>
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| Though Obama indicated in January 2010 that a consensus had not been made about whether she would campaign,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/34847099/ns/politics-white_house/t/michelle-obama-no-first-year-do-overs/#.VpEiDDZhqqA|title= Michelle Obama: No first-year do-overs|agency=Associated Press|date=January 13, 2010|publisher=NBC News}}</ref> speculation of her involvement came from her large approval rating as well as reports that she had been invited to speak at events with Democrats such as [[Barbara Boxer]], [[Mary Jo Kilroy]] and [[Joe Sestak]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rothenberggonzales.com/news/article/is-michelle-obama-democrats-secret-weapon|title=Is Michelle Obama Democrats' Secret Weapon?|publisher=Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales|date=August 17, 2010|first=Stuart|last=Rothenberg}}</ref>
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| She toured seven states in two weeks within October 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/13/cnn-poll-two-thirds-give-first-lady-thumbs-up/|publisher=CNN|title=Two-thirds give first lady thumbs up|date=October 13, 2010}}</ref> Aides reported that, though viewed as essential by the White House, she would not become deeply involved with political discussions nor engage Republicans in public disputes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://m.voanews.com/a/michelle-obama-campaigns-for-democrats-in-us-midterm-elections-104989329/174335.html|title=Michelle Obama Campaigns for Democrats in US Midterm Elections|first=Dan| last= Robinson|date=October 13, 2010|publisher=voanews.com}}</ref> After the elections, only six of the thirteen Democratic candidates Obama had campaigned for won. The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' concluded that while Obama was indeed more popular than her husband, her "election scorecard proved no better than his, particularly in her home state".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/06/nation/la-na-michelle-obama-20101107|title=Michelle Obama's favored candidates: 6 wins, 7 losses|date=November 6, 2010|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|first1=Katherine|last1= Skiba |author2= Michael A. Memoli}}</ref>
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| Obama was a participant in the [[2014 United States elections|2014 midterm elections]], held at a time where her popularity superseded her husband's to such an extent that it was theorized she would receive a much larger outpour of support in campaigning. Reporting her travel to [[Denver, Colorado]], David Lightman wrote that while Democrats did not want President Obama to campaign for them, "the first lady is very popular."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article24775189.html|date=October 23, 2014|publisher=McClatchyDC|title=While her husband is shunned, Michelle Obama hits campaign trail|first= David|last= Lightman}}</ref> In May 2014, Obama was found to have a 61% favorable approval rating from a CNN poll, her husband coming in at 43%.<ref name=2014CNN /> In a video released in July, as part of an effort to encourage [[voter turnout]], she called on voters to be "hungry as you were back in 2008 and 2012".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/michelle-obama-2014-midterms-be-hungry-democrats|first=Jane C. |last= Timm|title=Michelle Obama on 2014 midterms: Be hungry, Democrats|date=July 28, 2014|publisher=MSNBC}}</ref> Obama appeared at a fundraiser in Georgia in September for Democratic senate candidate [[Michelle Nunn]]. Obama's approach to campaigning in Georgia strayed from discussing current events and instead broadly stressed the importance of registering to vote and turning out during the elections.<ref name=2014CNN>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/08/politics/michelle-obama-georgia/index.html|title=Michelle Obama hits the campaign trail|first=Elizabeth|last=Hartfield|date=September 8, 2014|publisher=CNN}}</ref> Obama's infrequent appearances came from her dislike of being away from her children and Washington politics as well as her distaste for the opposition by Republicans to her husband's agenda and her view that Democrats in the U.S. Senate had not sufficiently been supporters of her initiatives to end childhood obesity.<ref name=2014NYT /> Obama raised her profile in October,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2014/10/michelle_obama_in_detroit_stak.html|title=Michelle Obama in Detroit: Stakes could not be higher in midterm elections|publisher=mlive.com|first=Khalil|last=AlHajal|date=October 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/michelle-obama-remains-distanced-from-2014-elections/article/2554389|first=Kelly| last=Cohen
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| |title=Michelle Obama remains distanced from 2014 elections|date=October 4, 2014|work=Washington Examiner}}</ref> touring three states in four days.<ref name=2014NYT>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/04/us/as-michelle-obama-campaigns-some-democrats-fear-her-last-name-is-a-liability.html|title=Why Is First Lady Scarce in Campaign? Her Last Name Is Obama|first=Jackie|last=Calmes|date=October 3, 2014|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Obama called the elections her husband's "last campaign".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/michelle-obama-out-in-full-force-for-baracks-last-campaign/2014/11/03/ddbb2248-a51c-4590-9278-f071494009cd_story.html|first=Krissah|last= Thompson|title=Michelle Obama out in full force for 'Barack's last campaign'|date=November 3, 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/chi-first-lady-michelle-obama-in-chicago-to-raise-money-for-dems-20140723-story.html|title=First Lady Michelle Obama raises money for Democrats in Chicago|first=Rick|last= Pearson|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=July 24, 2014}}</ref>
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| === Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign ===
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| [[File:Michelle Obama at SNHU October 2016.jpg|thumb|Obama speaks at a [[Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign|Hillary Clinton presidential campaign]] rally at [[Southern New Hampshire University]], October 13, 2016.]]
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| Obama endorsed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and made several high-profile speeches in favor of her, including an address at the [[2016 Democratic National Convention]] in [[Philadelphia]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith |first=David|date=July 26, 2016|title=Michelle Obama's stirring speech brings Democratic convention to tears|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/26/michelle-obama-convention-speech-female-president|work=[[The Guardian]] }}</ref> She also appeared multiple times on the campaign trail in either solo or joint appearances with Clinton.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldmacher|first=Shane|date=October 23, 2016|title=Michelle Obama to rally with Hillary Clinton in North Carolina|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/michelle-obama-hillary-clinton-230209|work=Politico}}</ref> On October 13, 2016, Obama heavily criticized Republican presidential nominee [[Donald Trump]] for the statements he made in a [[Donald Trump and Billy Bush recording controversy|2005 audio recording]] while at a Clinton rally in [[Manchester, New Hampshire]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kludt|first=Tom|date=October 14, 2016|title=Michelle Obama denounces Trump for 'bragging about sexually assaulting women'|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/13/politics/michelle-obama-donald-trump-election-2016/|work=CNN}}</ref> A week later, Trump attempted to revive past comments Obama made in regards to Clinton during the 2008 presidential election.<ref>{{cite news|last=Dearden|first=Lizzie|date=October 22, 2016|title=Donald Trump attacks Michelle Obama over 'vicious' Hillary Clinton comments|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-elections/donald-trump-michelle-obama-comments-on-hillary-clinton-2007-barack-campaign-vicious-a7374966.html|work=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hook|first=Janet|date=October 21, 2016|title=Trump Hits at Michelle Obama, Cites Her 2008 Criticism of Clinton|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/10/21/trump-hits-at-michelle-obama-cites-her-2008-criticism-of-clinton/|work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>
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| === Public image and style ===
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| [[File:Obamas walk down PA Ave. 1-20-09 hires 090120-N-0696M-546a.jpg|left|thumb|Obama wore [[Isabel Toledo]] clothes made of [[St. Gallen Embroidery]] to the [[First inauguration of Barack Obama|2009 presidential inauguration]].]]
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| With the ascent of her husband as a prominent national politician, Obama became a part of popular culture. In May 2006, ''[[Essence (magazine)|Essence]]'' listed her among "25 of the World's Most Inspiring Women".<ref name="biogtv">{{cite web | url=http://www.biography.com/featured-biography/michelle-obama/index.jsp | title=Michelle Obama | access-date=April 5, 2009 | work=[[Biography (TV series)|Biography.com]] | publisher=[[A&E Network]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325002829/http://www.biography.com/featured-biography/michelle-obama/index.jsp | archive-date=March 25, 2009}}</ref><ref name=FLS>{{cite news| url=http://style.uk.msn.com/fashion/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=10730465| title=First Lady style: Michelle Obama| publisher=U.K. [[MSN]]| access-date=April 5, 2009| date=April 2009| author=O'Neil, Nicole| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405004554/http://style.uk.msn.com/fashion/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=10730465| archive-date=April 5, 2009| url-status=dead}}</ref> In July 2007, ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' listed her among "10 of the World's Best Dressed People". She was an honorary guest at [[Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball]] as a "young'un" paying tribute to the "Legends" who helped pave the way for African-American women. In September 2007, ''[[02138]]'' magazine listed her 58th of "The Harvard 100"; a list of the prior year's most influential [[:Category:Harvard University alumni|Harvard alumni]]. Her husband was ranked fourth.<ref name="biogtv" /><ref name=Top100>{{cite news |title= The Harvard 100|work=[[02138]]|date=September 2007}}</ref> In July 2008, she made a repeat appearance on the ''Vanity Fair'' international best dressed list.<ref name=MOmraotVFibdl>{{cite news |url=https://www.today.com/news/michelle-obama-makes-best-dressed-list-wbna25939033|title=Michelle Obama makes best-dressed list: For the second year in a row, Obama's style puts her on Vanity Fair's list|access-date=October 13, 2008|date=July 30, 2008 | publisher=Today.com}}</ref> She also appeared on the 2008 ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' list of best-dressed women and was praised by the magazine for her "classic and confident" look.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ET_Cetera/Michelle_Obama_Best_dressed_women/articleshow/3496244.cms|title=Michelle Obama among 10 best dressed women: People magazine|access-date=April 4, 2009|date=September 18, 2008 |work=The Economic Times | location=India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.accesshollywood.com/style/michelle-obama-rihanna-named-to-peoples-best-dressed-list_article_11297|title=Michelle Obama, Rihanna Named To People's Best Dressed List | access-date=April 4, 2009 | date=September 17, 2008 | publisher=[[Access Hollywood]]}}</ref>
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| At the time of her husband's election, some sources anticipated that as a high-profile [[African American|African-American]] woman in a stable marriage Obama would be a positive role model who would influence the view the world has of African Americans.<ref name=WMMtU>{{cite news| url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/170383/page/1| title=What Michelle Means to Us: We've never had a First Lady quite like Michelle Obama. How she'll change the world's image of African-American women – and the way we see ourselves.|access-date=January 9, 2009| date=November 22, 2008 |work=Newsweek | author=Samuels, Allison|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216011443/http://www.newsweek.com/id/170383/page/1|archive-date=December 16, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Fiori, Pamela | date=February 2009 | title=She's Got It! | work=[[Town & Country (magazine)|Town & Country]] | pages=78–83|url=http://img147.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=92323_Obama1_122_905lo.jpg|access-date=April 4, 2009}}</ref> Her fashion choices were part of the 2009 [[Fashion week]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/186989|title=The New Black|access-date=April 7, 2009|date=March 9, 2009|work=Newsweek|author=Von Glinow, Kiki}}</ref> but Obama's influence in the field did not have the impact on the paucity of African-American models who participate, that some thought it might.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/michelle-obama-diversifying-model-portfolios-not-so-much-221188|title=Is Michelle Obama Diversifying Model Portfolios? Not So Much|access-date=August 24, 2014|date=February 18, 2009|work=Newsweek|author=Soller, Kurt}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/fashion/13diary.html|title=Has the 'Obama Effect' Come to Runway Castings? |access-date=April 7, 2009 |date=February 13, 2009 |work=The New York Times |author=Trebay, Guy}}</ref>
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| Obama's public support grew in her early months as First Lady,<ref name=MIFOTS /><ref name=MR /> as she was accepted as a [[role model]].<ref name=MIFOTS>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/30/AR2009033003332.html | title=Michelle's Image: From Off-Putting To Spot-On | access-date=April 4, 2009|date=March 31, 2009 |work=The Washington Post | author=Romano, Lois}}</ref> On her first trip abroad in April 2009, she toured a cancer ward with [[Sarah Jane Brown|Sarah Brown]], wife of British prime minister [[Gordon Brown]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1889307,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404014720/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1889307,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 4, 2009|title=Michelle Obama Finds Her Role on the World Stage|access-date=April 6, 2009|date=April 2, 2009|work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|author=Scherer, Michael}}</ref> ''[[Newsweek]]'' described her first trip abroad as an exhibition of her so-called "star power"<ref name=MR>{{cite news |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/192394|title=Mixed Review|access-date=April 4, 2009|date=April 3, 2009 |work=Newsweek|author=Stone, Daniel}}</ref> and [[MSN]] described it as a display of sartorial elegance.<ref name=FLS /> Questions were raised by some in the American and British media regarding [[Protocol (diplomacy)|protocol]] when the Obamas met [[Queen Elizabeth II]]<ref name="TQaMO">{{cite news|author=Chua-Eoan, Howard|date=April 1, 2009|title=The Queen and Mrs. Obama: A Breach in Protocol|work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1888962,00.html|url-status=dead|access-date=April 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826141620/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1888962,00.html|archive-date=August 26, 2013}}</ref> and Michelle reciprocated a touch on her back by the Queen during a reception, purportedly against traditional royal etiquette.<ref name=TQaMO /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/touch-her-if-you-dare-211352|title=Touch Her ... If You Dare|access-date=April 6, 2009|date=April 2, 2009|work=Newsweek|author=Bailey, Holly}}</ref> Palace sources denied that any breach in etiquette had occurred.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newsweek.com/g-20-gossip-no-touching-please-211186|title=G-20 Gossip: No Touching, Please |access-date=August 24, 2014|date=April 1, 2009|work=Newsweek|author=Bailey, Holly}}</ref>
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| [[File:Obamas arrive at Neighborhood Ball 1-20-09 090120-F-9629D-599.JPG|thumb|Obama in [[Jason Wu]]]]
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| Obama has been compared to [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis|Jacqueline Kennedy]] due to her sense of style,<ref name=MOmraotVFibdl /> and also to [[Barbara Bush]] for her discipline and decorum.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/fashion/08michelle.html? | title=She Dresses to Win |access-date=October 13, 2008|date=June 8, 2008 |work=The New York Times| author=Trebay, Guy}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/70165|title=Ground Support: Michelle Obama Has Seemed Ambivalent About Barack's'08 Run. But She's Provided The Entree For Him To Give It A Go.|access-date=November 16, 2008|date=January 29, 2007 |work=Newsweek|author1=Springen, Karen |author2=Jonathan Darman |name-list-style=amp }}</ref> Obama's style has been described as "fashion populist".<ref name=VLiCBTO>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/171275|title=Very Little in Common But That 'O' | access-date=January 9, 2009 |date=November 29, 2008 |work=Newsweek|author=Connolly, Katie}}</ref> In 2010, she wore clothes, many high end, from more than fifty design companies with less expensive pieces from [[J.Crew]] and [[Target Corporation|Target]], and the same year a study found that her patronage was worth an average of $14{{nbs}}million to a company.<ref name=Horyn>{{cite news|author=Horyn, Cathy|title=First in Fashion| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/30/fashion/michelle-obama-first-in-fashion.html|date= December 28, 2012|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 15, 2013}}</ref> She became a fashion trendsetter, in particular favoring sleeveless dresses, including her first-term official portrait in a dress by [[Michael Kors]], and her ball gowns designed by [[Jason Wu]] for both inaugurals.<ref>{{cite news|author=Wilson, Eric|title=Mrs. Obama in Kors|url=http://runway.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/mrs-obama-in-kors/|date=February 27, 2009}} and {{cite news|title=Mrs. Obama's Inaugural Wardrobe by Many Designers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/22/us/first-lady-and-fashion-are-no-longer-so-combustible.html|date=January 21, 2013|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref> She has also been known for wearing clothes by African designers such as [[Mimi Plange]], [[Duro Olowu]], Maki Oh, and Osei Duro, and styles such as the [[Adire (textile art)|Adire]] fabric.<ref name="ObamaGuardian">{{Cite news|url=https://guardian.ng/life/culture-lifestyle/the-evolution-of-adire/|title=Adire: The Love Affair Between Art And Fashion|newspaper=Guardian|location=Lagos, Nigeria|date=July 12, 2016 |access-date=September 24, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://alainelkanninterviews.com/duro-olowu/|title=Alain Elkann interviews designer and curator Duro Olowu|date=April 9, 2017|work=Alain Elkann Interviews|access-date=September 24, 2017}}</ref>
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| Obama appeared on the cover and in a photo spread in the March 2009 issue of ''[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]''.<ref name=MOgcoVm /><ref name=MOmVc>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7883253.stm|title=Michelle Obama makes Vogue cover |access-date=February 14, 2009|date=February 11, 2009 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Every first lady since [[Lou Henry Hoover|Lou Hoover]] (except [[Bess Truman]]) has been in ''Vogue'',<ref name=MOgcoVm>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/usPoliticsNews/idUKTRE51A86320090211|title=Michelle Obama graces cover of Vogue magazine|access-date=February 14, 2009|date=February 11, 2009 |work=[[Reuters]] | first=Jill | last=Serjeant}}</ref> but only Hillary Clinton had previously appeared on the cover.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2009/02/first-look-mich.html|title=All the Rage: The Image Staff Muses On The Culture of Keeping Up Appearance in Hollywood and Beyond|access-date=February 14, 2009|date=February 11, 2009 |work=Los Angeles Times|author=Tschorn, Adam}}</ref> Obama later appeared two more times on the cover of ''Vogue'', while First Lady, the last time in December 2016, with photographs by [[Annie Leibovitz]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/11/politics/michelle-obama-vogue/index.html|title=Michelle Obama makes third Vogue cover appearance|first=Kevin|last=Liptak|date=November 12, 2016|work=CNN|access-date=November 29, 2016}}</ref> In August 2011, she became the first woman ever to appear on the cover of ''[[Better Homes and Gardens (magazine)|Better Homes and Gardens]]'' magazine, and the first person in 48 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.babycenter.com/celebrities/better-homes-gardens-put-first-woman-on-its-07222011-cover/ |title=Better Homes and Gardens put first woman on its cover |publisher=Blogs.babycenter.com |date=July 22, 2011 |access-date=December 14, 2012}}</ref> In 2013, during the [[85th Academy Awards]], she became the first first lady to announce the winner of an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] (Best Picture which went to ''[[Argo (2012 film)|Argo]]'').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainment-us-oscars-michelleobama-idUSBRE91O07020130225|title=Michelle Obama surprises Oscars by presenting Best Picture award|access-date=February 25, 2013|date=February 24, 2013|publisher=Reuters}}</ref>
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| The media have been criticized for focusing more on the first lady's fashion sense than her serious contributions.<ref name=VLiCBTO /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/morgan-felchner/2008/11/14/for-mom-in-chief-michelle-obama-and-women-everywhere-its-about-choice.html|title=For Mom-in-Chief Michelle Obama and Women Everywhere, It's About Choice | access-date=January 10, 2009 | date=November 14, 2008 | work=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|author=Felchner, Morgan E.}}</ref> She said after the 2008 election that she would like to focus attention as First Lady on issues of concern to military and working families.<ref name=WMMtU /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2008/10/17/michelle-obama-as-baracks-first-lady-i-would-work-to-help-working-families-and-military-families.html|title=Michelle Obama: As Barack's First Lady, I Would Work to Help Working Families and Military Families|access-date=January 10, 2009|date=October 17, 2008 | work=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|author=Obama, Michelle}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/170435|title=The Editor's Desk | access-date=January 9, 2009|date=November 22, 2008 |work=Newsweek|author=Klaidman, Daniel}}</ref> In 2008, ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' blogger, [[PBS]] host and [[E. W. Scripps Company|Scripps Howard]] columnist [[Bonnie Erbé]] argued that Obama's own publicists seemed to be feeding the emphasis on style over substance,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/11/13/michelle-obama-is-making-herself-a-stay-at-home-mom-not-the-media-2.html|title=Michelle Obama Is Making Herself a Stay-at-Home Mom, Not the Media | access-date=January 10, 2009 | date=November 13, 2008 | work=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|author=Erbe, Bonnie}}</ref> and said Obama was miscasting herself by overemphasizing style.<ref name=MOSWW /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/11/06/barack-and-michelle-obama-sound-tone-deaf-on-womens-issues.html|title=Barack and Michelle Obama Sound Tone-Deaf on Women's Issues | access-date=January 10, 2009|date=November 6, 2008 |work=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|author=Erbe, Bonnie}}</ref>
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| {{clear}}
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| For three straight years{{snd}}2018, 2019, and 2020{{snd}}Obama topped the [[Gallup poll]] asking who is the "most admired woman" in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cohn |first1=Alicia |title=Michelle Obama is 'most admired woman' in new poll |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/476218-michelle-obama-is-most-admired-woman-in-new-poll |website=The Hill |date=December 30, 2019 |access-date=August 18, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/531909-michelle-obama-named-most-admired-woman-for-third-straight-year-gallup|title=Michelle Obama named most admired woman for third straight year: poll|last=Budryk|first=Zack|date=December 29, 2020|work=The Hill|access-date=December 29, 2020}}</ref>
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| ''Time'' magazine features an annual "[[Time Person of the Year|Person of the Year]]" cover story in which ''Time'' recognizes the individual or group of individuals who have had the biggest impact on news headlines over the previous twelve months. In 2020, the magazine decided to retroactively choose a historically deserving woman for each year in which a man had been named Person of the Year, reflecting the fact that a woman or women had been named Person of the Year only eleven times in the preceding hundred. As part of this review, Michelle Obama was named the Woman of the Year for 2008.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Budryk |first1=Zack |title=Time revisits 100 years of 'Person of the Year' covers to honor overlooked women |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/486077-time-revisits-100-years-of-person-of-the-year-covers-to-honor |website=The Hill |date=March 5, 2020 |access-date=August 18, 2020}}</ref>
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| {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
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| == Subsequent activities ==
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| In May 2017, during an appearance at the [[Partnership for a Healthier America]] conference, Obama rebuked the Trump administration for its delay of a federal requirement designed to increase the nutritional standards for school lunches.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/333152-michelle-obama-slams-trump-school-meals-decision|title=Michelle Obama slams Trump school meals decision|first=Max|last=Greenwood|date=May 12, 2017|work=The Hill}}</ref> In June, while attending the WWDC in [[Silicon Valley, California]], Obama called for tech companies to add women for the diversifying of their ranks.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thehill.com/homenews/news/336634-michelle-obama-to-silicon-valley-make-room-for-women|title=Michelle Obama to Silicon Valley: 'Make room' for women|date=June 6, 2017|first=Mark|last=Hensch|work=The Hill}}</ref> In July, Obama honored [[Eunice Shriver]] at the [[2017 ESPY Awards]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/341794-michelle-obama-gets-standing-ovation-at-espys|title=Michelle Obama gets standing ovation at ESPYs|first=Julia|last=Manchester|work=The Hill|date=July 12, 2017}}</ref> In September, Obama delivered an address at the tech conference in Utah charging the Trump administration with having a fearful White House,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/351936-michelle-obama-wh-being-led-with-fear|title=Michelle Obama: WH being led with fear|date=September 22, 2017|work=The Hill|first=Josh|last=Delk}}</ref> appeared in a video for the Global Citizens Festival advocating more attention to giving young girls an education,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thehill.com/homenews/news/352095-michelle-obama-delivers-message-supporting-girls-education|title=Michelle Obama delivers message supporting girls education|first=Brooke|last=Seipel|work=The Hill|date=September 23, 2017}}</ref> and attended the Inbound 2017 conference in Boston.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/27/politics/michelle-obama-women-voters/index.html|title=Michelle Obama: 'Any woman who voted against Hillary Clinton voted against their own voice'|publisher=CNN|date=September 27, 2017}}</ref> During an October{{nbs}}3 appearance at the Philadelphia Conference for Women, Obama cited a lack of diversity in politics with contributing to lawmakers being distrusted by other groups.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/353851-michelle-obama-criticizes-lack-of-diversity-in-politics-all-white|title=Michelle Obama criticizes lack of diversity in politics: one side is 'all white, all men'|first=Avery|last=Anapol|work=The Hill|date=October 4, 2017}}</ref> In November, Obama discussed gender disparity in attitudes with [[Elizabeth Alexander (poet)|Elizabeth Alexander]] while attending the [[Obama Foundation]] Summit in Chicago,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/358253-michelle-obama-we-raise-men-to-feel-entitled|title=Michelle Obama: We raise men to feel 'entitled'|first=Judy|last=Kurtz|work=The Hill|date=November 1, 2017}}</ref> and spoke at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in [[Hartford, Connecticut]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/360978-michelle-obama-on-coping-with-trump-presidency-dont-tweet-nasty|title=Michelle Obama on dealing with difficult times: 'Don't tweet nasty stuff'|first=Josh|last=Delk|work=The Hill|date=November 17, 2017}}</ref>
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| In April 2018, Obama responded to speculation that she might be running for president by saying she has "never had the passion for politics" and that "there are millions of women who are inclined and do have the passion for politics."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Real|first1=Evan|date=April 6, 2018|title=Michelle Obama Reveals Why She Won't Be Running for President|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michelle-obama-reveals-why-she-wont-be-running-president-1100511|access-date=January 22, 2021|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref>
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| On January 2, 2021, Obama encouraged Georgia residents to vote in the state's runoff in the U.S. Senate election and to contact [[VoteRiders]], a non-profit voter ID education organization, to make sure they have the necessary ID to vote.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=MichelleObama |number=1345504079976431616 |title=Georgia Senate runoff appeal}}</ref>
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| [[File:President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Vice President Kamala Harris participated in a Presidential Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery (50857743682).jpg|thumb|Obama with her husband at the [[Inauguration of Joe Biden]] in 2021]]
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| On January 20, 2021, the Obamas attended the [[inauguration of Joe Biden]]. Michelle Obama wore a matching plum coat, sweater, pants, and belt designed by Sergio Hudson to the inauguration.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Yandoli|first1=Krystie Lee|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/krystieyandoli/michelle-obamas-stylist-inauguration-outfit|title=Michelle Obama's Stylist Explained The Meaning Behind The Former First Lady's Inauguration Look|work=[[BuzzFeed News]]|date=January 21, 2021|access-date=January 22, 2021}}</ref>
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| In 2021, she was inducted into the [[National Women's Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=March 9, 2021 |title=Michelle Obama, Mia Hamm chosen for Women's Hall of Fame |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/womens-half-fame-michelle-obama-20210308.html |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref>
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| === ''Becoming'', podcast and TV ===
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| Obama's memoir, ''[[Becoming (book)|Becoming]]'', was released in November 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Andrews-Dyer|first=Helena|date=February 25, 2018|title=Michelle Obama's memoir, 'Becoming,' to be released in November|work=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2018/02/25/michelle-obamas-memoir-becoming-will-be-released-in-november/|access-date=March 1, 2018|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> By November 2019, it had sold 11.5 million copies.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 19, 2019|title=Michelle Obama signs 'Becoming' copies on book's anniversary|url=https://apnews.com/article/2faae2dd1741400686763c0ec4967203|publisher=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> A documentary titled ''[[Becoming (2020 documentary film)|Becoming]]'', which chronicles Obama's book tour promoting the memoir, was released on [[Netflix]] on May 6, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Klar|first=Rebecca|date=April 27, 2020|title=Michelle Obama documentary covering 'Becoming' book tour debuting on Netflix in May|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/494867-michelle-obama-documentary-covering-becoming-book-tour-debuting|access-date=April 27, 2020|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=May 4, 2020|title=Becoming review – tantalising tour of Michelle Obama's life|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/may/04/becoming-review-michelle-obama-documentary-netflix|website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>
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| In July 2020, she premiered a podcast titled ''The Michelle Obama Podcast''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Melissa|date=July 24, 2020|title=Michelle Obama Announces Her First Podcast Guest Is Husband Barack Obama|url=https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/a33334831/michelle-obama-spotify-podcast/|website=[[O, The Oprah Magazine]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Grady|first=Constance|date=July 30, 2020|title=The first episode of Michelle Obama's podcast proves it's fun to just hang out with the Obamas|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/21348081/michelle-obama-podcast-spotify-barack-obama|website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]}}</ref>
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| In February 2021, Obama was announced as an [[Executive producer (television)|executive producer]] and presenter on a children's [[cooking show]], ''[[Waffles + Mochi]].''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Benveniste|first=Alexis|date=February 9, 2021|title=Michelle Obama is launching a cooking show on Netflix|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/09/media/michelle-obama-cooking-netflix/index.html|access-date=2021-02-10|publisher=[[CNN Business]]}}</ref> It was released by Netflix on March 16, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Horton|first=Adrian|date=March 16, 2021|title=Waffles + Mochi review – Michelle Obama's charming puppet series|url=http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/mar/16/waffles-plus-mochi-review-michelle-obama-netflix|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hadero|first=Haleluya|date=March 16, 2021|title=Michelle Obama aims to give a million meals in new campaign|url=https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-health-coronavirus-pandemic-michelle-obama-barack-obama-6b39b57fe471fe832841705620a46748|access-date=March 16, 2021|publisher=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>
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| == Authored books ==
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| * {{cite book |last=Obama |first=Michelle |year=2012 |title=American Grown |location=New York |publisher=Crown Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-307-95602-6 |title-link= American Grown }}
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| * {{cite book |last=Obama |first=Michelle |year=2018 |title=Becoming |location=New York |publisher=Crown Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-5247-6313-8 |title-link=Becoming (book) }}
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| == Book reviews ==
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| * ''New York Journal of Books'', 2018<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/becoming |title=Becoming (review)|first= Walter |last=Clemens |author-link=Walter Clemens|work= New York Journal of Books |date=October 9, 2018 |access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref>
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| == References ==
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| {{Reflist|30em}}
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| == Further reading ==
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| * {{Cite book|title=Michelle Obama, An American Story | author=Colbert, David | year=2008 | publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | isbn=978-0-547-24770-0}}
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| * {{Cite book | title=Michelle Obama: First Lady of Hope | author=Lightfoot, Elizabeth | year=2008 | publisher=The Lyons Press | isbn=978-1-59921-521-1 | url=https://archive.org/details/michelleobamafir00ligh }}
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| * {{Cite book | title=Michelle Obama, A Life | author=Mundy, Liza | year=2008 | publisher=Simon & Schuster | isbn=978-1-4165-9943-2 | url=https://archive.org/details/michellebiograph00mund }}
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| * {{Cite book|title= The Meaning of Michelle: 16 Writers on the Iconic First Lady and How Her Journey Inspires Our Own | author=Chambers, Veronica
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| | year=2017| publisher=St. Martin's Press | isbn=978-1-250-11496-9}}
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| == External links ==
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| {{Commons category|Michelle Obama}}
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| {{Wikiquote}}
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| * [https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/joiningforces/about Joining Forces]
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| * {{IMDb name|2349292}}
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| * {{twitter|MichelleObama}}
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| * {{facebook|michelleobama}}
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| * {{instagram|michelleobama}}
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| * {{C-SPAN|Michelle Obama}}
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| {{s-start}}
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| {{s-hon}}
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| {{s-bef|before=[[Laura Bush]]}}
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| {{s-ttl|title=[[First Lady of the United States]]|years=2009–2017}}
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| {{s-aft|after=[[Melania Trump]]}}
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| {{s-end}}
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| {{US First Ladies}}
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| {{Family of Michelle Robinson}}
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| {{Barack Obama}}
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| {{Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album}}
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| {{Portal bar|United States}}
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| {{Authority control}}
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| {{Good article}}
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| {{DEFAULTSORT:Obama, Michelle}} | | {{DEFAULTSORT:Obama, Michelle}} |
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| [[Category:People associated with Sidley Austin]]
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| [[Category:People from Kalorama (Washington, D.C.)]]
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| [[Category:Philanthropists from Illinois]]
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| [[Category:Princeton University alumni]]
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| [[Category:Shorty Award winners]]
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| [[Category:Spouses of Illinois politicians]]
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| [[Category:United Church of Christ members]]
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| [[Category:Whitney M. Young Magnet High School alumni]]
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| [[Category:Women in Illinois politics]]
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| [[Category:Writers from Chicago]]
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