LIFE Michelle Obama

132 Pages·2020·165.279 MB·English

by  The Editors of LIFE

The second inaugural Ball,
January 21, 2013.
Michelle
H E R I N S P I R I N G S T O R Y
The Becoming
Phenomenon

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Obama
H E R I N S P I R I N G S T O R Y
Michelle Obama listens
as President Barack
Obama speaks to troops,
veterans and military
families at Fort Stewart,
Georgia, April 27, 2012.
During a 2013 visit to Gorée Island
in Senegal, President Barack
Obama and Michelle Obama gaze
out of the “door of no return,”
where slaves once began their
passage across the Atlantic.
Michelle Obama
Her Inspiring Story
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Kostya Kennedy
EDITOR Robert Sullivan
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Christina Lieberman
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Mimi Park
COPY EDITORS Barbara Gogan, Don Armstrong, Parlan McGaw
WRITER-REPORTERS Marilyn Fu, Amy Lennard Goehner,
Ryan Hatch (2018 Edition), Emily Joshu (2019 Edition)
PHOTO EDITOR Rachel Hatch (2018 Edition)
PHOTO ASSOCIATES Sarah Cates, Steph Durante (2018 Edition)
EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE Courtney Mifsud
4 INTRODUCTION PRODUCTION DESIGNER Sandra Jurevics
PRODUCTION Rich Shaffer (2018 Edition)
A Class of Her Own PREMEDIA TRAFFICKING SUPERVISOR Greg Fairholm
COLOR QUALITY ANALYST Ben Anderson
MEREDITH SPECIAL INTEREST MEDIA
8 GALLERY VICE PRESIDENT & GROUP PUBLISHER Scott Mortimer
VICE PRESIDENT, GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Stephen Orr
Moments in a Journey VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING Jeremy Biloon
EXECUTIVE ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Doug Stark
DIRECTOR, BRAND MARKETING Jean Kennedy
22 CHICAGO’S DAUGHTER ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, BRAND MARKETING Bryan Christian
SENIOR BRAND MANAGER Katherine Barnet
Michelle Robinson
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Kostya Kennedy
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Gary Stewart
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Christina Lieberman
50 A LADY OF FIRSTS EDITORIAL OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Jamie Roth Major
MANAGER, EDITORIAL OPERATIONS Gina Scauzillo
Michelle Obama
SPECIAL THANKS Brad Beatson, Melissa Frankenberry,
Samantha Lebofsky, Kate Roncinske, Laura Villano
MEREDITH NATIONAL MEDIA GROUP
PRESIDENT, MEREDITH MAGAZINES Doug Olson
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CORPORATE SALES Brian Kightlinger
DIRECT MEDIA Patti Follo
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STRATEGIC SOURCING, NEWSSTAND, PRODUCTION Chuck Howell
DIGITAL SALES Marla Newman
THE FOUNDRY Matt Petersen
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VICE PRESIDENTS
FINANCE Chris Susil
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CONSUMER MARKETING Steve Crowe
SHOPPER MARKETING Carol Campbell
BRAND LICENSING Steve Grune
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SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES Dina Nathanson
CHAIRMAN Stephen M. Lacy
VICE CHAIRMAN Mell Meredith Frazier
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By Haley Sweetland Edwards
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ichelle Obama rocketed into the American from Republicans and sparked a national conversation about
consciousness just 15 years ago, shortly after the complex patriotism often required of black Americans.
her husband’s speech at the 2004 Democratic But in emerging into the searing limelight, Michelle
National Convention galvanized voters and Obama also found her way, quietly becoming something of
launched his national political career. In those an idol for American women trying to make their way in a
early days, reporters grappled with how to describe the statu- career-driven world. Michelle was not just a political wife
esque wife of Illinois state senator Barack Obama. Some, and the mother of two beautiful girls. And she was not just
besotted by her flawless fashion choices, likened her to an ambitious lawyer of her own. She was, unapologetically,
Jacqueline Kennedy, while others, noting her deep intelli- both. In campaign speeches, and later, in countless addresses
gence, invoked Eleanor Roosevelt. But neither description as First Lady, she celebrated her roles, inviting voters into
seemed quite right. And from the outset, Michelle evaded the ups and downs of her family life, joking about her hus-
classification as a political plus-one, destined instead to band allowing the bread to go stale on the counter, and
become a force in her own right. expertly articulating the complex challenges facing young
She was, for starters, never just a senator’s wife. The tow- Americans today.
ering 5-foot-11 Michelle was a Princeton- and Harvard- Michelle, who was raised in modest means on Chicago’s
educated attorney in possession of a sharp wit, formidable South Side, seemed to give credence to the possibilities that
ambition—and arms that would make a gladiator blush. If America offered—and to add urgency to efforts to equalize
some political spouses such as Hillary Clinton embraced the access to real opportunity. When she spoke about the Obama
limelight, and others, such as Barbara Bush, opted for administration’s efforts to help students repay massive debt,
domesticity, Michelle Obama fit neither mold. She told any- voters had reason to believe her. “You’re looking at a young
one who would listen that she hated politics, and yet she couple that’s just a few years out of debt,” Michelle told a
seemed also to chafe at expectations that she play a deferen- crowd, referring to herself and her husband. “See, because,
tial role. It wasn’t always easy going. we went to those good schools, and we didn’t have trust
During her husband’s first presidential campaign, critics funds. I’m still waiting for Barack’s trust fund.”
slammed Michelle for “over sharing” when she joked about If she was once reticent about politics, Michelle K
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his morning breath, and she regularly made headlines—both embraced her role as First Lady, using her podium at the ST
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glowing and scathing—for her unguardedly expressive face. White House to become a fitness leader, an advocate for TT
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(In 2013, Buzzfeed compiled a list of Michelle’s 38 greatest healthy eating, and a persistent example of grace and poise. /S
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facial expressions, many of which reappear in GIFs and jokes If her predecessor Laura Bush had been known for her flaw- /R
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online today.) In one particularly memorable gaffe, Michelle less etiquette, Michelle’s charm was somewhat more earthy. A
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told a campaign rally, “For the first time in my adult lifetime, Her language was often peppered with the jargon of pop- A
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I am really proud of my country.” The comment drew fury culture and references to TV shows, and she spoke openly AU
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4 LIFE MICHELLE OBAMA
The Democratic National
Convention, July 2016.
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and bluntly about life’s challenges. She had every right to be
pretentious, but somehow, she was utterly without
pretension.
And she managed to do it all, as was said of Ginger Rogers,
“backwards and in heels.” As the country’s first African
American First Lady, Michelle carried the additional respon-
sibility, fairly or not, of representing an often underrepre-
sented community. In an essay on TheRoot.com, Kim McLarin
described Michelle and Barack’s relationship as validation for
dark-skinned women. “He chose one of us, and I am thrilled,”
McLarin writes. “She loves, respects, and adores Barack, but
she is the prize and she damn well knows it. He better know it,
Ebony
too.” In 2008, magazine named the Obamas to its
10 Hottest Couples list, alongside Beyoncé and Jay-Z.
As her time in the White House drew to a close, and the
PA venomous 2016 presidential campaign reached a crescendo,
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and feminism, her words united a divided arena and offered
Michelle Obama has long been a crucial voice for causes, as she an upbeat version of how far America has come.
was at a When We All Vote rally in September 2018 (opposite, Those themes are also present in her 2018 autobiography,
bottom). When her autobiography, Becoming, debuted two
Becoming
, which has sold more than 10 million copies (another
months later, her stature rose further. The book shot to the top of
the bestseller list as she staged sold-out events across the globe, million copies went to a charity for education). And while her
including in Amsterdam (opposite, top) and Atlanta (above). When book tour created a tsunami of interest and applause, Obama
she joined Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, Alicia Keys and Jennifer
remained grounded, her legacy clear. She has emerged as one
Lopez onstage at the 2019 Grammy Awards (top) the former First
of the most loved American icons representing grit, grace,
Lady drew such extravagant cheering that she finally beseeched
the crowd, “All right, you all, all right, we got a show to do.” humility—and the importance of fresh veggies. ▪
6 LIFE MICHELLE OBAMA
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