The Evolution of Michelle Obama

Lots of people are sending love to the former First Lady on social media today. But one of our favorite posts is from none other than her husband, former President Barack Obama. In this beautiful Instagram post he wrote, “Happy birthday to my better half — who happens to be one of the funniest, smartest, most beautiful people I know. @MichelleObama, you make every day better. I can’t wait to see what this new decade brings you.” If this is what 60 looks like, we’re here for it!

We’re screaming happy birthday to Mrs. Obama, who celebrates her 60th birthday Jan. 17, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at her. In honor of her special day, Obama’s husband, Former President Barack Obama, posted a beautiful image of the couple sharing a sunset on Instagram. “You make every day brighter,” Barack captioned the post, “and somehow keep looking better!” We couldn’t agree more. Ok, let’s really start at the beginning.

All of the campaigning paid off when on November 4, 2008, Barack became the first African American elected President of the United States. Obama would assume her role as the first African American First Lady. When she danced with the new president at the Inaugural Ball in a Jason Wu gown, Obama created one of many memorable fashion moments.

During her time as First Lady, Michelle Obama was busy implementing several campaigns around issues that were important to her, including education and support of veterans and military families. One of her key initiatives was the Let’s Move Campaign, which encouraged physical activity and putting an end to childhood obesity. Mrs. Obama’s initiative prioritized providing healthier food options to schools and underserved communities. She also brought local students to help care for a fruit and vegetable garden on the White House South Lawn.

During her years in the White House, Obama did not come to play when it came to her style. While she could be seen in high-end looks from Atelier Versace and Alexander McQueen, she was just as comfortable and fabulous in a casual dress from J. Crew. Obama also loves supporting up-and-coming designers like Jason Wu. She she wore his designs to both of President Obama’s inaugural balls.

Barack wasn’t running for anything during the 2016 election cycle. But Obama still found herself on the campaign trail. This time, she was gathering support for the Democratic Presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton. The campaign got ugly, as the Republican nominee (who we won’t even talk about here) had no problem hitting below the belt with his rhetoric. But in a speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, the former First “ady would coin a phrase that has definitely kept me cool when people take me there: “When they go low, we go high.”

The former First Lady chose Baltimore-based artist Amy Sherald to create her official presidential portrait. The portrait will travel to museums across the country from June 2021 through October 2022 before making its permanent home at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. In an interview with “Time,” Sherald says she was honored to be chosen as the first Black woman to paint an official first lady portrait and loves that her work will help more people become interested in art. “There are people who don’t normally go to museums that are interested in art now. They are seeing themselves in different ways. That’s the most important part and focus for myself,” she said.

After the success of “Becoming,” Obama blessed us with a follow-up book in November 2022. In “The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times,” she shares her best advice for overcoming obstacles and adversity. Lord knows she had a lot of practice during her eight years in the White House.

As she’s hit the road to promote “The Light We Carry,” Obama has been doing the damn thang with her fashion. Without the constraints of the First Lady title, she has been free to experiment with her style. We love that she has not shied away from color and that she is embracing natural hairstyles to the fullest. Check out our slideshow of favorite looks.

Now that her days in the White House are behind her, Obama has more time to enjoy some of things she loves, like the tennis action at the U.S. Open.

In 2018, the Obamas founded Higher Ground Productions “to tell powerful stories that entertain, inform, and inspire — while elevating new and diverse voices in the entertainment industry.” With an impressive list of television shows, podcasts and films like “Leave the World Behind,” “Rustin” and “American Symphony,” they are already off to a great start.