Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama is an American lawyer, author, and former First Lady of the United States, born on January 17, 1964, in Chicago, Illinois. She is widely known for her work in education, health, and military families during her time in the White House, as well as for her influence as a role model for women and girls worldwide.

Before becoming First Lady, Michelle Obama had an accomplished career as a lawyer, working at the Chicago law firm Sidley Austin, where she met her future husband, Barack Obama. She later worked in public service, focusing on community outreach and public health.

During her time as First Lady (2009–2017), Michelle Obama was a champion for several important causes:

Education: She advocated for education, particularly for girls, and promoted initiatives like the Reach Higher program to help students pursue higher education.
Health and Wellness: Michelle led the Let’s Move! initiative, which aimed to reduce childhood obesity and promote healthier eating and active lifestyles for children.
Military Families: She co-founded the Joining Forces initiative with Dr. Jill Biden, which supported and honored military families and helped veterans transition to civilian life.

In addition to her public service, Michelle Obama is an influential author. Her memoir, "Becoming" (2018), was a major bestseller and widely praised for its candid exploration of her life, including her upbringing, her time in the White House, and her personal challenges and triumphs.

Other notable works by Michelle Obama include:

"American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America" (2012): A book that shares her experience of creating a vegetable garden on the White House lawn and the importance of healthy eating.

Michelle Obama has been an influential figure not just in American politics but globally, known for her eloquence, strength, and advocacy for equality and justice. Even after her tenure as First Lady, she continues to be an advocate for women’s rights, education, and health, and is considered a powerful voice for social change.

Articles by the author

I can't say this enough - the food that you put into your bodies can actually help you get better grades. And it can also affect your performance in sports and other activities too. You see, when you give your body the best possible fuel, you have more energy, you're stronger, you think more quickly.

Michelle Obama

You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it's important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages.

Michelle Obama

For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction.

Michelle Obama

I've seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are. It reveals who you are.

Michelle Obama

The problem is when that fun stuff becomes the habit. And I think that's what's happened in our culture. Fast food has become the everyday meal.

Michelle Obama

My mother's love has always been a sustaining force for our family, and one of my greatest joys is seeing her integrity, her compassion, her intelligence reflected in my daughters.

Michelle Obama

We need someone with superb judgement in their own right because, yes, a president can hire the best advisors on Earth, but I guarantee you this: Five advisors will give five different opinions. And it is the president - and the president alone - who always makes the final call.

Michelle Obama

If proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.

Michelle Obama

I never cut class. I loved getting A's, I liked being smart. I liked being on time. I thought being smart is cooler than anything in the world.

Michelle Obama

If my future were determined just by my performance on a standardized test, I wouldn't be here. I guarantee you that.

Michelle Obama

The fact is, with every friendship you make, and every bond of trust you establish, you are shaping the image of America projected to the rest of the world. That is so important. So when you study abroad, you're actually helping to make America stronger.

Michelle Obama

We can make a commitment to promote vegetables and fruits and whole grains on every part of every menu. We can make portion sizes smaller and emphasize quality over quantity. And we can help create a culture - imagine this - where our kids ask for healthy options instead of resisting them.

Michelle Obama

The truth is, in order to get things like universal health care and a revamped education system, then someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so that someone else can have more.

Michelle Obama

I have never felt more confident in myself, more clear on who I am as a woman. But I am constantly thinking about my own health and making sure that I'm eating right and getting exercise and watching the aches and pains. I want to be this really fly 80-90-year old.

Michelle Obama

Women in particular need to keep an eye on their physical and mental health, because if we're scurrying to and from appointments and errands, we don't have a lot of time to take care of ourselves. We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own 'to do' list.

Michelle Obama

You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.

Michelle Obama

And I love that even in the toughest moments, when we're all sweating it - when we're worried that the bill won't pass, and it seems like all is lost - Barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise. Just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward... with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace.

Michelle Obama

I remember one parent-teacher conference at the lower school, and Barack went, and there were SWAT guys on top of the roof of the school. And Malia was like, 'Dad, really? Really? Do they really have to be up there?' And it's like, yeah, honey, they do.

Michelle Obama

There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made.

Michelle Obama

And I come here as a daughter, raised on the South Side of Chicago - by a father who was a blue-collar city worker and a mother who stayed at home with my brother and me.

Michelle Obama