MICHELLE OBAMA The People’s Champion
The hugely popular former First Lady, Michelle Obama, talks about family life and the importance of believing in yourself
Bright-eyed and sharp, warm but strong, people’s champion Michelle Obama has lots to say as the freshest and fiercest former First Lady of the United States.
Having just published an instant best-seller, Becoming, Michelle discusses life in the public eye, the pressure which comes with being married to the first black president, and how she and Barack enjoy a truly unbreakable partnership.
Recently crowned America’s Most Admired Woman, Michelle believes now is the perfect time to finally tell her story.
“When you’re a woman and you’re a minority, you’re often told that ‘you’re reaching too high’ and ‘you can’t do that!’ I’ve seen a lot of mediocrity out there. I’ve sat at tables full of highpowered mediocrity. People who’ve never been told they can’t. And so what helped me understand that was getting to some of those tables.
“Every high table I got to that I wasn’t supposed to be at, I found the same bunch and I said, ‘Well I’ll be darn gone, this is how the world works!’ But I started getting more confident when I realised that, oftentimes, I was one of the smartest people in the room.
“I’m just here to tell y’all, they’re scamming you! They don’t know what they’re doing. They’re just trying to keep you from doing it.”
Michelle speaks fondly of Barack throughout her book but she admits even the world’s favourite powercouple have clashed heads.
“I don’t want any young couple out there thinking that it’s just all Michelle and Barack Obama fist-bump all the time, Barack and Michelle Obama with the wonderful marriage. Marriage is hard; we work at it every day. And it’s worth every second.
“But we both had to make huge compromises. I mean… I hated politics!”
A fully qualified lawyer, Michelle was Barack’s superior when they met at a corporate law firm in Chicago. She was 25 and finishing her first year as an associate; 27-year-old intern, Barack, was assigned Michelle as his mentor. She initially declined invitations to go on a date, believing it was inappropriate but eventually gave in.
She had no inkling of what was to come. She speaks candidly about how tough her time as First Lady was.
“We approached Barack’s presidency like we’ve got to be better, smarter, faster, and we’ve got to work harder… because the bar is different for us.
“On the final plane ride after Trump’s inauguration, flying off to our regular life, when those doors closed I cried for 30 minutes. I think it was the culmination of eight or 10 years of feeling like we had to be perfect, that we had to watch every word, we couldn’t make any mistakes, we had to represent! We had to prove ourselves every day and it was exhausting.
“I felt like I needed to be outstanding and that’s how burdened many of us women, people of colour, feel: They’re not going to let anybody else like me get this chance again if I don’ t do it right !”
Yet Michelle has strong views about fear of failure. She believes being bold and putting yourself out there is the key to success.
“I’d tell my younger self, ‘Don’t be driven by fear!’ Learn to live in that fear a bit.
“If you can just get used to it and the fact that fear comes in a wave, then goes away, you’ll find the new stuff always becomes old and eventually welcoming and familiar.
“I’ve just turned 55 and I have no idea what the next chapter will hold. That’s exciting! What I do know now is that I’m ready for whatever opportunities that presents.”
I’d tell my younger self, ‘Don’t be driven by fear. Learn to live in that fear a bit’