Michelle Obama Is Dope. These Pictures Explain Why 

We. Love. Michelle. Suggested Reading As He Prepares to Perform at The 2026 Roots Picnic, Fans Want to Know What is Jay-Z Really up To The Best and Worst Wax Figures of Black Celebrities Will The WNBA Go On Strike? Everything You Need To Know About League’s Labor Dispute Video will return here when scrolled…

We. Love. Michelle.

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ Stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence Dish on What It Takes to be True Bad Boys

There aren’t many ways to say it, but believe us. This love is real.  

In 2009, Michelle Obama moved into the White House and into the hearts of Americans. Her brilliant smile and sartorial splendor caught our attention—because, yeah. She’s fly. But we attribute Michelle Obama’s staying power to her substance, intelligence and strength of character.

As part of our monthly series, His Lasting Legacy—a look back at President Barack Obama’s two terms in office—in March we’re celebrating the first lady. Michelle Obama is multidimensional. She’s not just the president’s wife; she’s also a mother, a daughter, a lawyer, a black woman and a champion of the American people. The first lady has used her platform to champion education, support for veterans and fighting childhood obesity, among other causes. And through her initiatives—Let’s Move, Joining Forces, Reach Higher and Let Girls Learn—she has galvanized celebrities and community leaders alike. 

Here are some of our absolute fave pictures of the incomparable first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama. 

Also in the His Lasting Legacy series on The Root:

Historic Presidency, Historic Opposition: The Legacy of President Barack Obama

Fighting Racism in the Age of Obama

Obama’s Battle for Black Boys: My Brother’s Keeper 2 Years Later

Felice León is multimedia editor at The Root.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.