Michelle Obama Reveals the One Thing She ‘Did Not Talk About’ in the White House

Michelle Obama was the ultimate style icon during her nearly ten years as first lady, but she says being fashionable came with serious pressure.

In an interview with People magazine published Tuesday, Oct. 28, the former first lady opened up about the challenges behind the head-turning looks that often made headlines.

“I purposefully did not talk about fashion and beauty during the eight years in the White House,” Obama, 61, said. “I was afraid it was going to take over everything.”

Her reflections come as she prepares to release her memoir, The Look, on Nov. 4. The book features more than 200 never-before-seen photos and stories about her style evolution, giving readers a behind-the-scenes look at some of her most iconic outfits.

“This book is a celebration of fashion, but more importantly, I hope it is a celebration of confidence, identity, and authenticity,” Obama writes in the introduction. “It’s an inspiration to think deeply about how we define style and beauty.”

The audiobook, read by Obama herself, will also be released by Penguin Random House Audio.

Being a presidential fashion figure wasn’t easy. First ladies’ clothing choices always attract public attention, and Obama often faced criticism that was racial in nature. She revealed in 2022 that she wanted to wear braids during her tenure but decided against it, preferring the focus to remain on the Obama administration’s policies rather than her hairstyle.

“It was a complicated assignment. The role of first lady is a kind of job, non-job,” she said. “You know that you’re supposed to be inspirational, yet accessible. You should be uniquely yourself, authentic, but representational at the same time.”

As the first African American first lady, Obama also had to navigate cultural expectations. “I felt that I had to make sure that people could see my feminine side,” she explained. “Especially early on in the campaign, when I was being attacked as angry or demeaning my husband — all these labels tried to rob me of that femininity. The clothes could never speak louder than what I had to say.”

Even with the spotlight, Obama has remained true to her roots, growing up on the South Side of Chicago with a love for the bold styles of Soul Train. Today, she embraces fashion on her own terms.

“Fundamentally, I’m the same person,” she said. “But with each decade, I’ve grown wiser. I think I’ve become more confident about who I am. This version of Michelle probably cares less about what other people think.”

Part of that confidence includes finally wearing her hair in braids publicly, debuting the look at the unveiling of her and Barack Obama’s White House portraits in September 2022. “I wanted to send a message, adding to the conversation about Black women in places of power, saying, ‘This, too, is an appropriate and beautiful way to wear your hair,'” she said.

Obama added that outside the public eye, braids are a symbol of freedom. “When I’m swimming or playing tennis, braids represent that kind of freedom for me. In the White House, I wasn’t sure the country was ready, and I didn’t want my hair to become a distraction.”

Despite her accomplishments, Obama says she’s still working on self-love every day.

“I’m still working on waking up, looking in the mirror, and telling myself that I am smart and beautiful, and kind and worthy,” she said. “That work never stops, especially for women of color. Right now, it’s more important than ever to remind ourselves that we matter, that we count.”