Michelle Obama
Gossip

In Glamour's Women of the Year issue, the magazine is honoring the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, with a Special Recognition award.

No, not just for giving us hundreds of Michelle Obama pictures showing the latest style from haute couture to casual chic. For mentoring young women.

You simply cannot talk about 2009 without talking about Michelle, who has thrown open the doors of the White House to local children and families.

In her own modest words, “there’s no magic to being here.” With hard work, she says, any one of us can rise to greatness. Words to live by, for sure.

Fresh off her World Series appearance the other night, here are excerpts from Glamour's chat with FLOTUS on role models, careers, love, and life ...

On mentoring young women: “I think that mentoring is such a critical part of the role I can play in this position. I see how little bits of exposure can really change my girls significantly, and I want that for more girls around the world.”

Michelle Obama: Mother, lawyer, First Lady, role model.

On her "real" role models: “They were the people in my life. My mother, for sure. My dad. The teachers. For me, role-modeling was immediate, touchable. The children connect with who is in their lives, present and accounted for.”

On reaching out: “I was blessed throughout my career. I had people rooting for me. Look for those mentors, because sometimes they don’t find you. Sometimes you seek them out. Often, they will be flattered and glad to lend a hand.”

Don’t put yourself last: “I always try to put my kids first, and then... put myself a really close second, as opposed to fifth or seventh. One thing that I’ve learned from male role models is that they don’t hesitate to invest in themselves.”

On seeking the whole package when dating: “Cute’s good. But cute only lasts for so long, and then it’s, who are you as a person? Don’t look at the bankbook or the title. Look at the heart. Look at the soul. You should always feel good.”

On setting her own fashion standards: “People are going to have opinions, and they have a right to, when you’re the First Lady especially. You’re representing the nation. But I’ve tried to be at peace with the choices I make first.”

Last night's game was ugly, but still provided plenty of star power at the opener of the World Series. No, we're not talking about A-Rod and Kate Hudson.

First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden's wife, Jill, took the field during pre-game ceremonies to a big ovation, along with a Yankee legend.

Major League Baseball dedicated Game One of the Yankees-Phillies series, won by the NL champion visitors, 6-1, to the charity Welcome Back Veterans.

Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Biden escorted World War II veteran Yogi Berra - the Yankees Hall of Fame catcher - to the mound for the first-pitch ceremony.

All wore jackets with "World Series" on the front and their names on the back. Iraq war veteran Tony Odierno threw the first pitch to Derek Jeter.

Odierno, who lost an arm in Iraq, works in the Yankees' stadium operations department. His dad is Gen. Raymond Odierno, the top U.S. commander in Iraq.

Yogi Berra receives - and gets - a hand from Michelle Obama and Jill Biden.

Jill Biden is a Phillies fan. Michelle Obama, unlike her White Sox-fan husband, grew up a Cubs fan. They high-fived fans as they walked down the tunnel.

Earlier that day, Obama and Biden honored wounded veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx.

The First Lady's message was simple but profound: We can all do a little something to honor the men and women of the military. And please, Michelle emphasized, don't forget the families they often have to leave behind while serving overseas.

"You can do something as simple as offering to drive a car pool, or offering babysitting," Obama told the room of veterans and staff members. "Above all, each of us can simply reach out and do something really small - and say thank you."

Click to enlarge more Michelle Obama pictures from yesteday ...

The White House has released the first official family photo of the 44th President of the United States and his family, taken September 1 by Annie Leibovitz.

The picture of President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha Obama was taken in the White House's Green Room.

Bo the First Portugese Water Dog apparently had a prior engagement.

What a cute photograph. Follow the link for many more Barack and Michelle Obama pictures from their time on the campaign trail and as the nation's First Couple.

Coolest. First. Lady. Ever.

Peeps may mock President Barack Obama's Nobel Prize win or lack of accomplishments to date, but political opinions aside, how cool is his wife Michelle Obama?

While hosting a children's health fair, Michelle worked a hula hoop on the White House lawn yesterday, showing the cute little tykes how to put your back into it!

Amazingly, she even looked fashionable in the process. Are there any Michelle Obama pictures that aren't flattering? We'd like to see Laura Bush try this ...

As her husband tries to jump through political hoops to cajole Congress into passing health care reform, Michelle Obama settles for the hula variety on the lawn.

Robert Pattinson isn't the only major celebrity covering a random magazine this month.

First Lady Michelle Obama is featured in the latest issue of Prevention, dishing on her diet and her work out routine.

"I love French fries, I like a good burger, and I like pie. And that's okay. I would be depressed if I felt I could never eat the things that I love," Obama says, raving about the White House's cooking staff.

She adds that she can treat herself to such fare because she wakes up at 4:30 a.m. each morning to exercise. The workouts vary between Pilates, cardio, stretching, and weights.

"I enjoy arm exercises because you can see what it's hitting," she said, citing the impressive biceps that have made such headlines over the last few months.

From fashion to dieting, there's little Michelle Obama is not an expert on.

Ironically, while her husband receives rebukes from some liberals for being too moderate, Michelle singles out moderation as the key to any healthy diet.

"I don't want my girls to be obsessed about food," she said. "We don't have a 'no junk food' rule – I just want them to think about their choices. When my older daughter asks, 'Can I have pie?' I'll say, 'Did you have it yesterday? Well, what do you think?' And she'll come to the conclusion that, 'You know, you're right, I shouldn't eat pie every night.'"

Wow. Exercise and a balanced diet? What a novel concept for weight loss! Call us crazy, but Michelle Obama might be a better role model in this area than Kim Kardashian.

The First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, also became the unofficial First Lady of Fashion when husband Barack became president in January.

In a new interview with Women’s Health, she reveals not only why she takes her own health (not just universal health care) seriously, but also her style.

“My father had multiple sclerosis, so I never took health for granted, because I saw a father that at the prime of his life was struck with an illness that completely changed everything in his life,” Michelle Obama told the publication.

She says she values both diet and exercise, even if she has a soft spot for fast food. As a child, she said, going to McDonald's with her family was a treat.

The First Lady maintains her figure by eating in moderation.

“We couldn’t afford to go out to dinner, so [it] was a rare treat," Michelle said. "We had theater class on Saturdays, and [afterward] if Dad turned left we were going to McDonald’s, and if he turned right we were going home."

"We’d always go, “Go left, Dad! Go left!”

He rarely did, and she says that was a good lesson.

“Those values - even though they were the result of economic circumstances - were really good, and created some healthy boundaries about food.”

Not that she doesn’t love the occasional diet-breaker.

“I do love a good burger and fries. French fries are my favorite food in the whole world. If I could, I’d eat them at every meal - but I can’t," she says.

"My whole thing is moderation. If I make good, healthy choices for me and for the family most of the time, having what I love once in a while won’t hurt.”

The Obamas eat dinner as a family almost every night, Michelle says, noting that they make time for that whenever they are able, even if things are busy.

As far as Michelle Obama's hairstyles and fashion choices, the First Lady says.

“For me fashion is fun, it’s supposed to help you feel good about yourself."

"That’s how women should focus: what makes them feel comfortable and beautiful. I wear what I love. Sometimes people like it, sometimes they don’t."

"I’m fine with that.”

Whether she inspires criticism or compliments, debate over Michelle Obama's hair has not ceased in nearly a year and a half, nor is it likely to soon.

When the First Lady of the U.S. attended a country-music event in July without a single strand of hair falling below her jaw, the blogs went bonkers.

Her press secretary had to issue a statement that there was no Michelle haircut, just a new hairstyle. A summer look, simply "pinned up." Obviously.

Many dismiss attention paid to Michelle Obama's hair as mere celebrity gossip fodder, not unlike chatter over her sleeveless dresses, J. Crew cardigans, stocking-free legs or stunning decision to wear shorts to the Grand Canyon.

But for women, and African-Americans in particular, Michelle's hairstyles "command unique interest and carry cultural baggage," according to Time.

Media and pop cultural obsession with Michelle Obama's hair is nothing new.

Widespread interest in Michelle's hairstyles took hold before her husband was even elected, and the First Lady hasn't even done anything outrageous.

Heck, her new updo wasn't really all that dramatic a departure from variations we've seen on her before (the "flip-out," the "flip-under," the "helmet").

Still, her hair is now a catalyst for debate that begins purely with style but "quickly transcends appearance and ultimately transcends Michelle herself." 

Michelle Obama is, like it or not, the "preeminent African-American women's status and style symbol in terms of her beauty, acceptance and power."

All in all, we think she thrives in that weighty role. Click to enlarge the Michelle Obama pictures below and see which hairstyles you like and dislike ...

The beautiful First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, is visiting our national parks and making headlines once again for her fashion sense.

Or what some consider her lack thereof, in this case.

Various Michelle Obama pictures show her in "short shorts" at Grand Canyon National Park. Calling them "short shorts," as some have, is a bit of a stretch.

They're really just shorts, which are, by definition, short.

Well, unless you're Kevin Federline.

Nevertheless, her choice to wear shorts at all is being criticized by some members of the media and public. Apparently some people feel this type of attire is a tad inappropriate, or at least too casual, for the First Lady. Do you agree?

Michelle Obama sports shorts to the Grand Canyon. Who can blame her, it's hot!

To be honest, we don't see why anyone would be critical. She's not going Jessica Simpson on us. Michelle Obama's shorts seem of appropriate length.

It's also Arizona. In August. You can't blame a woman for dressing for the weather. Perhaps the public is not used to a First Lady who's young and hip.

Michelle Obama's shorts are ...

Michelle Obama fashion draws raves from haute couture critics and ordinary Americans alike. Will the First Lady's new hairstyle garner similar praise?

On Tuesday, the President and his wife played host to a country music celebration in the White House East Room with Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss. 

The Michelle Obama pictures from the event showed off her elegant, shorter hairstyle. What do you think? Is it a positive change for the First Lady?

Do you like the First Lady's new hairstyle?

Whether she is accompanying her husband on official business to Moscow, Russia, or just walking across the White House lawn with daughters Malia and Sasha and dog Bo, Michelle Obama's fashion sense always seems so spot-on.

Here's the First Lady and her husband boarding a presidential aircraft:

Click to enlarge more Michelle Obama photos below. Some are from her trip with Barack to Russia, where she and her daughters brought a real touch of class (and cuteness!) to the Kremlin, while others were taken before the First Family left.

Don't you just love her outfits?