By Sal Montemurro, Webmaster & Staff Writer
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, born on Jan. 17, 1964, is the first African American woman to serve as the first lady of the United States, a role she filled from 2009-2017.
Raised in Chicago, Ill., Obama is an American author and attorney. She graduated from both Princeton University and Harvard Law School. In her early legal career, she worked at Sidley Austin law firm, which was also where she met her husband Barack Obama. Michelle married Barack back in 1992, and together they have two daughters.
Obama campaigned for her husband’s presidential bid (2007-2008). As first lady, Obama served as a role model for not only women, but young girls and people of color. She strived to be an advocate for education, poverty awareness, physical activity, healthy eating, and nutrition. She also supported many American designers and is even considered to be a fashion icon.
After her husband’s presidency ended in 2017, Obama’s influence has remained quite high. In 2020, Obama was on Gallup’s poll of the most admired women in America for the third year running.