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• Michelle Obama became the first lady of the United States when her husband, Barack Obama, took the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009.

  The First Lady appeared in Copenhagen in September 2009 with Oprah Winfrey to promote Chicago as the site for the 2016 Olympics. Obama likened the competition for hosting the games to the Iowa primary, with Rio de Janeiro and Madrid also in contention. [1]<ref>

• Fast Facts

  1. Name: Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama
  2. Born on January 17, 1964
  3. Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
  4. Married Barack Obama in 1992
  5. Occupation: Attorney
  6. Graduated from Princeton University in 1985
  7. Attended Harvard Law School
  8. Serves on the board of TreeHouse Foods, Inc.
  9. Mother of two daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama
  10. Parents: Fraser and Marian Robinson
  11. Brother Craig Robinson coaches basketball at Oregon State University
  12. Chief of Staff: Susan Sher

• Background

  A 1985 Princeton graduate, Obama met her husband while working for the law firm Sidley & Austin.

  The Obamas lived on the south side of Chicago with their two daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama, before moving to Washington D.C. to assume the role of the first family.

  
  

• Official Portrait

  Michelle Obama's official portrait was released on February 27, 2009. The portrait was taken by photographer Joyce N. Boghosian. She was photographed in the White House's Blue Room wearing a sleeveless dress designed by Michael Kors.The Huffington Post: Michelle Obama Official Portrait Released

• Family

  Michelle Obama is the youngest of two children. Her brother Craig Robinson is the men's basketball coach at Oregon State University. Obama's family lived in the South Shore community area of Chicago, Illinois.

  Her mother, Marian L. (Shields) Robinson (July 30, 1937), is credited with "keeping house and home together" [1] during Barack Obama's presidential campaign. The only living grandparent of Sasha and Malia Obama, she lives with Barack and Michelle Obama in the White House.

• Visit to the Department of Education

  On February 2, 2009, Michelle Obama visited the Department of Education—the first of several planned stops at various federal agencies. Obama delivered a short speech about President Obama's economic stimulus package, which she said would help to upgrade schools, avoid education layoffs and allow more students to attend college.Political Hotsheet (CBS News): Michelle Obama Visits Department Of Education (February 2, 2009) Political Punch (ABC News): Michelle Obama Rallies the Education Troops (February 2, 2009)

• Education and Career

  Michelle Obama attended Princeton University where she majored in sociology, and Harvard Law School. After graduating law school, Obama began working at the Chicago offices of the law firm Sidley & Austin, where she met Barack Obama. In 1993, she became the Executive Director of the Chicago office of Public Allies, a group which encouraged young people to engage in social activism.BarackObama.com: Meet Michelle

• Political Life

  Michelle Obama dropped most of her professional responsibilities when her husband Barack Obama announced his candidacy for president in order to help him campaign. She has given numerous speeches and appeared on several talk shows in support of her husband, including The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Colbert Report. Michelle came under fire when she said, "for the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback." The Obama campaign responded to the criticism by saying that her remarks were made in the context of the campaign and that she was, in fact, a proud American. Despite the comments, many political pundits said they believed Michelle Obama was a strong asset to her husband's campaign because of her public speaking credentials.

• Vogue Cover

  The First Lady is featured on the cover of the March 2009 issue of Vogue Magazine where she is depicted wearing a magenta silk sheath dress designed by Jason Wu. The photographs for the magazine were taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz.People: Michelle Obama Appears on the Cover of Vogue (February 11, 2009)

• Popularity

  In March 2009, Michelle Obama's favorability ratings rose 28 points from where she was in the summer of 2008, to 72 percent. Despite an initial reaction that was less than favorable, respondents to an initial poll indicated that her role with children and her family had helped improve their view of the new first lady.WashingtonPost.com: Michelle Obama's Popularity Increases (March 30, 2009)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Michelle Obama Speech | Barack Obama | Malia Obama | Sasha Obama | Craig Robinson | Hillary Rodham Clinton | Election 2008 | Joe Biden | Cindy McCain | Jill Biden | 2008 Democratic Convention | Laura Bush | Maria Pinto | University of Chicago Medical Center | Barack Obama Costumes | Michelle Obama Ryan Seacrest | Maya Rudolph Michelle Obama | Michelle Obama on Jay Leno | Obama Voting | Hypoallergenic Dogs | Desiree Rogers | Mocha Moms | Obama Barbara Walters Interview | Kids Inaugural We Are the Future Concert | Marian Robinson | Isabel Toledo | Sasha and Malia Dolls | Susan Sher | Jackie Norris | Alfred Brock | TySheoma Bethea | Richard Decoatsworth | Leonard Abess | Bo Obama

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