Michelle Obama

During our family’s time in the White House, the way I looked was constantly being dissected — what I wore, how my hair was styled. For a while now, I’ve been wanting to reclaim more of that story, to share it in my own way. I’m thankful to be at a stage in life where I feel comfortable expressing myself freely — wearing what I love and doing what feels true to me. And I’m excited to share some of what I’ve learned along the way. My new book, The Look, comes out on November 4. It’s a reflection on my lifelong journey with fashion, hair, and beauty. Inside, you’ll find some of the outfits that have meant the most to me, but more importantly, the moments that I lived through in them — big and small, personal and political, historic and ordinary — that were as memorable as the clothes themselves. You’ll also get to know the incredible team that supported me through it all and defined my look — my thoughtful stylist @MeredithKoop, my talented makeup artist @CarlRayMUA, and my wonderful hairstylists @JohnnyWright220, @YeneDamtew, and @KitchenTalkwithNjeri. Each of them brings their own story, heart, and perspective to this journey. The Look is about more than fashion. It’s about confidence. It’s about identity. It’s about the power of authenticity. My hope is that this book sparks conversation and reflection about the ways we see ourselves — and the way our society defines beauty. You can pre-order your copy of #TheLook now at michelleobamabooks.com or wherever books are sold.

There’s no one way to live a happy, fulfilling life. Just ask yourself: Who do I want to be? And then go chase it.

There’s no athlete quite like a gymnast. Their craft demands a level of precision, discipline, and dedication that so few are able to achieve. Craig and I are so grateful that Olympic champion @AlyRaisman joined us on the podcast this week to share her story—one that I know will inspire the next generation of extraordinary athletes. Watch our conversation now on YouTube.

As a child, I spent countless hours trying to master the perfect backbend—so it was such a thrill to have Olympic gymnast @alyraisman on @imopodcasts to give us a candid look inside the world of gymnastics! She also bravely recounted the abuse that she and so many young athletes on Team USA suffered and why she felt so strongly about speaking out. Aly’s story reminds us what it truly means to be a champion: using your platform to lift others up. Watch now on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Happy Black History Month! For 100 years, each February we’ve celebrated the Black folks who’ve shaped our nation and fought for our freedoms. As we reflect on how far we’ve come, we can’t lose sight of the work that remains. The dreams of our ancestors depend on all of us carrying on their work and refusing to be deterred. That’s what Black history is all about: the enduring hope, joy, resilience and resistance—truths that resonate as powerfully today as ever before.

Being a caregiver means looking after yourself in addition to your loved one. @jonbatiste shares this gentle but powerful reminder. Thank you to @therafluus for bringing us this moment.

We couldn’t have @jonbatiste and @suleikajaouad on @imopodcasts this week without talking about the power of music! As Jon reminds us, music is about expression and the beauty of letting creativity move through you the way it’s meant to. Hear our full conversation on YouTube at the link in our bios or on your favorite podcast platform.

EXCITING NEWS: Applications for the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship are officially OPEN! 🌍✨⁠ ⁠ The Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship invests not only in academic success, but in making meaningful work-travel experiences possible and helping to bring people together across their divides. ⁠ ⁠ President Obama, Mrs. Obama, and Brian Chesky, Co-Founder and CEO of Airbnb, created the Voyager Scholarship because of a powerful idea: exposure to new places and experiences generates understanding, empathy, and cooperation, which equips the next generation to create meaningful change.⁠ ⁠ The #VoyagerScholarship offers current U.S. college sophomores or community college transfer students:⁠ 💰 Financial support to ease the burden of college debt⁠ 🌍 A summer work-travel experience to broaden perspectives⁠ 🤝 Access to leadership development training and a powerful network of leaders and mentors ⁠ ⁠ Applications are open until Mar. 17. Learn more, link in bio!⁠

This week on @imopodcasts, we welcomed a couple like no other, @jonbatiste and @suleikajaouad! We had so much fun talking about their journey as two incredibly talented creatives who found their voices—and each other. I love their story because it isn’t just romantic, it’s a reminder. A reminder to pay attention to the people who are brave enough to be their full selves. To the ones who choose joy, even when no one’s watching. To the ones who make you believe that your life can be bigger than your fear. Watch now on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault. Federal law enforcement and immigration agents have a tough job. But Americans expect them to carry out their duties in a lawful, accountable way, and to work with, rather than against, state and local officials to ensure public safety. That’s not what we’re seeing in Minnesota. In fact, we’re seeing the opposite. For weeks now, people across the country have been rightly outraged by the spectacle of masked ICE recruits and other federal agents acting with impunity and engaging in tactics that seem designed to intimidate, harass, provoke and endanger the residents of a major American city. These unprecedented tactics – which even the former top lawyer of the Department of Homeland Security in the first Trump administration has characterized as embarrassing, lawless and cruel – have now resulted in the fatal shootings of two U.S citizens. And yet rather than trying to impose some semblance of discipline and accountability over the agents they’ve deployed, the President and current administration officials seem eager to escalate the situation, while offering public explanations for the shootings of Mr. Pretti and Renee Good that aren’t informed by any serious investigation – and that appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence. This has to stop. I would hope that after this most recent tragedy, administration officials will reconsider their approach, and start finding ways to work constructively with Governor Walz and Mayor Frey as well as state and local police to avert more chaos and achieve legitimate law enforcement goals. In the meantime, every American should support and draw inspiration from the wave of peaceful protests in Minneapolis and other parts of the country. They are a timely reminder that ultimately it’s up to each of us as citizens to speak out against injustice, protect our basic freedoms, and hold our government accountable.

I’m so proud of the @GirlsOpportunityAlliance Network—a vibrant community of grassroots leaders who are leading the charge for girls’ education and empowerment around the world. These passionate changemakers are working on some of the most pressing issues facing girls today. They’re helping girls pursue their education, from the bustling cities of Tanzania to the remote mountains of Nepal. They’re connecting girls in rural Kenya and India who aren’t in school to life-changing learning opportunities. And they’re working to remove barriers that prevent girls from going to school at all, like ending child marriage. Last fall, the Girls Opportunity Alliance brought together more than 50 of these leaders from 21 countries in Mauritius, where they had the chance to learn from one another and from experts in girls’ education. They dived into the latest research. They exchanged best practices to strengthen their programs. And best of all, they built lasting relationships with one another. I know that together, these leaders will set off ripples of change for years to come. As we celebrate #InternationalDayofEducation today, I hope you’ll consider joining us in support of their work by checking out the link in my bio.

After raising four kids, you learn a thing or two about how to get your message across—the first time. Thank you to @therafluus for bringing us this moment.