Former First Lady Michelle Obama has opened up about the intense public scrutiny she faced during her time in the White House, describing it as a “white hot glare” that profoundly influenced her fashion choices. In her new book, The Look, Obama explains how she used fashion as a form of “soft power” to communicate messages to the public while navigating the immense pressure placed on her and her family.
In an interview with ABC News’ 20/20, the 61-year-old reflected on the heightened expectations and challenges she faced, particularly as a Black woman in the White House. She shared that, as the first African American family to occupy the White House, she felt the burden of representing not only her family but also her race.
“We were all too aware that as a first black couple, we couldn’t afford any missteps. And that as a black woman, I was under a particularly white hot glare,” Obama writes in The Look. This heightened scrutiny, she argued, was amplified by her race, and she emphasized that, unlike other first families, she and her husband, Barack Obama, did not receive the same “grace” or forgiveness for mistakes.
“We didn’t get the grace that I think some other families have gotten,” she added, noting that every public move and decision carried heavy consequences, particularly in a political environment where race was weaponized by opponents as a fear tactic to portray her and her family as “the other.”
While she initially dismissed discussions about her wardrobe as a “distraction” from her work,Michelle Obama now acknowledges the power of style in sending messages about identity, values, and priorities. She reflected on how what one wears can convey powerful, symbolic meaning.
“Style and fashion, and how we show up in the world is an important way that we send a message. What you’re wearing says something about what you care about,”Michelle Obama explained.
She also spoke about how designers often tried to claim ownership over the First Lady, and how she worked to create opportunities for a wider range of designers, ensuring that her wardrobe choices represented more than just high-profile labels.
In her book,Michelle Obama also addressed the common cultural attacks on women’s appearances, arguing that when people want to bring down a woman, they often start by attacking her physical appearance. “If somebody wants to go after a woman, the first thing they do is go after our looks, our size, our physical being, as a way to, you know, make us feel small,” she stated, emphasizing the gendered nature of public criticism.
Despite the intense media attention and the personal toll it took,Michelle Obama says she is now in a new phase of life. Reflecting on her 60s, she shared her contentment with the stage of life she is in now. “You know, there’s something about the 60s. It is the best time of my life now that my daughters are launched and doing well. My husband’s settled. There’s a certain freedom that I feel I’m at that stage in life where I can say, ‘Yeah, maybe I know a few things.’”
Michelle Obama’s candid reflections in The Look offer readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into her time as First Lady and her thoughts on how style, race, and public perception shaped her experience in the White House.
