Eight things you need to know about Michelle Obama
Though the focus is on President Barack Obama ahead of his Kenyan visit, he is known to enjoy travelling the world with his wife Michelle Obama.
Here are a eight things that you should know about Michelle Obama.
1. She was Barack’s superior when they met
Michelle and Barack met at Sidley and Austin, a corporate law firm in Chicago, when she was 25 and finishing up her first year as an associate.
That year she was assigned a 27-year-old associate to mentor: her future husband. While she initially declined invitations to go out on a date, saying it would be inappropriate, she eventually caved.
The rest is history.
2. She left corporate law to work in the public sector
After working at Sidley and Austin, she went on to establish Public Allies Chicago in 1993, an AmeriCorps national service program that provided training to young people pursuing careers in the public sector, before eventually working for the University of Chicago’s University Medical Center.
3. She took her infant child to a job interview
When Sasha, now 14, was four-months-old, Michelle was invited an interview for an executive position at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Problem was, she couldn’t find a babysitter.
So, she packed the newborn up, stuck her in a stroller and took her along to the interview, where Sasha slept through the whole thing.
It’s a good thing the University of Chicago was as progressive as she hoped they would be. She got the job.
4. She’s one of only three First Ladies with a graduate degree
Michelle showed how bright she was at an early age, successfully skipping second grade before entering a gifted program in sixth grade.
She graduated from a magnet high school as salutatorian before going on to Princeton University and then Harvard Law.
She is one of only three first ladies to have a graduate degree (Hillary Clinton also has a degree, while Laura Bush has a Masters).
5. She writes her own speeches
The First Lady herself wrote the stump speeches she delivered on the campaign trail and her 2012 Democratic Convention speech. Not only that, but her speeches were good.
6. She is tied for tallest First Lady
At 5’11”, she is tied with Eleanor Roosevelt for tallest First Lady.
7. She is the ‘hottest’ First Lady
Michelle Obama is the only first lady to be ranked on Maxim‘s “Hot 100” List. In 2009, she came in at No. 93.
And she is notably one of the few women in the spread who isn’t basically nude. Instead, she appears in one of her signature, sleeveless dresses.
8. Her favorite food is French fries
You might not expect it given her penchant for working out and asking everyone to stay in shape, but the First Lady’s favorite snack is French fries.