Michelle Obama Claims She Faced Harsher Scrutiny as First Black First Lady
Michelle Obama continues to assert that she was treated differently during her time as First Lady, saying she served under a “particularly white-hot glare” as the first Black woman in the role.
She’s currently promoting her new book, The Look (out November 4), described as a reflection on her style evolution and the deeper meaning of fashion. Obama writes that her wardrobe choices—from colorful dresses in the White House to bold post-presidency looks—represent confidence, culture, and identity.
In the book, she notes that she and her husband “didn’t get the grace” afforded to others and that her appearance was often unfairly judged. “We live in a culture where if somebody wants to go after a woman, the first thing they do is attack her looks,” she told the New York Post.
Critics note that her comments overlook how former First Lady Melania Trump, a former model, was largely ignored by fashion magazines.
This isn’t the first time Obama has linked criticism to race. In 2019, she remarked that America was “still not where we need to be” on racism and mocked the idea that her husband’s presidency could have ended it.
Ahead of the 2024 election, she also implied that opposition to Kamala Harris stemmed from sexism and racism, questioning why the race was “even close” if Harris was so qualified.