Barack Obama

New feminist? Michelle Obama gave up her highly-paid job to support her husband Barack through his presidency

She is celebrated as the embodiment of the great American dream and the ultimate fulfilment of the feminist ideal.

Michelle Obama was the black kid born on the wrong side of the tracks, who travelled three hours a day by bus to a selective school where her brilliant mind had gained her a place.

She went on to graduate from Princeton University and Harvard Law School, became a successful lawyer, married one, had two children and kept her demanding career.

When she stepped down from her $273,000-a-year job with the University of Chicago Hospitals to help her husband on the campaign trail, she was earning twice as much as the man who would become America’s first black President. Continue

Their father may have run on a platform of change, but for First Daughters Malia and Sasha Obama, the rules are the same in the White House as they were in their home in Chicago, people reports in its new cover story, on sale Friday.

Start with the girls’ chores. They’re still making their own beds, cleaning their rooms and clearing their dishes. And even with their grandmother, Marian Robinson, 71, staying in a third-floor guest room to help out, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, must show responsibility. Continue

The 47-year-old Ocean’s Eleven actor appeared on CNN’s Larry King Live last night and told the gravel-voiced talk-show host that he met with President Barack Obama on Monday morning to discuss the troubles in the war-torn region of Darfur.

Cover girl: Michelle Obama becomes the second First Lady to ever appear on the cover of Vogue

It’s official: Michelle Obama is the first lady of American fashion, appearing on the cover of the March issue of Vogue.

Every first lady since Lou Hoover – save Bess Truman – has been featured in the high-fashion magazine, but Mrs Obama is only the second to grace the cover. Continue

Michelle Obama, dubbed ‘commander-in-sheath’ by Vanity Fair magazine over her predilection for straight-cut, figure-skimming simple shapes, looked sunny, optimistic and elegant yesterday in a gold shift and matching edge-to-edge collarless coat by Isabel Toledo.

The Cuban-American designer, one-time creative head at Anne Klein – that most preppy of U.S. labels – has been designing under her own name in New York for 20 years now.

Golden girl: Michelle Obama in her simple shift dress and coat by Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo, paired with green shoes and matching gloves, while her crystal necklace came from Tom Binns

Her clothes are not cheap, regularly retailing at £500 for a day dress, and are sold only in exclusive outlets including Barneys.

It is an uptown label most fitting for Mrs Obama’s transformation from Gap-dressed mom to First Lady of Fashion.

I loved the festive crystal necklace by Tom Binns at the neckline, the soft cardie worn for warmth (she knew she would look pinched if she got too cold), and the pearlised stockings. source

Barack Obama made history this afternoon as he was sworn in as America’s first black president.

Over a million watching people crammed into the streets of Washington – with over a billion watching on television around the world – as the 47-year-old junior senator from Chicago became the most powerful man in the world.

His wife Michelle and two daughters Sasha and Malia watched as Mr Obama made the famous inauguration pledge to take over the White House from George Bush. Source

The eyes of the world were on Barack Obama as he was sworn in as President of the United States today, but while they may have been listening with rapt attention to his inaugural speech, wife Michelle also found herself in the spotlight.

As future First Lady taking her place on the world stage next to her husband, Michelle was aware that some of the focus would fall on her – and her fashion choice.

And now we can report that the woman who looks as effortlessly stylish in a chain store dress as she does in a catwalk creation has chosen a pale gold dress by Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo for the first leg of inauguration day.  Source

Not since Knut, the polar bear, has an animal so captured the public’s imagination – and this one hasn’t even been found yet.

Speaking before the world at his victory rally in Chicago on Tuesday night, President-elect Barack Obama told daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7: “I love you more than you can imagine, and you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House.”

It’s among many promises the candidate made during the campaign – and one he’ll be keeping, for sure. But what breed – or breeds – should the new First Puppy be? Continue

The main topic of the day was the economy, but President-elect Barack Obama did say Friday, at his first press conference since his election, that he is dealing with a topic close to home.

“With respect to the dog,” said Obama, “this is a major issue.” He said it has generated the most interest on his Web site, but before a new addition is made to the family, “two criteria that have to be reconciled.”

One is that elder daughter Malia, 10, “is allergic, so it has to be hypoallergenic.” The other is that “our preference would be to get a shelter dog,” which would point to the possiblity of a mixed breed, or, as Obama said, “a mutt, like me.”

Oprah Winfrey joined hands with political veteran Jesse Jackson to celebrate the news that Senator Barack Obama’s landslide victory to become the 44th President of the United States of America.

Oprah joined thousands of people at Grant Park in Chicago, where the President Elect took to the stage to address his supporters and the world.

She joined audience members who leapt into the air, waving American flags.

Oprah Winfrey and Rev. Jesse Jackson celebrate the news that Senator Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States in Grant Park, Chicago

Flying the flag: Oprah celebrates Obama’s defeat of Republican presidential candidate John McCain to become the USA’s first black President

During an emotional interview Oprah said: ‘It feels like hope won. It feels like it’s not just a victory for,obviously, Barack Obama, it feels like America did the right thing. It feels like there’s a shift in consciousness.

It feels like something big and bold happened here, like nothing ever in our lifetime did we expect to happen. Continue