Political Punch
Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper

« Previous | Main | Next »

Michelle Obama is Vogue's Cover Girl Next Month

February 11, 2009 10:36 AM

ABC News' Yunji de Nies and Sunlen Miller report:

First lady Michelle Obama is on the cover of next month’s Vogue magazine, making her the second first lady to don the fashion magazine’s cover.

Photographed for Vogue's March issue by famed photographer Annie Leibowitz and interviewed by Andre Leon Talley, Mrs. Obama is shown in a magenta dress seated on a sofa in the Hay Adams Hotel in Washington, DC. The dress is by Jason Wu, the man who designed her white floor-length inaugural ball gown. In addition, inside the magazine are portraits of Mrs. Obama in a J. Crew cardigan, and a Narcisco Rodriguez dress.

Mrs. Obama in an interview with the magazine tells Vogue of her own style, "I love clothes...First and foremost, I wear what I love. That's what women have to focus on: what makes them feel good about themselves and have fun with fashion."

On her new role as First Lady Mrs. Obama talked about her own upbringing, "We learned in our household that there was nothing you couldn't talk about and that you found humor in even the toughest of times. I want to bring that spirit of warmth, openness, and stability to my task," she said in the interview.

While Mrs. Obama has been on the covers of many magazines in the past – “Ebony” and “Essence” among others -- this is her first as First Lady.

Aides in the First Lady’s office expect Mrs. Obama to sit for other such covers– they say it’s part of introducing her and the family to the American people. Mrs. Obama has said that she has a desire to give her daughters and other young African American women the opportunity to see people who look like them on the cover of magazines.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the only former First Lady to make the cover of Vogue in 1998. During the presidential race last February Mrs. Clinton was set to appear on the cover, but backed out – apparently concerns were raised that in the heat of the campaign against then Senator Obama, that she would appear “too feminine.”:

In her editor's letter that month, Anna Wintour wrote, "The notion that a contemporary woman must look mannish in order to be taken seriously as a seeker of power is frankly dismaying."

--Yunji de Nies and Sunlen Miller

February 11, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (157)

User Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

If our attitude in this country does not change,people are going to end up in hell. I have never heard so much hatred in my life. God gave this world to all people, not just a handful. Hate is eating this country alive. We can't even see what's happening in front of us to make the changes to come together.
I voted for bush, I didn't agree with all his decision, nor will I agree with all of our new president. I'm willing to give him a chance. People are silly If they think they're the only smart person in the world. But I forget that's the only way some people feel good is by putting other people down. I feel sorry for them If they don't change. They're probably they first one going thru the church doors on worship Day Shame on You.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: angie | Apr 3, 2009 1:58:18 PM

I cant believe liberal elite and medias are trying to make us swallow that this woman is NOT ugly and even material for FASHION !

Posted by: disgustedVogueReader | Mar 5, 2009 4:16:34 PM

As a Canadian, and an observer -- I have to say a lot of Americans sound like they're bitter, and jealous - and maybe have a headache. Perhaps an enema would help them.

I'm always surprised at how narrowminded (some) Americans can be, when something wonderful happens in their own country. The worst and nastiest critics of the Obamas are within the US; and these people are incredibly divisive. Yet they'll talk about how "liberated" and "free" they are.

Cheer the hell up for crying out loud. You have to start being happy for other people, start talking happy before you're ever going to become happy yourselves.
Michelle Obama is stunning - she's fit, she's TRYING to make women enjoy their lives . . . she is well able to wear a sleeveless dress because her arms are muscled and smooth. She has a beautiful, strong face - and she is just a beautiful person.

Bets any of the critics on this page wouldn't want their photograph displayed on Vogue or anywhere else.

Cheers - from Canada.

Posted by: Elizabeth Montgomery | Feb 26, 2009 12:42:30 PM

I'm 58 years old and I still can't believe the kind of hatred and jealousy that I have just read toward Mrs. Obama.
I like her.

Posted by: Eloise | Feb 20, 2009 6:08:08 PM

Michelle is beautiful, warm, gracious and intelligent. I thinkl she is a tremendous asset in the White House. I liked Laura Bush too, for differing reasons; but I think Mrs. Obama can connect in a unique way to the young. They could do a whole lot worse than to follow her example.

Posted by: phoenician lady | Feb 18, 2009 10:58:19 PM

michele on the cover.......I thought the dems banned torturing people....or maybe it just only apply to terrorist.

Posted by: Reality2009 | Feb 17, 2009 9:37:36 PM

She loves to buy clothes, makes her feel good. She has the money to do so. She is not reaching out to the average American. She may very well be encouraging more poor choices as others may agree with her that buying clothes gives them joy, too, but not be able to pay the bills later. Not everyone gets a fairytale ending like she got.

Posted by: ghs4u | Feb 17, 2009 6:23:19 PM

Palin looked way better on her Vogue cover.

Posted by: James Bowen | Feb 16, 2009 11:38:23 AM

Michelle Obama on the cover of VOGUE? Is this a joke? The woman has zero sense of fashion.

Posted by: CW | Feb 15, 2009 9:33:09 PM

You go, girlfriend! It's good to see another stylish lady, and a First Lady at that, gracing the cover of VOGUE. God bless you, Mrs. Obama.

Posted by: sra | Feb 15, 2009 2:40:54 PM

The American people as a majority are tired of this nonsense that I am reading here and want us to move forward as communities and country This country is not being destroyed without by terrorism or anything else, it is being destroyed from within by the ugly divisiveness. Cease and find common ground with your neighbor, your colleague, your family member who believes differently than you. Mrs. Obama will be beautiful on the cover of Vogue - Congratulations to her. Her triumph takes nothing from me or you.

Posted by: NancyR1 | Feb 14, 2009 3:29:12 PM

michele obama has no law practice accomplishments to speak of. Her thesis was pathetic....anyone with a grievance can write it. Not proud of the country until she gets her selfish ways.
Give us a break vogue, the rest of the country is not as feebled minded as the liberals democrat.

Posted by: Reality2009 | Feb 14, 2009 3:08:21 AM

The First Lady the World's been waiting for? Please!! I think the media is gushing a bit too much! And we have reached the point of oversaturation. I read a little bit of the article and I would like to make some comments. With all due respect to Michelle Obama, it is not like she is going to reinvent the wheel at the White House. All previous first ladies have done wonderful work in their areas of interest. They have shown great dignity and grace at alltimes. And the White House has always been inclusive. The first ladies and their families have welcomed heads of states, dignataries and americans. The White House has always opened its doors to all americans. Let's stopped with this "inclusive for the first time" nonsense about the White House. And as far as Michelle Obama's comment that she wants black americans to see people like them on the cover of magazines...where has she been all these years? What about Oprah, Queen Latifah, Beyonce, Tyra Banks, Iman? All these ladies have graced the cover of magazines. And let's not forget the men. Tiger Woods, Will Smith, Eddie Murphy. Please!!! Perhaps, if we stop with the hyphens....and call ourselves Americans..we would not have to keep track of how many times we make it to the cover of magazines.

Posted by: sanjose56 | Feb 13, 2009 2:32:54 PM

==can't any of you just be nice for a day....the president and first lady aren't miracle workers....==

We said that to you people in 2000. Where were you then?

Posted by: Mr. Incredible | Feb 13, 2009 4:19:46 AM

Voluntary inactive means just that a person withdraws from practice for various reasons like marriage, child care, go back to school, and many more legitimate reasons, but still able to practice law when resumes upon the laws of the state, once acknowledged and meets criteria to resume. If there aren't any disciplinary actions, then a person can resume once criteria has been met to resume. So, do your homework more thoroughly next time.

Posted by: Gg51 | Feb 12, 2009 5:10:30 PM

Karl Rove doesn't even have an undergraduate degree. He was born in Utah and claims residence in Texas. How can anyone teach in upper levels of learning without at least a master's degree? Whoever is allowing Rove to teach in any accredited university is in question of their credibility and ability to be accredited. These universities are at risk of losing everything.

Posted by: Gg51 | Feb 12, 2009 4:46:22 PM

bdaman:

Thank you for your response. And yes, I have done my investigative journalism, and I think I would do my homework more thoroughly sir before you make claims about anyone. She is still licensed to practice law, and she hasn't been disbarred. BDAman, are you Karl Rove?

Posted by: Gg51 | Feb 12, 2009 4:40:55 PM

can't any of you just be nice for a day....the president and first lady aren't miracle workers....It's going to take years to get out of this mess cheney and bush put us in....go help a neighbor or family member instead of playing the ignorant blame game.....it's nice once in a while to escape with these articles ...yes, there are more important things than the first ladies fashions but it is a bit refreshing....it's not like this is all she is focused on....it was probably two hours out of her day...anyway it is helping the economy by boosting magazine sales and clothing sales at JCrew....

Posted by: mike | Feb 12, 2009 4:26:58 PM

So Greg what have you done for the needy lately its easy to cast your opinions but I bet you don't help anyone. They havent' even been in office for a month and people can't say anything nice. My mother always said if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all. I for one am proud to be an american and I voted for Obama. Let the world see that we back our president and that he is trying his very best if anyone can do better maybe they should run for president in 2012.

Posted by: RJ | Feb 12, 2009 4:03:54 PM

SHe can never hold a candle to any of our former FIRST LADY'S. I just can not accept her.

Posted by: connie | Feb 12, 2009 1:45:34 PM

Post a comment





 

POLITICAL VIDEOS