This might come as a shock, given that Michelle Obama rubs shoulders with celebrities on a regular basis, but the former first lady has never looked up to the likes of singers or movie stars. In a sit-down interview with Katie Couric for Glamour, Michelle shared that when she was a child, it was important for her to source inspiration from role models with whom she could interact on a daily basis, as those interactions had a far more profound impact on her.
“My mom, for sure. My dad. The teachers. For me, role-modeling was immediate, it was touchable. It was rare for me to idolize a movie star or a singer … because, truly, children connect with who is in their lives, present and accounted for,” Michelle shared. “When I was little, I wanted to be a mother, because that’s who I saw. I saw my mom caring for me. I didn’t play doctor. I didn’t play lawyer. I didn’t have those visions until I was in college, meeting people who were doing those things.”
Michelle went on to note how important it is to encourage parents, teachers, and guardians to be involved in their kids’ lives. “It really makes a difference,” she said.