Courtesy of InStyle(WASHINGTON) — The impact of Barack Obama’s presidency on African-American youth hasn’t escaped first lady Michelle Obama as she reflects on the first family’s time in the White House.
“I think when it comes to black kids, it means something for them to have spent most of their life seeing the family in the White House look like them. It matters,” the first lady tells the October issue of Essence magazine, hitting newsstands Sept. 16, of the Obamas’ impact on African-Americans.
And when asked about a notable moment from his presidency, Barack Obama, said, “For me, things like My Brother’s Keeper,” referring to an initiative launched in 2014 aimed at empowering boys and young men of color. “That’s something I’m confident we’ll be continuing after we leave.”
Essence released excerpts from the Obamas’ interview as well as the issue’s cover, featuring the couple, Wednesday night. Simultaneously, InStyle magazine released excerpts of an interview in its October issue — also out Sept. 16 — with the first lady. She also graces the magazine’s cover. Both magazines are published by Time Inc.
In her InStyle interview, Michelle Obama spoke about the influence of women globally, telling the magazine, “Girls are going to move our country and our world to a place where there’s more peace, more prosperity, more possibility, because women raise the next generations again and again and again.”
The first lady also spoke about two topics important to young people: social media and fashion.
Of the importance of social media, she said, “We can fool ourselves into thinking that everybody is still watching the evening news, but I live with Generation Z, and I know that their habits, the way they take in information in, is so different. And they’ve changed …. We’ve got to meet our constituents where they are, and they’re on Snapchat.”
Although the first lady’s style sensibility typically receives rave reviews from fashion critics, she says she doesn’t stress over it. “I tend not to worry about the trends, because what works for an 18-year-old selfie queen may not for a 52-year-old First Lady who is a mom of teenagers she is trying to be a good role model for,” she tells InStyle.
So how does she describe her style? “Very casual. No makeup, a T-shirt, and a pair of ripped jean shorts or workout pants because I’m always on the verge of going to or coming from [working out],” she says. “I love color and pieces that make me feel good, but it’s much more informal.”
In honor of Michelle Obama, InStyle partnered with U.S. designers to release a line of limited-edition designer tote bags to benefit the Peace Corps Let Girls Learn Fund. Let Girls Learn is an initiative launched by the Obamas to help adolescent girls around the world go to school.
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