Michelle Obama reveals how her looks were criticised during time as First Lady

Michelle Obama has candidly opened up on how she was scrutinised for her looks during her time as First Lady.

Michelle, 62, held the political role between 2009 and 2017 alongside her husband, Barack Obama, 64, who was the US president at the time.

She's since been hailed as one of the most popular First Ladies of all time and even made history by becoming the first African-American woman to serve in the role.

Throughout her terms as First Lady, Michelle made a number of impressive contributions, particularly in the fields of health and nutrition, having launched the 'Let's Move' initiative to combat childhood obesity and the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act to improve nutrition in schools.

However, since moving on from the political position, Michelle has been candid about some of the difficulties she faced during her time in the White House.

Michelle Obama is the latest celebrity to appear on Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast (Call Her Daddy)

She's previously spoken out about how she would be scrutinised for insignificant things like personal style and, oddly, having her arms out, rather than the actual policies she was putting forward.

And now, appearing on Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy podcast today (21 January), Michelle elaborated on some of the cruel criticism she was subjected to.

Host Alex quoted a comment that Michelle made in an episode of her own IMO podcast back in November 2025. "You said, 'It is the habit of the culture of the world to put women in their place by attacking their physical being.'"

To which Michelle replied: "The top of the article would be she was wearing, not my education, not my professional career, but it started with appearance.

"It was clear that, oh, my God, you don't know anything about what I did before I came here."

It's no secret that Michelle has a host of impressive career and educational achievements under her belt, having attended Princeton University for her undergraduate degree and later graduating from Harvard Law School.

"I mean, I practised law," Michelle said, "I was an assistant to the mayor in Chicago. I ran a nonprofit. That quickly. My shoes become the most important thing about me."

The former First Lady discussed the scrutiny she experienced while in the White House (Randy Holmes/Getty Images)

She urged: "We have to think a lot more, to strike that balance and to be thoughtful about what messages we're sending, giving, receiving.

"When you get the power, when you're the boss, when you're running your own thing, let's just not become female versions of the thing that was broken. Are you building the world that you told your little girl existed?"

Then, Alex quoted Michelle again, this time a comment she made about a potential presidential run.

The host said: "You said, 'Don't even look at me about running because you all are lying. You're not ready for a woman, you're not.' "

To which Michelle doubled down: "There are men out there that were not gonna vote for a woman. Let's just be real about it, and let's put that on the table and talk about, well, what's that about? Let's not be mad because I made the statement."

Michelle then spoke to 'the young women' she is hoping to reach and urged them to 'keep climbing'.

"We need you and know that you may come up short, but keep going," she encouraged.