#first-lady

First Lady Michelle Obama appeared on the gameshow Jeopardy Tuesday night to talk about her favorite subject: healthy eating and exercising. She quizzed the contestants on ideal lunchtime meals for kids, but the line of questioning took a turn when FLOTUS found herself facing inquisitive viewers on social media asking whether or not she was bald. 

“Why does Michelle Obama look bald on #jeopardy?” Chelsea asked, joining in a chorus of many on Twitter inquiring about Obama’s look. The answer? Her hair was slicked back into a tight ponytail. The harsh lighting reflecting off of hair products combined with a straight-on camera angle made her look bald on TV.

Obama is undeniably not bald. The segment on the long-running show was pre-recorded weeks ago and the First Lady’s been pictured in Japan with plenty of hair on her head in a chic shoulder-length cut. While many were perplexed by the alleged new look, the reaction to her potential buzz cut is what’s even more shocking. 

Of all the things in the world to be concerned about, Michelle Obama’s hair, really? http://t.co/LUyab8gaBL

— Tracey Evelyn Reed (@TraceyEvelynInc) March 25, 2015

Can’t stand the disgusting comments about Michelle Obama’s hair. Have some respect. #whydoievenreadit

— Lexi Small (@lexismall) March 25, 2015

Even political media is discussing Michelle Obama’s hair. A preview of more Hillary Hair stories. Good times. #sexism

— Sarah Reese Jones (@srjones66) March 25, 2015

It’s amazing how Michelle Obama gets on TV with her hair slicked back to talk about health yet the story is about how she looks bald. Bravo.

— Jada (@Jadapooks) March 25, 2015

Michelle Obama’s natural hair may not look good, but uhm..she has a law degree from Harvard and she’s the 1st lady.. So screw your opinion

— Nel Stefani (@DaRealNel) March 25, 2015

Why is Obama wearing her hair in a different style such cause of concern? Is it because she’s a black woman? That she might be wearing her hair naturally as opposed to a wig or relaxing her locks? Or is that the particular style could detract from her femininity? Whatever the reason everyone sounded-off en-masse, the fact is the conversation is focused on the wrong aspect: the First Lady hoped to bring attention to a cause about which she cares deeply, one for which she’s tried very hard to institute change. 

Like many women, Obama’s often the victim of chatter around her looks instead of her worth. On a recent diplomatic trip to Japan and Cambodia, her designer dresses from Kenzo and Altuzarra earned more buzz than her empowering speeches on the importance of education for girls. Unfortunately, Obama isn’t the only woman who is a victim of being treated strictly as a mannequin for wearing nice clothes. Actresses on the red carpet routinely get asked “What are you wearing?” or about work-life balance while when men are approached by reporters about their roles and careers. This double-standard has reached such fever pitch within the entertainment industry that some stars refuse to answer questions surrounding their material possessions and the #AskHerMore movement has begun to truly change the discussion.

Talking about dresses, makeup, and hair will never not be attached to talk surrounding women, it’s just the nature of the media beast (coupled with the public’s genuine interest in what everyone’s wearing). But it’s also important to put style into context: Sure, Obama looked amazing in Dries Van Noten, but her Let Girls Learn initiative is even more impressive; her hair did look a little off on TV, but she’s also discussing the obesity epidemic plaguing the United States and trying her hardest to combat it. 

With Hillary Clinton (maybe) running for President in 2016, there’s still time to learn how to find a happy medium. 

Three powerhouse women—Kerry Washington, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Michelle Obama—united at the White House to discuss an important cause: America’s servicewomen and military wives. Watch what happens when these dynamic ladies meet for Glamour’s May cover shoot, joined by editor-in-chief Cindi Leive and photographer Patrick Demarchelier.

Michelle Obama wasn’t already the first lady, fighting childhood obesity one school lunch at a time and making sure kids reach higher, she’d probably be a TV star. Next up: an appearance on Lifetime’s new Project Runway Junior. 

According to Women’s Wear Daily, FLOTUS will appear on the Dec. 10 episode. But while she’s certainly a fashion icon and could suffice as a judge on her sartorial skills alone, she’ll actually be informing viewers of an initiative with Lands’ End that will benefit Let Girls Learn. The government-wide effort aims to help the the 62 million girls around the world who are not currently in school and includes a Peace Corps tie-in. 

The episode’s competition will feature 12 contestants ranging in age from from 14 to 17 sewing their little hands out to win the chance to design an item that will be sold via Lands’ End’s Web site.

Project Runway Juniors, which begins on Nov. 12, is not Obama’s first foray into television. In fact, she’s so popular on the boob tube that with each cameo she makes from dancing with Jimmy Fallon to Sesame Street, she’s shown she’s bound for Hollywood after the White House. Here, her best appearances in GIF form. 

Jimmy Fallon and Michelle Obama boogie on The Tonight Show.  Michelle Obama and Jimmy Fallon dressed as a suburban housewife in a cardigan, khakis, and bangin’ wig showed the "Evolution of Mom Dancing“ from the “Go Shopping, Get Groceries” to the “Dougie.” Such a hit — it raked up more than 20 million views on YouTube — Obama returned in 2015 to dance it out again in the ”Evolution of Mom Dancing 2“ to  honor of the 5-year anniversary of Let’s Move!. 

Ew! with Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, and the First Lady.  In 2014, Obama joined Jimmy Fallon for his popular recurring sketch in which he’s a teenage girl named Sara and invites friends to her basement to chill. In addition to Will Ferrell, who made out with a Harry Styles poster, the first lady joined in the ew-ing, saying that jelly doughnuts are just so ew. 

Michelle Obama with Elmo and Rosita on Sesame Street. The first lady invited Elmo and Rosita to the White House in order to promote healthy eating and exercise to combat childhood obesity and juvenile diabetes. 

Michelle Obama on Parks and Recreation. Amy Poehler’s character Leslie Knope met her idol Michelle Obama, who was the keynote speaker at the National Parks Conference, on an episode in 2014. The first lady eventually recruited Knope to her Let’s Move campaign, making every dream come true. John McCain and Joe Biden also made cameos throughout the series. 

Michelle Obama and Ellen DeGeneres compete in a dance off.  Talking about Let’s Move!, the first lady followed her own directive and did just that on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in March. The pair then competed to the tune of "Uptown Funk.”

Michelle Obama’s style is sophisticated, as a First Lady’s should be, but she also has a penchant for wearing undiscovered designers whose clothes fit her particular tastes and restrictions. Who can forget when she wore Jason Wu to her husband’s first Inauguration Ball, catapulting the young man’s line from obscurity to a must-have New York Fashion Week ticket? Designers like Bibhu Mohapatra, Thakoon, Isabel Toledo, and even J. Crew have seen a boost in, if not sales, mass popularity, post-Mobama.

Zero + Maria Cornejo is one of those brands who’s earned extra recognition and credibility thanks to the First Lady. But Cornejo’s FW 2015 collection showed a departure from politician-ready looks and instead seemed more punk rock for daring Upper East Siders. While Obama probably wouldn’t wear these as long as her husband’s in office, the family has less than two years left in the White House. And when she’s not saddled down by state dinners, Obama should trade her conservative coats for fur ponchos, stiff blazers for asymmetrical jackets with fringe embellishment, and cotton pants for leather ones; and plain black boots for those trimmed with pony hair. In other words, this is what the First Lady’s closet should contain when she’s no longer the First Lady.

Michelle Obama leaves the plane in England, along with her daughters, Malia (center) and Sasha. (Photo: Getty Images)

Michelle Obama is in London for just two days (before moving on to other parts of the United Kingdom and to Italy for a weeklong trip), and she’s already off to a fashionable — and productive — start. 

On Monday, the first lady disembarked at Stansted Airport wearing a bright summer-friendly dress from Preen by Thornton Bregazzi. A similar version from the Resort 2015 collection is available for $1,523, but her frock appears to be custom, with added sleeves, a black belt, and more of a flare in the skirt than the original pencil dress. 

Left: The dress in its original incarnation on the market. Right: Obama in her modified version. (Photos: Courtesy of Preen; Getty Images)

The 51-year-old is actually a fan of the British-based brand and has worn Preen pieces on multiple occasions (not just when the setting calls for a local designer), including an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman and during one of the last election’s presidential debates. 

Her daughters, Malia, 17, and Sasha, 14, accompanied her on the trip and were the epitome of teenage cool in minidresses and flats. Malia, who’s rumored to be applying to colleges in New York, wore a navy blue-and-sunflower print shift paired with powder-blue Mary Janes. Sasha, on the other hand, wore a black-and-white polka dot frock with black ballet flats. The first lady’s mother, Marian Robinson, joined the family as well. 

Across the pond to promote her Let Girls Learn initiative, the first lady started her day by sharing a cup of tea with Prince Harry. They spoke of their shared interests, including supporting veterans and their families. 

Michelle Obama and Prince Harry sipping tea. (Photo: Getty Images)

Following the royal welcome to the United Kingdom, the crew moved on to the Mulberry School for Girls. Wearing a multicolored paisley print dress, Obama told the crowd of students waving U.S. flags, “With an education from this amazing school, you all have everything — everything you need to rise above all of the noise and fulfill every last one of your dreams.” She continued, “And it is so important that you do that, not just for yourselves but for all of us. Because you all have a unique perspective; you have a unique voice to add to the conversation.“

Michelle Obama at the Mulberry School in London. (Photo: Getty Images)

And she’s not all talk. As part of her stay, the first lady announced a series of new partnerships between the U.S. and the U.K. to provide improved education to adolescent girls in developing countries, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.

Later, she’ll met with British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife, Samantha. Whether or not tea was involved has yet to be announced, but Michelle did make a change. For the afternoon stop, she switched into a less busy but just as sweet dress. The simple black three-quarter sleeved dress featured an embroidered bouquet of flowers on the chest with floating petals flowing down the skirt. 

Her daughters were also on hand at Downing Street, each standing out in bright colors.