Photo credit: Matthias Vriens-McGrath for Glamour/ First lady Michelle Obama with White House interns
"Just nine months into her job, our nation's first African-American first lady has thrown open the doors of the White House to local children and families, determined to show young people that, in her words, 'there's no magic to being here'--that with hard work, any one of us can rise to greatness," Glamour Editor-in-Chief Cindi Leivi writes. "The first lady is establishing mentor relationships between top women in the administration and girls in need in DC, and is encouraging women leaders around the country to do the same where they live."
Glamour is honoring the first lady with a Special Recognition award for her commitment to mentoring. In the magazine's December issue, on newsstands Nov. 10, Obama talks with Katie Couric, the CBS Evening News anchor who is kicking off a monthly column for the magazine. In her sit-down with Couric, the first lady shares her advice for women on everything from the importance of finding and being mentors to what to look for in the guy when dating.
“I think that mentoring is such a critical part of the role I can play in this position. I see how little bits of exposure and big bits of exposure really change my girls significantly, and I want that for more girls around the country and the world.”
On her role models growing up:
“They were the people in my life. My mom, for sure. My dad. The teachers. For me, role modeling was immediate, it was touchable.... Children connect with who is in their lives, present and accounted for.... That’s why we’re trying to encourage moms, teachers, fathers, to be that presence in their children’s lives, in their communities, because it really makes a difference.”
On finding career mentors:
“I was blessed throughout my entire career. I had people rooting for me. It started with my parents, but it extended to almost every teacher that I had. When I was a young lawyer, there were other women and men in the firm who took me under their wing. Look for those mentors, because sometimes mentors don’t find you—sometimes you seek them out. Oftentimes, they’re flattered and glad to lend a hand.”
On how she keeps her sanity:
“I have always tried to put my kids first, and then…put myself a really close second, as opposed to fifth or seventh. One thing that I’ve learned from male role models is that they don’t hesitate to invest in themselves.”
On how she deals with public scrutiny of her appearance:
“People are always going to have opinions, and people have a right to their opinions, particularly when you’re the first lady; you’re representing the nation. So I can’t be surprised that people are interested. But I’ve tried to be at peace with the choices that I make first, and then be open to everyone else’s reflection.”
On her dating advice for women:
“Cute’s good. But cute only lasts for so long, and then it’s, Who are you as a person? Don’t look at the bankbook or the title. Look at the heart. Look at the soul.... When you’re dating a man, you should always feel good.... You shouldn’t be in a relationship with somebody who doesn’t make you completely happy and make you feel whole.”
For more on Michelle Obama in Glamour:
