Michelle - Our Collective Belle

What's In a Name?

The fashionistas may call her "Mrs. O", but she asks us to call her "Michelle".

I say that a woman has a right to determine her own name, so Michelle it is for us . . . Anna Wintour or no Anna . . . and no confirmation yet that Michelle will actually be featured on Vogue's March 2009 cover.

I'm just teasing, btw. I'm not claiming that Anna Wintour invented the name "Mrs. O".

Perhaps credit goes to the talented ad agency folks over at Mrs.-O. After all, great branding is their business. I should know; it's part of my gig, too.

In Vogue Or Not

The NY Daily News leaked the news that Michelle's hair stylist Johnny Wright styled her for a Vogue photoshoot. Earlier this month, Vogue photographer of famous women Annie Lebowitz was seen entering the Hay-Adams hotel, when the Obamas were in residence.

Vogue will only say that they are "very interested in working with the First Lady."

If these hot rumours focus on the outer Michelle, what's the inside story?

Insatiably Crazy About the Woman

Today's London Telegraph reminds us that we cannot get enough of Michelle Obama's inner essence.

Michelle, who has achieved that rare status of being recognisable by just her first name, is now our collective belle. She is not the poster girl but the poster woman for all that is feel-good in these feel-bad times, the subject of a communal crush that spans the Atlantic. Barack may bring hope; his wife yields sighs.

First Lovebirds

Post Inaugural, I'm awash in Presidential PDAs and agree with Telegraph Hannah Betts that Michelle has already differentiated herself from Jacqueline Kennedy; Diana, the Princess of Wales, and even rock-star wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.

Michelle is brainy and balanced, and madly in love with her husband.

True, the Sarkozy's are also carrying on like teenagers but they are newlyweds. One senses that there's a lot of heat remaining in the Obama's marital bed, which is a tribute worth a major fireworks display next Fourth of July.

Not only does Barack adore Michelle. He respects her. If you study the photos, he cannot keep his wandering hands off her.

Can you imagine for one moment, Barack Obama having his Marilyn Monroe, birthday celebration moment?

If Barack Obama is a "bad boy", it's a different vintage and someone must bottle it for American consumption.

Anna Wintour, now THIS is a project for you . . . perhaps as Ambassador to France . . . a gift to American women that rivals the Statue of Liberty.

Really and Truly

In the Obamas, the world may have found "true love". At a time where virtually every institution we considered sacred (including marriage) is crumbling under our feet, here come the world's most glamorous couple, asking us to call them by their first names.

The request sounds casual, but they dress up oh so well, and they are madly in love . . . with each other, with the children, with the First Grandmother.

We are holding our global collective breath that this family is NOT DYSFUNCTIONAL.

Around the world, we sense that Michelle is not taking anti-depressants; that she loves being a mom; that our ace-in-the-hole First Lady knows she can run just about any damn company that she wants to; AND she loves showing off her well-toned and exercised arms in public.

Sense & Sensuality

Might I point out that Michelle Obama may have someone to make her bed now, but she's managed to mainstain a healthy, toned body with a schedule that could make most of us dizzy. No wonder her husband has muscle lust.

Of course, Michelle Obama is a role model for African American women, but we are all gaga because Michelle seems to be holding all the cards, and we are thrilled to see a woman who is so self-actualized, yet keeps life in perspective.

A True Grit Woman

While Caroline Kennedy whimped off the senatorial hopeful stage this week, Michelle Obama dispayed True Grit under fire.  Assembling the unfinished news archives of Michelle Style, I agree that Michelle took some seriously unfair media bashing during the campagin.

Did the First Lady crumble? No. And thank God she didn't, because the worst is coming, and we need True Grit women to lead the way out of our national landmines.

It's no time for snivels in America.

I'm known for calling it as I see it, and I do think that when it comes to poor-me tears, African American women know when to suck it in and get fearless. Survival builds nerves of steel in people.

Amazing Grace

Our dashing First Lady Michelle has gritted her teeth with true style and grace, a character attribute that comes from within, and not from the clothes on your back.

Telegraph writer Hannah Betts suggests that Michele is anger-free. I have no idea if our First Lady is angry or not.

Without a doubt, joy and self-assurance flow freely through her veins . . . making Michelle Obama a magical, inspiring, tear-generating role model for us all.

Do we love her Isabel Toledo and Jason Wu frocks? Totally! Do we adore her fashion confidence? More than banana cream pie!

Top of mind, we love Michelle, because so many of us are always on the lookout for the next best version of ourselves.

Michelle Style is inner, while Mrs. O is outer. We love all of her.

Our Best Selves

"My best self" is a much quieter trend, one not destined for the cover of any fashionista publication.

The need to emulate Michelle is more Zen-like, sincerely springing from the "I want to love me --  the woman in the mirror, when nobody's looking" desire to be even better women, than we already are.

We women are always looking to perfect ourselves, to the dismay of loved ones who wish we would just sit down and enjoy life once in awhile.

Michelle Obama is so real and delish, that the high bar seems now reachable.

Michelle, Ma Belle

I haven't been humming the Beetle's song "Michelle", while dashing around Manhattan, but Hannah Betts says the tune is big in Britain.

Here's to the international Michelle Obama effect. May it reign far and wide, inspiring hope, confidence, resilience, and inner convictions that all of us can and will do better . . . because it is our nature to strive for the stars.

Yes We Can!

Love, Anne