It was a hectic year for First Lady Michelle Obama. We learned about her hairstylist Johnny Wright, her love of short-shorts, and a bit too much about her buff arms. The media was hungry in 2009, wanting a new star to grace the magazine covers. Gone were the Paris Hiltons and the celebrity divorces; instead, America went for the more powerful and intriguing for its daily dose of gossip. The media gave them all they could handle, straight from the White House, with First Lady Michelle and President Barack Obama granting unheard-of access to what goes on at Pennsylvania Avenue.
Along the way, between the inauguration and the state dinners, Michelle Obama found time to make People's best dressed list; introduce us to one of her favorite Chicago designers, Maria Pinto; and without missing a beat create a stir with her picture appearing on Carla Bruni-Sarkozy's website. Icing on the cake: being selected as one of Forbes' most powerful women alongside Oprah, and as one of the "Women of The Year" with Rihanna in Glamour.
What is it about America's fascination with celebrities? Is it the economics behind it all? Does art imitate life, or is it the other way around? Maybe it is an agreed-upon mix of both that determines when a trend is real and when it is manufactured. In any case, social media had a field day along the way, blogging and tweeting, and internet commerce was buzzing like back in the 90's. Can 2010 get any better?
Michelle Obama finished up the year with a state dinner that was crashed by the Salahis and a trip to Oslo with Barack Obama for his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize. There was a lot more, but this is an article, not a book.
Expect more of the same in 2010 as the White House keeps up the pace; even Hollywood will not be able to keep up.
Article comments
1 - Silas Kain
Again, where's the respect? Michelle Obama is such a great role model for young women AND young men. She's her own woman and isn't one to hide behind her husband's coattails. I've got no problem with Barack Obama having his wife as a sounding board. She's no Pat Nixon.