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Michelle Obama is leading a new social media series to celebrate the opening of the Obama Presidential Center on June 19.
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PEOPLE magazine presents a first look at the digital project, which will premiere as two episodes, including one dedicated to her style during her eight years as First Lady.
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The Obama Presidential Center is located in Jackson Park in Chicago, Illinois, and will serve as a "global hub that inspires, empowers, and connects people to create change.".
Michelle Obama has always understood the power of a great outfit, especially when the world is watching.
In a new series of social media posts marking the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, the former first lady, 66, reflects on her meticulous approach to choosing White House attire, sharing how fashion became a way for her to spotlight designers, celebrate diversity, and tell a broader story about American identity during her husband Barack Obama's presidency from 2009 to 2017.
On June 19, the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago opens, and a new video series debuts with two videos that explore both the iconic figure's influential style and the initiatives she championed during her years as First Lady.
In the first video, entitled «"Beauty belongs to everyone"» , she reflects on the intense attention to her outfit as First Lady and why every fashion choice mattered.
«"I realized early on that the clothes I wore to the White House would never be seen as just clothes," she says.
When describing the outfits and designers she chose for her tenure in one of the world's most high-profile jobs, the two-time first lady explains that every detail was important to her.
«"I had to think through everything carefully. With the help of my talented team, I carefully considered every option—the designer, the color, the silhouette, the style—before going public," she says. "I thought about who I wanted to support, who I wanted to see reflected in my outfit, and what story I wanted to tell about myself and who we are.".
Some of these memorable images are now on display at the Obama Presidential Center Museum, where Mrs. Obama says they represent not just style history but also symbols of "determination, self-confidence, and the fact that here in this country, no one can dictate what it means to feel beautiful. We choose it for ourselves.".
These thoughts echo the themes that the author and host of the podcast IMO explored in her 2025 book-album «The Look» , which explored the role of fashion during her time in the White House and highlighted her close collaboration with longtime stylist Meredith Koop, who co-authored the book.
«"I was a celebrity, but I wasn't a movie star," the history-making woman told PEOPLE last November. "And that meant clothes could never say more than what I wanted to say.".
Or whatever she has to do. Style is just one chapter of the story the Obama Presidential Center hopes to tell.
The second section is dedicated to social networks and is entitled «"The work that matters most »" shifts the focus from fashion to the initiatives she supported during her time as first lady, including Reach Higher, Girls Opportunity Alliance, Let's Move! and Joining Forces—programs she describes as promises made to students, families and communities around the world.
«"There's so much hope, so much potential within each of us, and I just hoped to use my platform to help more people realize their potential," she says in the video.
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Together, the videos offer a glimpse into the former first lady's tenure in the White House, from the public persona that captivated the nation to the work she hoped would have a lasting impact.
The Obama Presidential Center, located in historic Jackson Park on Chicago's South Side, was designed as a "global hub" where visitors can explore Obama's legacy and "make a difference in their own communities," according to a press release. A global livestream will take place on June 18 at 11:00 a.m. Central Time, and a public viewing party will be held at Midway Plaisance Park, located within the center.
Read the original article on People.