She means everything to me. The woman and her image. Not only is her physical apperance classy, sharp, stylish, respectful, etc. But her BRAIN! How many black women get saluted by the mainstream for their intellegience? Almost never, unless they are also in an entertainment medium. And her poise and her support of her husband and family and her.... I could go on and on.

Too many times we as black women feel we have to fill so many roles, but at the expense of ourselves or other things. I know she is working extra hard, but she just seems to get it right with so little effort. She makes me feel like there's so much more out there for all of us and its attainable.

Her sheer existence is blazing trails I never thought I'd see. Tall, brown skinned woman, fit and toned physique (healthy and all natural), ivy-league educated, Law degree, from the South side, growing organic veggies, going to the theater, loving stevie wonder, jumping double dutch! AND making J Crew and the Gap sell out of cardigan sweaters. Are you kidding me? She's the perfect representation of 1st First Lady. I don't know if I could have created her better in my wildest imagination. All I know is I'm 30 and want to be JUST like her when I grow up.

I co-sign Aya. You said it so eloquently. For me, she represents all that I desire to be and she does it all so effortlessly. It appears as if she excels at it all. I love how grounded she is. She's classy, intelligent, beautiful and dark skinned which for me means a lot. A lot of images of successful black men are with white woman and light skin woman but i'm so proud that Michelle is the 1st lady. Inclusion and Aspiration are what Michelle means to me.

She's completely comfortable in her own skin. And that's what radiates throughout.

The assumption is that every decision that she makes -- from clothing choices to the causes she chooses to champion -- comes from a place of knowing exactly who she is. There are things that she's set aside to be the spouse of a president, but at the end of the day, she hasn't tried to fit herself into the role of the first lady -- she's molded the role to fit her.

Yes, she's an inspiration for her intelligence, her poise, her candor, her humor and her beauty, but for me, above all else, she's an inspiration because she's a model of a woman that's fully aware -- and fully embracing -- of exactly who she is.

I don't get it.

Maybe because I don't beleive intelligent, sassy, stylish, accomplished black women are an aberration.

I'm definitely a Michell O fan - it's nice to have an attractive, outspoken first lady again - but I was also a Teresa Heinz Kerry fan (John Kerry's wife) and I was (initially) a Hilary Clinton fan.

I like intelligent accomplished women.

I like to see them in positions of power.

But i really don't get the adulation. I'm not quite sure what folk expected her to be. I mean, for the most part, she is ow you'd expect an Ivy league, former corporate America employee, wife to the president to be - maybe with a little more attitude.

I'm torn. I am definitely a Michelle Obama fan. She puts a pride induced smile on my face whenever I see her. I adore her sense of self, her "retrocalm" in her own skin.

That said, I'm mindful not to get caught up in hero worship. She is after all, not a phenomenon, to us. She is the norm, contrary to what the media would like to portray to the ignorant. I definitely don't like to play into the idea that her sense of style, behavior, and interaction with her husband, is atypical of the normal black family. I think that mindset sort of plays into the hand of those who would have you believe that the Obama's are a fascinating fluke in the Black community - and that is just a lie.

I echo everyone else's thoughts.

I just adore Michelle Obama from A-Z. I get what people are saying about her not being an aberration and that is TRUE. I know plenty of successful black women. But when I see her, I completely forget all that and just start gushing. I just love to watch her exist.

Since I actually met her last January in South Carolina before the primary, though, I have decided my groupieness is justified. :)

I wonder, what will we have after Michelle Obama? After her time on the stage is done, who will fill that void?

I would like to believe that, eventually, her positive image will sear into the subconscious of people who are uncomfortable with her image, for the positive or "normal" that she represents. Michelle Obama means a lot to me, the family means a lot to me, because of the non-pathological image that they present. In a world of BET and headline making ignorance, I think that people need to see this. Maybe it's normal for you because you trade in the images of strong, positive women, but for people living in that bubble, it's helpful to see something positive, in place of all the negative.

I wish that I had children, especially little girls, who could bear witness to this moment in history.

I def feel that Michelle is a breath of fresh air. (@The Single Black Woman) While it's true that black, intelligent, attractive women are not an anomoly (see Spelman College's Campus at any time of day, any day of the week! Can you tell I'm an alumna!), it's still refreshing to see a woman like this- a woman that I can relate to- on the world's center stage. I love Beyonce, I love Oprah- but Michelle, Oh Michelle! She is truly one of a kind and exemplifies intelligence, beauty, and grace ever so effortlessly. It's just nice to see a different side of the coin for once. Yes, I can be beautiful in a wool pea coat, some pearls, a pair of flats, and a pony tail. Yes, i can be celebrated for my intelligence and my voice. Truly an inspiration.

I love Mrs. O. But for some reason I can't jump on the bandwagon of adoration that everyone else seems to have. I think she's amazing, but so is Phylicia Rashad (in my opinion). As a matter of fact I have the same sense of pride when both women are mentioned, as I do for many others. Yet, it doesn't hit me as hard as seemingly it does some. **shrugs** I find it interesting how usually exceptional qualities win our hearts, but it seems so many love the Obamas because they are so normal.

I agree with what everyone has said about Michelle. She is an amazing woman and I feel she's someone that everyone can really relate to, regardless of color, class, etc. But I'm also like a few others here, I haven't found myself really gushing over her. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I just haven't done it. For me, the thing that tugs at my heartstrings is when I see pics/vids of the entire family! I love seeing Barack and Michelle with the girls, whether it's out with their dog or at a formal event, I just love, love, love seeing a Black family together like that. I know the word "family" can take on many different meanings for all of us, but their definition of family is something that I admire and it's great that the entire world can see their love.

I like Michelle Obama for the same reasons as the author. I give her a tremendous amount of credit for warming up her image prior to taking on the role of First Lady. Other black women have taken all the steps including the education, the corporate success, etc but the last step has been leaving behind the unnecessary clutching of the all business super women attitude which serves no purpose but to get u excluded. I get the strong black women thing but most times it plays out to be insecurity being protected by the metal fence I call black womens attitude. Lighten up! You can let the guard down a bit. Your well coifed, educated, qualified and included so its ok to be happy with life. Attitude only gets you excluded, and/or attracts those who have no sense of pride and as a result no stake in a bad reaction from you. Dare I say the word perky and black women in the same sentence. Just a little ladies.

Mrs. Obama stands as a fresh face, a fresh image, a reminder not only to African Americans, People of Color, or even...the Caucasian populace that "WE" can be viewed in a positive light.

I agree with Black Sand... I get tired of the Hollywood, hoochie or angry black woman images that are portrayed in the media. She represents the rest of us... I can dig that.

Being a young pastor's wife, she has also made wearing "separates" acceptable. If "First Lady Obama" can wear a blouse, cardigan and skirt surely our "First Lady" (hate the term btw) can wear it and be appropriate. I was a J. Crew devotee prior to the Obama's placement and was treated as though I was under dresed by "Black" church folks. Now it's accepted and I appreciate Michelle for that!