Michelle Obama’s hair is more than just a style statement. It’s a journey, a cultural commentary, and an inspiration for embracing natural curls. Dive into the story behind her transformative looks.
Michelle Obama is a master of the art of commanding attention. The former First Lady made her return to the spotlight with a dramatic entrance at the taping of her new podcast “IMO” at SXSW in Austin, Texas. For the event, her usual sleek looks gave way to big, bohemian hair, styled in braids that flowed down to her waist.
Michelle Obama took the stage wearing a warm burnt orange ensemble, featuring boot-cut pants and a cropped jacket that created the perfect mix of Y2K aesthetic and ’70s vibes. But it was her hairstyle that captured the essence of this new aesthetic chapter: a cascade of curls and braids that grazed her waist, artfully held back on her forehead by a braided headband.
There are two Michelle Obamas: the flawless First Lady that the world knew between 2009 and 2017, and the woman who, after the White House, found a more personal voice through social media, books, and her social commitment. The difference between these two phases is also visual and passes through the hair. During her husband’s presidential mandate, Michelle always showed straight hair, perfectly styled with soft curls or voluminous waves. Only after 2017 did she start to show herself with natural long hair and braids. Being the first African-American First Lady meant having to move carefully between social expectations and unwritten aesthetic codes.
Hair as a political and cultural statement
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie masterfully explores these dynamics in the novel “Americanah,” where the protagonist spends hours at the hairdresser, immersed in sisterlocks, cornrows, and kinky twists, reflecting on her identity divided between Africa and America. “Americanah” is a novel that talks a lot about hair, a topic that may seem superficial but becomes a powerful metaphor to address complex social and political issues. Covering or uncovering hair, choosing one hairstyle rather than another, becomes a political act, a clear stance. It is no coincidence that Ifemelu, the protagonist, will write an article on her blog entitled “Michelle Obama’s Amazing Hair as a Racial Metaphor.” After leaving the White House, Michelle Obama has undertaken an extraordinary transformation of her style that is noticeable in every public appearance, becoming increasingly distinctive. Each of her looks is a manifesto of elegance capable of demonstrating that when style is imbued with meaning, it becomes part of a story that goes beyond the surface.
This article was originally published by Alessia Vitale for Marie Claire Italy website.
Translated and syndicated for Marie Claire Nigeria by Tobi Afolabi.
