First Look: Michelle Obama Vogue cover

On Tuesday, we passed along that Michelle Obama would be appearing on the March Vogue cover -- only the second first lady to do so (Hillary Clinton was the first, in December 1998). Still, although we could tell you she'd be wearing a Jason Wu dress, we couldn't exactly show you the cover -- because of a little technicality called an embargo (which has nothing to do with the airlifting of canned hams or warships in our harbor and everything to do with playing by the rules).

Until about an hour and a half ago. Now we can and there she is. Enjoy!

-- Adam Tschorn

Photo: Annie Leibovitz/Vogue

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Comments

[Tomi Johnson]

Looking at Vogue's past issues, it appears black women have to be 1st lady before you are considered beautiful/instyle enough to grace the front cover. Now it's all about selling 'zines and not promoting images.

[Delores]

She's looking good....makes me want to head to the gym.

[Tim Valentine]

WOW! First Lady Michelle Obama is simply a naturally beautiful woman.

[Matt]

Kanye West?

[Ted]

Hardly Vogue quality. You have to be "In" with these people to get a pay off like this.

[edward elliot]

you can't be serious, no Jackie 0 on the cover before,
no 'republican' first ladies, wonder why. I'm sure that michelle is a perfectly nice person, but fashion icon etc etc. and beautiful, halle berry is beautiful, alisha keys is beautiful and many more, but sorry not michelle. She just doesn't have the shape or the looks, but again sure she is a perfectly wonderful person. Also alas her fashion sense is horrendous, that red and black dress was terrible.

[sky]

The first lady the "world's" been waiting for?

Are you kidding? What makes Vogue think the whole world likes Michelle Obama? She has neither the good looks nor the elegance of Jackie O.

Another prime example of America's self importance.

All the adulation about Obama's looks and style are nauseating.

[Haitiana4Obama]

Wow, she looks amazing! The First Lady is simply stunning, and look at how toned she is! Michelle Obama sure has an eye for color too, she always seems to select bold hues, and they tend to complement her chocolate complexion. I'm so buying this as soon as it hits my town. Go-bama!!!

[ashley]

Are you kidding me?!!!! She's definitely not Vogue material. She has NO fashion sense (or political for that matter). Stop trying to make political statements and stick to what you know: FASHION.

[FL voter]

Very nice. A naturally beautiful woman, with Harvard Law Degree. Our President is a lucky guy!

[Katrina]

Great. A whole issue about women who became famous because of whom they married. Wow, we've come really far, haven't we?

[J. Bolden]

Beautiful lady.

[Cal Carter]

Strange. You forgot to tell us how much the dress cost. You're always so thorough with Ms. Palin's attire.

[Natural TV]

She is a beautiful and elegant woman!
Thank you!

[Jmcconn]

Strange how Democrats seem to be the tendency here for Vogue. I wonder how many times the going rate was paid to their re-election campain fund? I am not saying Michelle Obama isn't beautiful enough to be the cover girl, but Hilary Cliton sure the heck wasn't.

[mary]

Lots of bitter Republicans posting.

[Leigh]

Is it the economy that makes people so negative? Is it genetic, or people just having a bad day? Amazing that so many that blog and comment online are always among the most negative people I come across.

Anyway, she looks really good. Simple as that. Was proud of Laura Bush as First Lady, and I am proud of Michelle Obama as First Lady. And yes, I admit, even more pride given the historic nature of it all.

I wish that some of the online bloggers had as much class and an optimistic outlook as the new First Lady. How about we give up the childish rants, and just be bi-partisan proud of our First Lady.

[Jessica]

Can this stop once and for all about Palin. Michelle Obama pays for her own clothes, that is why it is not mentioned. Palin used RNC funding for her clothing. That is the difference, it is not a double standard.

[John]

Who cares what it costs? ....and no one cared about what Ms. Palin's attire costs. They cared about what the clothes that were paid for by contributors costs.

[Straffer]

WHO CARES!! I'm sick of all the attention that she is getting already!! The Obamas are scrawny and look sickly!

[Erin]

You people are so bitter! She looks great. The cost of the outfit is probably in the magazine, if you are really that curious you can look there - and she is modeling it not wearing on the campaign trail. And yes, women have come very far - she has a law degree from Harvard and was still able to have two beautiful children. Her husband is the President. What more do you want? Vogue and all of the fashion mags have been featuring more actresses than models for about a decade now so this is nothing new.

[Emma]

As with all style icons, only the truly discerining understand and appreciate genuine fashion sensibility and talent. Michelle Obama hasn't even begun to show the world what she's got! Kudos to Vogue and too bad for those who choose to stay behind the times.

[Rob]

Sorry, but I see nothing about her that would make me walk across the street.Plain jane that some are infatuated with only because she is the "Savior's" mate.

[Karen]

Not sure what 'world" Vogue is referring to, but she certainly isn't the First Lady (or any other lady), I've been waiting for.

[Jack Henry]

It's not about being a "model", it's about the fashion business. Her impact on the marketplace. Wake up. This is how fashion works. Every celebrity on a cover is meant to convince shallow women to buy clothes.

[anonymous]

She is gorgeous.

[Muriel]

According to the AP, "Every first lady since Lou Hoover — save Bess Truman — has been featured" in the pages of Vogue -- Democrats and Republicans alike. Vogue has done spreads on Sarah Palin (before she was nominated for VP), Condoleezza Rice, Cindy McCain, the Bush twins, and so on. It is not about Democrats vs. Republicans, it is about style and/or influence.

So the only unusual thing here is that Ms. Obama is on the cover, and that is no doubt due to the historical nature of her husband's election as well as the fact that Vogue almost never features models on the cover these days, and hasn't in ages, but instead features celebrities.

[lana]

First of all, talk is cheap...wait and see how many magazines that Vogue will sell....I think she looks fantastic...

[Emma]

There is nothing shalow about feeling inspired by a woman of such stunning accomplishments. It takes a lot of substance to be a career-woman, mother and wife and to pull it all off with style. If anything, Michelle Obama inspires women to make clothes work for them and to feel beautiful when they do not often see thier own images (in terms of style, size, race or color) celebrated.

[pmacbee]

Interesting. I saw an absolutely stunning, defintely Vogue-worthy evening gown shot of her the other day that I thought was supposed to be the cover, but instead they've gone with this Ladies' Home Journal style photo. I certainly hope the blue gown shot made the magazine --she looks HOT, and could definitely give Jackie O a run for styleand toasts anybody for power. This is a lovely photo and shows another important side of the First Lady's personality and style --warmth and ease are very important to this job, along with sophistication and intelligence. Michelle Robinson Obama has them all in great quantity. (By the way, I'm a huge Jackie fan, but let's be clear: she was no all-American role model at the time she was First Lady. She insisted so vehemently on the French pronunciation of her name (Zhaakleen, not Jackwelyn), that her PR people had to insist she go solely by Jackie; and all of her beautiful clothes and spending money were provided by her filthy-rich father in law so she would stick with her charming, politically enlightened and shamelessly philandering husband. Love Jackie's clothes, much prefer Obama's lifestyle.) And I just LOVE the woman who thinks that "the Obamas are scrawny and sickly." Michelle? Scrawny? Get a grip, lady. And the President is probably the most physically fit person ever to have held the office. Find something real to talk about.

[Deanna]

God help us!!! The ranting and raving of negative comments is truly appauling. Why not just admire our First Lady. Edward, to compare Michelle to Alesia and Halle really tell me alot about you. Obviouly black women with light almost white complexions with strait hair is your idea of beautiful WOW!!. Rob, for you to refer to our President as a "Savior" come on be careful!! Straffer are you still sitting?? You certainly don't have to love President Obama or First Lady Michelle but, in the name of change or just doing something different, why not accept, embrace and move forward. If we all looked at our own hearts, heads and bodies first, it would be harder to put others down. It takes twice the energy to tear down than it does to build up. Looks like alot of misplaced negitive energy. congratulations Michelle, U R US!!! and beautiful at it.

[Gena]

I think she looks GREAT on the cover! No she is not drop dead Gorgeous beauty but who cares other than her Man and he loves her right down to her toes.

Give her a break!

[Rex]

Oh, come on Red State voters, quit your pity party, and give it up for someone who not only has style, but brains!

Just how many law degrees (from Harvard no less!) did the Bush first ladies have?!? Come to think about it, I would LOVE to know Duh-bayh's overall GPA at Yale vs. Michelle's GPA at Harvard!!!

And yeah, just WHEN will we find Duh-bayh's military records....

BTW... Jackie Kennedy/Onassis never appeared on Vogue's cover, because she WAS the inspiration for their covers, during that era, and oftentimes after.

Bottom line: Michelle is stunning! Yes, other models have better "looks", but this gal wins by excelling in ALL categories, not just eye-appeal! "Stunning" is an attitude, not just surface gloss. This woman's attitude is real, it's compassionate, it's glamorous, it's the best the WH has seen in many, many years!!! (Sorry Hillery, but it's true)

[Michelle]

Fiirst lady Michelle on the cover Vogue represents not your typical beauty:but someone who is a beauty both inside and out. Someone who represents the girl next door pretty ;not model or actrss pretty and I agree not light skin black beauty we see on magazine covers but an actual brown beauty. She is smart and pretty. Also she rocks J Crew outfits as well as up and comers designers . That is what Vogue is all about.

[MrUniteUs]

Not bad for a 45 year old Princeton grad and mother of two. You can see the love whenever the Obamas are together.

Here is a video of Michelle telling Iowans about her husband way back in August 2007.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqCYFpUAJ2Q

[cincobayou]

Just wonderful portrait! So glad that Annie L. was the photog. guru!
Fine job!

[A.G.]

Wait...let me put my hater blockers on LMAO

I bet the ones that are saying she doesn't look good are

1. White
2. Old
3. Got a hump in their back
4. Trying to hide deep lines and wrinkles LOL
5. Probably could lose a few

Bet you couldn't look this flawless in your 40s, been baking your skin for too long.

Anyway, we all know she looks beautiful. Thats where the hate is coming from. But get over it because that hate is her motivation, to continue being the beautiful person that she is. And there's NOTHING you can say to take that away from here. :)

[alix marcel]

I am sick and tired of all these Republican/racist/bigotry women and men posting negative feedbacks about the first lady. one thing you have to remember she never ask any of these uneducated people to like her. In my opinion, I believe that as long as her husband and her kids love her that's all she should care about. I do understand that some of these people that are posting those negative feedbacks about her just wish they were as educated as she is. The woman has 2 college degrees from the top 2 universities in the U.S if not the world, just show her some respect. Keep all the negative feedbacks to yourself. The negative feedbacks only make you classless.

[faith]

why do some people talk as if they were having personal issues?is it so wrong to admitt that some one is beatuful?
well,she`s looking sterning and to those who disagree sorry.the truth hurts and that is why its itching you so much,she`s a beauty.

[proudtobeanamerican]

Does Vogue magazine believe that we are all blind, deaf and dumb? Obviously, like the rest of the media, they think that we are just "sheeple" who believe anything they tell us to believe. Although Michelle Obama is educated, she certainly is no Jacqueline Kennedy, nor a fashion icon. If the last "First Lady" to grace the cover of Vogue was Hillary, that is enough for me to stop purchasing/subscribing to Vogue. I will never pick up another copy since this magazine is clearly part of the propaganda machine of the Dumbocratic party. Michelle Obama would be more respected if she would focus on the serious issues facing our country rather than promoting herself and her incompetent foreign "fashion" designers. I wonder if she is proud to be an American for the second time in her life?

[Orlando]

All you haters (coming from the right side)...She is well educated and seems to be doing a great job as a responsible mother. Change has come, hopefully she continues this positive image and doesn't have any mishaps

[proudtobeanamerican]

find it strange that all of the posted comments are positive when most that I read on other websites were negative. What happened to objective journalism?
Does Vogue magazine believe that we are all blind, deaf and dumb? Obviously, like the rest of the media, they think that we are just "sheeple" who believe anything they tell us to believe. Although Michelle Obama is educated, she certainly is no Jacqueline Kennedy, nor a fashion icon. If the last "First Lady" to grace the cover of Vogue was Hillary, that is enough for me to stop purchasing/subscribing to Vogue. I will never pick up another copy since this magazine is clearly part of the propaganda machine of the Dumbocratic party. Michelle Obama would be more respected if she would focus on the serious issues facing our country rather than promoting herself and her incompetent foreign "fashion" designers. I wonder if she is proud to be an American for the second time in her life?

[fashionblog]

You can put lipstick on a gorilla, but it's still a gorilla!

[Isla]

I think Michelle is attractive, but lets face it. THIS IS A BAD PICTURE!!! I'm disappointed. I’m sorry, but if that were me I would’ve made sure I got the best makeup hair and dress. Its hard enough for a black woman to make the cover, but damn. I’m mad at Anna Wintour and I’m mad at Michelle for approving this pic.

[aileen ackerman]

I am not a redstate voter or white. Michelle Obama is not naturally beautiful. It looks most of the time when they are not airbrushing her like you would have to peel the makeup they put on her off with a scapel.She is what she is a working class girl who got real lucky. She made it out of the hood but she is still angry. She has no fashion sense. She is good for being in the trenches and fighting the war on poverty , racism, etc. Please stop comparing her to the lovely delicate well graced Jackie O it's a disgrace!

[Barbara]

Being on the cover of Vogue, doesn't make her someone the world has been waiting for. Certainly not me. It simply doesn't change the fact that she has no personal style, in fashion, and has a terrible over bite. Some one should teach her some social graces, and posture. I agree with others, she is just the average black lady, who has finally made it bigger. Reminds me of the Jefferson's in Moving On Up, the old series.

She hasn't proved her stuff yet, or as some might say, she hasn't paid her dues.

[Sylvia]

There are several words that can be used to describe the First Lady and her sense of style...
Intelligent
Accomplished
Refined
Conservative
Simple and Stylish
Unpretentious
Approachable
Easy Going by choice...Glamourous when need be
A COMPLEMENT to her mate and an ASSET to the nation

[karen Celaya]

Michelle looks awsome in this cover she should be in the cover of every magazine.
GO MICHELLE!!!

[Sportsmanlikeluv]

Simply put

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder - -

If you don't like what you see, don't look - -

Got nothing nice to say it's best left unsaid - -

Kudo's the 1st Lady for just being herself

[justanobserver]

I have to agree with some posts, Michelle Obama is not pretty and needs all the hair and makeup people she can get at all times. The natural look is not for her as we saw on the campaign trail. She also needs to learn to stand with her feet close together - she does not know how to pose in her outfits and that needs to be worked on. I also admire her for all her accomplishments, we voted for Obama, and she just came along with the package. Obviously, he was not concerned about looks, just education because no one could figure out how a guy so handsome woud choose someone so unattractive. The worst pictures are the ones without makeup and it took a long time for her to get her hair together which was an embarrassment to African American women - just keeping it real here. Some of her outfits are hideous and we wish she woud just stick more to classics instead of the loud crazy prints - in other words, just dress with class. The cover of Vogue is awful, hair is a mess, like she made no effort. At times I feel like she wears those awful outfits to grab some attention away from her popular husband. I wish he would just step up to the plate and say, "please don't wear that outfit", but that's not going to happen. And yes, I'm a democrat African American woman, but there it is.