Michelle Obama Wows in White on Her Third Vogue Cover

There’s no denying that many Americans are not ready to say good bye to First Lady Michelle Obama. During her eight-year tenure in the White House, she has achieved so much success as the mother of our nation and a role model for women all around the world. She has changed the way children think about healthy eating, stressed the importance of physical activity, supported our veterans and their families, and gave a passionate speech at the Democratic National Convention to support Hillary Clinton—which launched the unofficial anthem of Clinton’s campaign: “When they go low, we go high.”

Did we also mention that she’s a fashion icon? And rightfully so. A trendsetter with a penchant for sleeveless dresses (who could forget the Versace chainmail gown she wore at her final state dinner?), FLOTUS has sported designs by multiple fashion brands, including Jason Wu, Michael Kors, and Brandon Maxwell. Now, during a week when her radiant presence is needed at most, Obama is back in the world of fashion with her third—and final—Vogue cover as the First Lady of the United States.

Dressed in a white Carolina Herrera gown—perhaps a nod to the new wave of feminist movement that has risen during the election thanks to Clinton’s white pantsuits—America’s “Mother-in-Chief” looks ethereal and elegant on the December issue of the magazine, which goes on newsstands next week. The accompanying piece focuses on Obama’s legacy and her accomplishments as the First Lady as she prepares to leave the White House next year.

First Lady Michelle Obama in Vogue.

Annie Leibovitz/*Vogue*

“I could have spent eight years doing anything, and at some level, it would have been fine,” Obama tells Vogue. “I could have focused on flowers. I could have focused on décor. I could have focused on entertainment. Because any First Lady, rightfully, gets to define her role. There’s no legislative authority; you’re not elected. And that’s a wonderful gift of freedom."

The piece also features endearing words of compliment from her husband, President Barack Obama, who shares his pride about his wife’s role as the First Lady. “I always knew she’d be incredible at it, and put her own unique stamp on the job,” says POTUS. “That’s because who you see is who she is—the brilliant, funny, generous woman who, for whatever reason, agreed to marry me.”

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The First Lady also opens up about her role as a fashion icon and the method behind choosing her wardrobe (hint: Comfort is key). “My first reaction isn’t ‘Who made this?’ But ‘Let’s try it on. What does it look like? Oooh, that’s cute. Oh, wow. I never thought of wearing something like this. let’s put a belt on it. I feel gooood in this’.”

Now, as she and her family prepares to leave the White House and welcome the new president-elect, Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, come January, Obama admits she is unsure of the role she’ll take on next. “I will take the same approach leaving as I did coming in,” she says. “I won’t know until I’m there. I’ve never been the former First Lady of the United States before."

Lucky for us, she says she'll probably be back in the public eye through her public services. "I’ve always felt very alive using my gifts and talents to help other people," Obama explains. "I sleep better at night. I’m happier. So we’ll look back at the issues that I’ve been working on. The question is: How do I engage in those issues from a new platform? I can’t say right now, because we can’t spend that much time really doing the hard work of vetting offers or ideas or options because we’re still closing things out here.”

How about Michelle Obama for 2020?

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