Michelle Obama's New White House Portrait Shows Her As Wife, Mother, Daughter

Michelle Obama's New Portrait Shows Her In Wife And Mother Role

Michelle Obama's official portrait for her husband's second term has been revealed.

The picture, taken by White House photographer Chuck Kennedy, is a more relaxed shot of the First Lady compared with her 2009 portrait.

The shifting emphasis in the portrait echoes the evolution of Michelle Obama's image in the presidential campaign, from successful lawyer to loving mother, wife and daughter.

2013:

2009:

The trademark pearls are still there, but have been reduced to a single looser strand, and the black dress softened to a deep purple two-toned dress.

Kennedy has snapped Mrs Obama in a more natural sitting pose, compared with the powerful standing posture of 2009.

This time, her engagement ring is given a starring role in the composition of the shot. The watch has gone too, along with the business-like image.

Her new haircut illustrates a shift in style she described as her "midlife crisis" during an interview with talk show host, Rachael Ray.

The new picture much better reflects her profile on the White House website: "When people ask First Lady Michelle Obama to describe herself, she doesn't hesitate to say that first and foremost, she is Malia and Sasha's mom."

What do you think of the new picture? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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