During an appearance on TODAY with Jenna & Friends to discuss her new book, The Look, former first lady Michelle Obama explained why she avoided talking about fashion during her eight-year stay in the White House.
“I avoided talking about fashion for eight years because I thought it would be a distraction,” Obama, 61, explained, per HuffPost.
Obama also stated that she feels the time is now right for her to flaunt her fashion choices with the public. “I think now is the time. People know me. They know who I am. They know my values,” she said.
Obama said that though her style has drawn curiosity from the public and what she chooses to wear has drawn interest, she has “avoided” talking about it.
“It also gives me an opportunity to pay tribute to the people behind the scenes,” Obama said about her team, adding that they “worked tirelessly, without much fanfare.”
The 61-year-old also touched on her new book, saying that it pays homage to “diverse American designers” who styled her while she was the first lady.
“Fashion is a multibillion dollar business, and it happens because people from all walks of life — immigrants, and folks of color, and women — and the goal during my eight years was to showcase that diversity,” she stated. “I think we’re at a time now where we need to be reminded of the importance of diversity.”
Obama further stated that diversity “makes America great, and makes fashion what it is,” HuffPost reported.
The former first lady talking about her fashion choices came after she similarly explained why she chose not to wear braids while her husband was president, Face2Face Africa previously reported.
“I wasn’t sure whether the country was ready for it,” Obama told PEOPLE. “The Crown Act [which protects employees and students from race-based hair discrimination] hadn’t been passed yet, and just like fashion, I didn’t want my hair to become a distraction.”
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