The well educated daughter of hard working parents that did not have the benefit of high education, Michelle Obama was born in Chicago, Illinois on 17 January, 1964. Her father, Fraser Robinson, was a city water plant operator and her mother Marian a secretary. Michelle was raised in a typically normal home, along with her brother Craig, who is 16 months older. Craig is also a success story, with a history in men’s basketball - he is currently Oregon State Beavers men’s basketball coach. Michelle’s father had high morals and levels of expectations, which she has continued to carry with her to date.

While better known as the wife of Republican Candidate Senator Barack Obama, Michelle is her own success story. She appeared on a list of “25 of the World’s Most Inspiring Women” published by Essence magazine, which she followed up in 2007 with Vanity Fair magazine nominating her as one of the “World’s Ten Best Dressed People.”

Again in 2007, she entered “The Harvard 100″ - ranking 58th on a list of the prior year’s most influential Harvard alumni, with her husband Barack ranked fourth. She also keeps good company, having made two campaign appearances with Oprah Winfrey (at the time of writing this).

Following Whitney Young Magnet High School in Chicago, Michelle went to Princeton University, graduating with a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in African American studies. She then continued at Harvard Law School, earning her law degree in 1988. Following law school, Michelle Obama worked as an Associate in the field of marketing and intellectual property at the Chicago law firm, Sidley and Austin. It was at Sidley and Austin that she met Barack Obama.

Leaving the corporate law world in 1991 to pursue a public service career, she became an assistant to the Mayor of Chicago, and then Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development for Chicago. Michelle Obama then served as Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago, where she developed the University’s first Community Service Program.

2002 saw Michelle working for the University of Chicago Hospitals, first as Executive Director for Community Affairs, then as Vice President for Community and External Affairs. She currently works this position part-time, to enable her to have more family time.

Michelle married Barack Obama in 1992 and they now have two daughters, Malia Obama, born in 1999, and Natasha Obama born in 2001. During 1993, she became Executive Director for the Chicago office of Public Allies, a non-profit organization that helps young adults develop skills for careers in the public sector.

During May 2007, three months after her husband declared his Presidential Candidacy, Michelle reduced her professional responsibilities by eighty percent. She has accepted the role of aspiring First Lady, and travels the country alongside Barack Obama, giving speeches and attending events. She makes sure she is not away from her daughters for too long. Michelle has been described as focused, tough, steely, and has a sharp sense of humor.

Life for both Barack and Michelle Obama has changed for ever. Secret Service protection is now a way of life, with Michelle having her own dedicated team, as they face the fears of extremist action.

Michelle Obama compliments her husband Barack well; she is naturally competitive, intelligent, does not take things for granted and has a direct, practical approach toward politics. She likes to keep things calm, keeping Barack focused, with his feet firmly planted on the ground. She displays a determined passion for his campaign, and may well be the best asset Barack Obama has. However, Michelle herself is increasingly being targeted; whether the dirty politics of America will turn on their pre-teen children remains to be seen.