Michelle Obama recently reflected on the earliest sparks of romance between her and Barack Obama. She shared that, at first glance, she wasn’t taken with his appearance. But one element changed everything. She admitted: “He had his Barack Obama voice. The voice was sexier than the image I had. I was like, ‘Ooh, I didn’t expect this.’”
During a new episode of her IMO podcast with her brother Craig Robinson, Michelle described feeling a “sparky” sensation when they first spoke on the phone. Though she initially saw him as “a nerd” and was cautious—even joking that “if a lot of white people are all infatuated with him, I was a little skeptical”—his confident, soulful tone immediately disarmed her.
From Mentor to Romantic Interest
Michelle’s story takes shape against the backdrop of their first professional encounter. He had just joined her law firm as a summer associate and was more memorable for his persona than his looks. She confessed her hesitation: she didn’t want things to feel “tacky” or inappropriate—but once they met in person, she noticed he was “much cuter than his picture.”
Their relationship didn’t ignite overnight. Michelle recalls a “slow burn” over that summer. Barack’s directness in asking her out—“You’re cute, you’re cool. Why not? Who cares what the firm thinks? … it took a couple of weeks for him to convince me to go on a proper date.” She found that confidence “kind of sexy.”
Navigating Rumors With Humor and Honesty
As they revisit their courtship, the couple also lightened the mood around their long-standing partnership. Both have faced months of divorce speculation, which they addressed playfully on the podcast. Barack joked, “She took me back! It was touch and go for a while.” Michelle retorted, “There hasn’t been one moment in our marriage where I have thought about quitting my man … I’ve become a better person because of the man I’m married to.”
Michelle added with sincerity that marriage takes work—“Marriage is hard in the best marriages, and I am lucky enough to be in one.”