(Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

In recent weeks, so much focus has been placed on Michelle Obama’s biceps, but I’m much more excited about the rest of her body. Especially her hips. Those beautiful curves are hopefully sending a message to women of all ethnicities—but black women like me in particular (and of course young girls)—that having some meat on your bones is and always has been a blessing you don’t have to be ashamed of. I think she should make a video: The First Lady’s Guide to Fitness and Self-Love or something. Every time I see her on television or in a magazine, I get goose bumps and my cheeks hurt from smiling because she represents us, and she looks like us, and she has many of the physical attributes we as young black girls used to get teased about: having full lips, big behinds, and thick thighs. Michelle Obama’s got a silhouette like a question mark, and she doesn’t apologize for it.

Related:

• Archive: “Cover Story”
• Table of Contents: Mar 23, 2009 issue of New York | Subscribe!