However, her new haircut, which was revealed last night at an event, suggest a major attempt to change her image.  Last month, The Washington Post discussed the First Lady’s role in pushing President Obama’s projects, in addition to her dissatisfaction with her portrayal during the campaign.  This new hairstyle–a slightly severe bob cut–might be a physical manifestation of her desire to change her image.

Before, her hair was shoulder-length, with a little volume, suggesting someone accessible, motherly, and warm.  Now, it’s cropped and a little abstract.

Looking at other women who transitioned to bobs, Katie Couric stands out.   The CBS anchor lost a few fans when she returned to her old bob after many years of longer hair on The Today Show.  Perhaps she was trying to convey a more serious image while delivering the nightly news, instead of her normal morning slot.

Other notable bobs include Suze Orman, actress Ellen Barkin, Victoria Beckham, Winona Ryder, and Michelle Obama’s friend and White House social secretary Desireé Rogers.

Although it’s possible to read too much into things like haircuts and handwriting, they do offer insight into how people perceive themselves and wish to be perceived.  Is Michelle trying a more serious haircut to draw attention away from her clothing and shine light on her own work and her husband’s agenda?

She is a very smart lady, and one who understands the value of appearances.

The full story is part of CNN’s upcoming special Black in America 2. The segment dedicated to this topic explores the journey of Michelle’s family from the little white shack at Friendfield Plantation in South Carolina, which was “smaller than a Secret Service security shed on the grounds of the executive mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue,” to the White House and her position of First Lady.

Its a remarkable story.

In “A First Lady Who Demands Substance,”  we see a different Michelle, one whose public image is highly calculated and perhaps even contrived.  For example: “Jarrett–a Chicago friend who is helping develop the first lady’s official role–said Michelle Obama’s immense popularity  has forced a rethinking of how she fits into policy calculus.  ’We spent some time thinking that through and where she is going to have the biggest impact.’”  

It’s understandable that Michelle Obama is being used to advance the President’s agenda, given that her popularity rate is even higher than his.  But it’s beginning to seem like every outing, every charity appearance has some ulterior motive.  The actual article does a very good job at making her seem a little Stepfordian, in revealing the machinations that go on behind the scenes.  

The piece also details the conflict between Jackie Norris, Mrs. Obama’s former chief of staff, and other members of the office, notable Desiree Rogers, the White House social secretary who posed in $100,000 earrings on the cover of WSJ.  Apparently Norris engaged with Rogers and the whole thing resulted in what one aide described as a “blowup.”  Not very professional, huh?  

Whether it’s an accurate depiction or not, it’s an interesting read.

A prominent S.C. Republican Party activist is in hot water after describing an escaped gorilla at a South Carolina zoo as an “ancestor” of First Lady Michelle Obama.

The exchange occurred after Trey Walker, an advisor to S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster, posted an innocuous Facebook update about this morning’s escape of a Western Lowlands Gorilla from Columbia’s Riverbanks Zoo.

This is the exchange, copied from Facebook:

[status] Trey Walker RT @shellsuber Just heard there is a gorilla loose at Riverbanks Zoo. Staff and visitors hiding. Full lock down. Wow.

[comment] Rustty DePass – I’m sure it’s just one of Michelle’s ancestors–probably harmless

It’s a good thing this is just an isolated example of such behavior.

*A screenshot of the exchange can be read here (your author couldn’t get it to load on this page).

Politico reports that Obama had been in New York to speak at the United Nations, but that visiting the set of Sesame Street was “probably the best thing I’ve done at the White House.”  While I’m sure not everyone in the world would pick a trip to Sesame Street over speaking at the United Nations as the best thing they’ve ever done, I think anyone who, like me, is a proud member of the Sesame Street Generation would agree that that is just awesome.

Well, sound off: who would you rather spend your afternoon with, Big Bird and Elmo, or 150 employees of the United Nations?

This blog post was brought to you by the letter F and the number 44.