Michelle Obama, a voice for the women

Agence France-Presse

Obama, who turned 45 days before her husband Barack was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States in January, is hugely popular in the United States. Nearly half of Americans - 49 percent - have a favorable opinion of her, according to a recent poll by the New York Times/CBS. The popularity ratings of the first African-American first lady put her ahead of all of her predecessors including Hillary Rodham Clinton, who began her eight-year stay in the White House with a 44-percent popularity score, Laura Bush with 30 percent and Nancy Reagan with 28 percent.

Dubbed "my rock" by her proud husband, Michelle Obama is also seen as living proof that the American dream is accessible to anyone.

Born Michelle LaVaughn Robinson on Jan. 17, 1964, she grew up in a working class Chicago neighborhood as the United States embarked on some of the most tumultuous years of the civil rights movement. She attended two of the most prestigious U.S. universities, Princeton as an undergraduate and then Harvard Law School.

After graduating, she worked in corporate law, as director of a community non-profit in some of Chicago's less monied neighborhoods. When Barack Obama entered into the race for first the Democratic Party nomination and then the presidency, Michelle was the highest earner in the power couple. Since moving into the White House with him and daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, she has juggled the roles of mom-in-chief and first lady.