Michelle Obama: See photos of the former first lady through the years

In 2004, Barack delivered the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention. 

In 2004, the couple sat with daughters Sasha and Malia in a hotel room while waiting for the results of the Illinois senate race.

… and shortly after, celebrated his victory. 

On Jan. 4, 2005, the family posed for a reenactment of Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony to the U.S. Senate. 

A few months later, Michelle and Barack attended the NAACP Image Awards. 

In 2007, the Obamas braved the Illinois winter after Barack declared his candidacy for president. 

In warmer weather, Michelle campaigned on behalf of her husband in Iowa a few months later, June 22, 2007.

Obama was a frequent talk-show guest, and grew close with Oprah Winfrey. They're pictured at a rally for her husband, then-Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama, on Dec. 8, 2007.

The campaign continued the following year, as Michelle Obama spoke on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Aug. 25, 2008.

Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, joined mom onstage after her speech.

Michelle's brother, Craig Robinson, also attended the convention. 

On Nov. 4, 2008, the Obama family greeted supporters in Chicago and celebrated Barack Obama's victory to become the first Black president of the United States.

Michelle and Barack Obama waved to onlookers during the Inaugural Parade on Jan. 20, 2009, Washington, D.C.

That night, Michelle Obama donned a gorgeous custom white gown (that would later go on display in the Smithsonian!) at the Inaugural Ball after Barack Obama was sworn in as president. 

A year later, she posed with designer Jason Wu while donating her first inaugural gown to the Smithsonian's collection of First Ladies' gowns. 

After moving to the White House, celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz visited to snap a family portrait, Sept. 1, 2009.

Michelle and Barack waved to a parade in Oslo before the president was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Dec. 10, 2009.  

Later that evening, the two dressed to the nines for the Nobel Banquet. 

Through her time in the White House and beyond, Michelle Obama remains a fashion icon.

In 2009, she was Glamour magazine's woman of the year. 

And appeared on the cover of Essence with her mother, Marian Shields Robinson in 2009.

As first lady, Michelle Obama traveled the world. Here, former South African President Nelson Mandela shows a book to Michelle Obama at his home in Johannesburg on June 21, 2011.

During her time in the White House, she spearheaded the Let's Move program, to promote healthy eating and address childhood obesity. To further her initiative, she invited children to help harvest vegetables from the White House kitchen garden, Oct. 14, 2014.

Michelle Obama also visited schools to teach them to adopt similar habits. 

She even published a book on the topic: "American Grown: How the White House Kitchen Garden Inspires Families, Schools, and Communities," in 2012.

Obama also hosted fun holiday events, like this 2016 Halloween party at the White House that turned into a "Thriller" dance party. 

Through all the campaign madness, she and Barack Obama remained #CoupleGoals. The pair hug as they take the stage at a campaign rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Aug. 15, 2012.

She spoke to a massive crowd in Charlotte, N.C. as the final speaker of the first night of the Democratic National Convention, ahead of Barack Obama's reelection, Sept. 4, 2012.

After Barack Obama won re-election, the two walked together through another inaugural parade, Jan. 21, 2013. 

Continuing her streak of pop culture influence, the first lady presented the award for best picture at the 2013 Oscars. 

She posed with Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour at the grand opening of Wintour's Costume Center at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014. 

She also spent some time on the set of "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" … 

Obama never shied away from the limelight as first lady. Here she busted a move with the All Stars cast of "So You Think You Can Dance," on April 6, 2015.

The Let's Move creator dances with Jimmy Fallon during the "Evolution of Mom Dancing Part 2" skit on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," April 2, 2015.

AARP released a special cover of the first lady for her 50th birthday in 2014. 

Before President Obama finished his second term, the two attended the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Phoenix Awards Dinner in September 2016. 

Now a former first lady, Michelle Obama unveiled her portrait at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington on Feb. 12, 2018.

In November 2018, Obama released her best-selling memoir, "Becoming." 

She promoted the book on tour, where she discussed highlights of her childhood, career and time in the White House. Obama, left, discusses her life with journalist Michele Norris during a Boston tour stop on Nov. 24, 2018.

Michelle Obama was interviewed by high-profile friends and colleagues, like Oprah Winfrey, in promotion of the book during an arena book tour, including in Chicago on Nov. 13, 2018.

Though her time in the White House has ended, Michelle Obama continues to inspire Americans across the country. Despite supporter requests, she has signaled she would not seek her own political office.

At the 2019 Grammy Awards, host Alicia Keys talked about female empowerment while introducing Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Obama and Jennifer Lopez.

Michelle Obama made a surprise visit with Gila River Indian Community students in Chandler, Arizona, on Feb. 12, 2019.

Michelle Obama joins by Julia Roberts in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the Asia-Pacific conference, which focused on promoting women's education and empowerment, Dec. 12, 2019.

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama participate in a ceremonial groundbreaking at the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park on Sept. 28, 2021, in Chicago.

When We All Vote Founder and Co-Chair Michelle Obama gave the keynote speech onstage at When We All Vote's inaugural Culture Of Democracy Summit on June 13, 2022, in Los Angeles. She launched the initiative in 2018 to close the racial and age gap in voter participation.

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama unveiled their official White House portraits during a ceremony at the White House on Sept. 7, 2022, in Washington, DC. The Obama's portraits were the first official portraits added to the White House Collection since President Obama held an unveiling ceremony for George W. Bush and Laura Bush in 2012.

The political power couple attended the US Open tennis tournament women's singles first round match between USA's Coco Gauff and Germany's Laura Siegemund at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on Aug. 28, 2023.

Post-White House, Michelle Obama continues to advocate for and rally support behind Democratic nominees. She spoke during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Aug. 20, 2024.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris greets former first lady Michelle Obama during a campaign rally at the Wings Event Center on Oct. 26, 2024, in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The former attorney and "The Light We Carry" author added podcast host to her resume alongside her brother, Craig Robinson. Here, she taped a live episode of their podcast, "IMO," at the 2025 SXSW in the Austin Convention Center on March 13, 2025, in Austin.