Michelle Obama Declares World War Hair

Are white people really to blame for why Michelle gets her hair straightened?

From the Daily Mirror:

Michelle Obama claims Black women have to straighten their hair to ‘follow white people’s standards’

By LILLIAN GISSEN, US DEPUTY LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Published: 10:44 EST, 16 November 2025

Michelle Obama has claimed that Black women have to straighten their locks to ‘follow white people’s beauty standards’ during a furious on-air rant.

The former First Lady, 61, spoke about the topic during a live sit-down with Tracee Ellis Ross to discuss her new book, The Look, earlier this week week.

Michelle’s new tome, which came out November 4, documented her style evolution during her time in the White House.

During her chat with Tracee, she claimed that Black women are ‘trapped’ by the pressures to keep their hair straight and ‘can’t swim’ or ‘go to the gym’ because of it.

‘Let me explain something to white people. Our hair comes out of our head naturally in a curly pattern,’ an exasperated Michelle began.

‘When we straighten it to follow your beauty standards, we are trapped by the straightness.

‘That’s why so many of us can’t swim, and we run away from the water. People won’t go to the gym because [they’re] trying to keep [their] hair straight for y’all! It’s exhausting, expensive and takes up so much time.’

Michelle concluded the heated conversation by telling people to ‘get out of their hair.’

‘Don’t tell me how to wear my hair, don’t wonder about it, don’t touch it. Just don’t,’ she stated. …

Since leaving the White House, Michelle has embraced her natural hair and has been pictured rocking curlier locks on numerous occasions.

But she’s wearing her hair straightened in this video to promote her new coffee table picture book The Look about the fashion sense of First Ladies..

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