50 pictures of Michelle Obama at 50

Michelle Obama in the Green Room of the White House for this official White House photograph, taken in February 2013 Photograph: Chuck Kennedy/White House

Michelle Obama was born on 17 January, 1964 to Fraser and Marian Robinson. She is pictured here with her parents and elder brother Craig in 1965 Photograph: Courtesy: Obama for America

Michelle grew up in the Shore area of Chicago and showed early promise at school, where by the sixth grade she joined a class for gifted children at Bryn Mawr Elementary School Photograph: Atlas Press/eyevine

A graduate of Princeton and Harvard, Michelle met her husband, Barack, at the law firm Sidley Austin, where she mentored him. She married the future president in October 1992 Photograph: Obama for America/Getty Images

Michelle and Barack settled into their married life and would spend holiday time in Hawaii, where Barack's family lived Photograph: Obama for America/Getty Images

Michelle and Barack's first child, Malia, was born in 1998 (pictured here as a toddler in 2000). A second daughter, Sasha, was born in 2001 Photograph: Scott Stewart/AP

Michelle became a political wife early on in her marriage, as Barack represented the 13th District in the Illonois Senate from 1997 to 2004, resiging his post when he was voted in as senator for Illinois. Photograph: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Michelle supported her husband's decision to run for the presidency in 2007 Photograph: Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

Michelle celebrates her husband's victory in securing the Illinois primary in Chicago, November 2007 Photograph: E. Jason Wambsgans/MCT via Getty Images

Family friend Oprah Winfrey supported the Obama presidential campaign, attending rallies with Michelle, such as this one in Manchester, New Hampshire, in December 2007 Photograph: AP

Barack Obama bumps fists with his wife at an election night rally in St Paul, Minnesota, after Obama clinched the Democratic presidential nomination in June 2008 Photograph: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Michelle and her daughters joined Barack on stage at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, 28 August 2008, after he made his acceptance speech Photograph: Ron Edmonds/AP

... before he went on to presidential election, celebrating with his wife and family in Chicago in November 2008 Photograph: Jae C. Hong/AP

Michelle holds Abraham Lincoln's bible as her husband takes the oath as the 44th president of the United States at the US Capitol, January 2009 Photograph: Chuck Kennedy/EPA

A happy couple share a moment in the freight elevator with staff and secret service en route to one of the inaugural balls in Washington DC, January 2009 Photograph: Pete Souza/White House Photo/EPA

... and dance the night away at the Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Centre, January 2009 Photograph: Mark Wilson /EPA

The media quickly commented on the First Lady's sartorial elegance. At the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, May 2009, she flexed her arms in response to a joke about her habit of wearing sleeveless dresses Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Keeping her family together, despite the onorous duties of international travel, has been an important part of Michelle's role as mother and first lady. Here the family arrive at an airport near Rome to return home after the three-day G8 summit meeting in July 2009 Photograph: Riccardo De Luca/AP

With prime minister Manmohan Singh of India at a state dinner at the White House in November 2009 Photograph: The White House/Pete Souza/Getty Images

Michelle chats with the comedian Jay Leno at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington in May 2010 Photograph: Olivier Douliery/EPA

On a visit to India Michelle enjoyed a dance with school children at a cultural event in Mumbai in November 2010 Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

Michelle combined her interest in nutrition and education when she read from Dr Seuss's book, Green Eggs and Ham, during Read Across America at the Library of Congress in Washington in March 2011 Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP

... and encourages healthy eating by working with local schoolchildren in the White House kitchen garden in March 2011 Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images

In May 2011 Michelle launched the Let's Move project to improve Americans' fitness Photograph: Molly Riley/Reuters

In May 2011 Michelle went for tea with Samantha Cameron in the private residence at Downing Street Photograph: Rex Features

On a visit in April 2009, Michelle famously touched the Queen during a reception at Buckingham Palace. The Queen appeared not to mind Photograph: Daniel Hambury/AP

In April 2009 Michelle Obama made a surprise visit to the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Language School in London, where she made a speech to the students Photograph: Jim Young/Reuters

Meeting the then French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in April 2009 Photograph: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Michelle accompanied her husband to Oslo in December 2009, when he was awarded the Nobel peace prize Photograph: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Proud parents celebrate as daughter Sasha gets a hole-in-one during a game of miniature golf in Panama City Beach, Florida Photograph: Andrew Wardlow/AP

Skipping her way through a visit to the Physical Fitness Council at the Columbia Heights Education Campus Bell Multicultural high school in Washington Photograph: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

The first family switch on the lights of the national Christmas tree in Washington in 2010 Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

In June 2011 Michelle made a visit to South Africa, where she met former president Nelson Mandela Photograph: Debbie Yazbek/AFP/Getty Images

Speaking in Charlotte, North Carolina, on the first day of the Democratic National Convention in September 2012 Photograph: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

Enjoying an evening of potato sack racing with Jimmy Fallon in the East Room of the White House for the second anniversary Obama's Let’s Move! project Photograph: Chuck Kennedy/White House

Teenager Malia watches her parents kiss for the Kiss Cam at a basketball game between the US and Brazil in Washington in July 2012 Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

May 2012: Michelle takes a moment to touch the Hokie Stone before walking on to the field at Lane Stadium to deliver the Virginia Tech commencement address in Blacksburg, Virginia Photograph: Lawrence Jackson/White House

Michelle plays a suppportive political role, including speaking at her party's National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, in September 2012 Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

President Barack Obama and Michelle look out over the 9/11 memorial during a visit to New York in June 2012 Photograph: Carolyn Kaster/AP

Winning a second presidential term in Chicago, November 2012 Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

Surely that was in?! Michelle enjoys a game of tennis with students at the American University in Washington Photograph: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Michelle takes a keen interest in children's charities, including the annual NORAD Tracks Santa programme Photograph: The White House/Getty Images

January 2013: A second election victory and a second inaugural ball in Washington Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

A change of hairstyle always draws commentary from the media, and her new fringe was the cause of a humorous photo montage shown at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington in April 2013 Photograph: Reuters

Never act with children or animals: a toddler trips over after meeting the Obama family's new dog, Sunny, at the unveiling of the Christmas decorations at the White House in 2013 Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters

Obama and Michelle look out from the Door of No Return while touring the House of Slaves, or Maison des Esclaves, at Goree Island off the coast of Dakar Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Michelle hugs Sesame Street characters Elmo and Rosita after a speech on marketing healthier foods to children at the White House Photograph: Yuri Gripas/Reuters

Michelle joins students for a Bollywood dance clinic in the state dining room of the White House Photograph: Chuck Kennedy/The White House

A selfie with Bo the family dog, on the lawn of the White House Photograph: Chuck Kennedy/White House

President Obama sings Happy Birthday to his wife on 17 January 2013 Photograph: Pete Souza/White House