Michelle Obama has ignited a social media firestorm after revealing a dramatically slimmer figure during a recent photoshoot with renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz.
A Confident New Look
The former First Lady, 61, appeared relaxed and self-assured in behind-the-scenes footage from the session, which she shared on her social media channels. Obama sported a dark grey collared V-neck tee and distressed blue jeans, accessorised with a thick brown leather belt and matching suede boots. The stylised shoot featured a wind machine blowing her hair back, with the form-fitting outfit highlighting her toned arms and a flash of her stomach.
This bold new aesthetic arrives shortly after the release of her fashion memoir, The Look, at the beginning of November. Obama has been speaking extensively about her personal style and self-expression, themes she further explored in her limited podcast series, IMO: The Look.
Online Buzz and Ozempic Theories
Almost immediately, observers on platform X, formerly Twitter, began questioning the origin of her slimmer physique. One user directly asked, 'Do any of you have any idea how Michelle Obama suddenly lost all this weight at 61, which is also a difficult age for a woman to slim down?'
The comment section was quickly flooded with theories pointing to weight loss medications. 'Ozempic - just like everyone on The View who suddenly decided to "get healthy." I'm not knocking it - but for Christ's sake - be honest about it!' one person responded. Others noted she had the 'Ozempic look' or questioned if she was using semaglutide, the active ingredient in certain weight loss drugs.
This is not the first time rumours about her figure have circulated. Speculation began back in March when her stylist, Meredith Koop, posted a picture where Obama appeared noticeably thinner.
A History of Health and Style
The conversation around Obama's body comes with a poignant backdrop. In 2022, she candidly discussed her challenging experience with menopause, revealing she suffered from severe hot flashes and 'creeping' weight gain that left her unable to fit into her clothes.
She admitted at the time that this slow weight gain forced her to become 'more mindful' about her diet and workout regimen.
Obama has also reflected on how her approach to fashion has evolved since leaving the White House. She described her time as First Lady as a 'role' where her clothing choices were used to send messages about culture and inclusion. 'Now that I'm out of that role, fashion is about me, it's selfishly completely about what I like and what I want to do,' she explained in her podcast.
In her caption for the Leibovitz photoshoot, Obama focused on the power of photography, writing, 'Annie Leibovitz has always known that a photo can do more than preserve a moment — it can say something.' She expressed her honour at being part of the new edition of Leibovitz's book, Women, which aims to capture the many ways women are showing up today.
