Timeless Michelle Obama Throwback Photos from Her Early Years

Take a look back at Michelle Obama over the years, from adorable childhood snaps to sweet moments with Barack Obama

barack-michelle-obama-2.jpg
Barack and Michelle Obama. Photo:

Michelle Obama/Twitter

Former First Lady Michelle Obama (née Robinson) has come a long way from her days as a child on the South Side of Chicago to best-selling author, health and education advocate and wife of former U.S. president Barack Obama.

To prove it, we've shared some of the best snapshots of Michelle's early years with her family, as well as some throwback photos of her on the campus of Princeton University, in the White House and intimate moments with Barack and their two daughters.

Ahead are some of our favorite pictures of Michelle before she became FLOTUS and the inspiring woman she's known and beloved today.

01 of 20

Sweet Smiles

Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson.
Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson.

Michelle Obama Instagram

In 2019, Michelle posted a photo of herself as a young girl with brother Craig Robinson.

She captioned the snap of her smiling, "When I think back to my childhood, I remember moments like this with my brother Craig. We grew up on the South Side of Chicago, in a diverse and changing neighborhood, hanging out with friends from all backgrounds."

02 of 20

Hanging with Mom

Michelle Obama and her mother Marian Robinson.
Michelle Obama and her mother Marian Robinson.

Michelle Obama Instagram

"Your unconditional love has made me who I am today. You are my rock. My ❤️. I'll always be your Miche. I love you," Michelle wrote on Instagram in 2017, dedicating this snuggly throwback to her mother, Marian Robinson.

03 of 20

Daddy's Girl

Michelle Obama with her father, Fraser Robinson, and brother Craig Robinson.
Michelle Obama with her father, Fraser Robinson, and brother Craig Robinson.

Michelle Obama Instagram

Check out those pigtails! Michelle shared a throwback snap with her late father, Fraser C. Robinson III, and brother Craig in 2019. Fraser, who worked at a Chicago water filtration plant, died in 1991 at the age of 55 due to complications of multiple sclerosis. Michelle was 27 years old at the time.

"When I think about what my dad, as a Black man with M.S., could've done — he could have never worked a day in his life, he could have collected benefits, he could have succumbed to his disease and be depressed about it, but he didn't," she said in 2022 in an exclusive clip obtained by PEOPLE.

She added, "There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about the lessons he taught us and how he is not here to see any of it, and so much of it is because of him."

04 of 20

Family Time

Michelle Obama with her mother, Marian Robinson, and brother Craig Robinson.
Michelle Obama with her mother, Marian Robinson, and brother Craig Robinson.

Michelle Obama Instagram

On Mother's Day 2018, Michelle posted a photo of herself and her big brother posing with their mom on the couch. 

"It’s impossible for any picture to truly capture what my mother, Marian, has meant to me," she wrote. 

05 of 20

Candid Moments

Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson.
Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson.

Michelle Obama Instagram

In honor of National Siblings Day in 2019, Michelle shared a pic of her brother with a baseball bat. 

She captioned the outdoor photo, "For as long as I can remember, my big brother Craig has always had my back. He's still one of my best friends today. Thanks for always coming out swinging for me, Craig!" 

06 of 20

Chicago Cutie

Michelle Obama.
Michelle Obama.

Michelle Obama Instagram

Michelle posted a Polaroid from 1970 of herself as a kid hanging out in her hometown of Chicago and wearing an adorable striped top. 

"Chicago made me who I am," the South Side native wrote. 

07 of 20

Sibling Love

Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson.
Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson.

Michelle Obama Instagram

Michelle and Craig have remained super close over the years. In celebration of her brother's birthday in 2019, she shared that he has always been by her side and shows up for everyone around him.

"He's always there for my mom, for his wife, and especially for his children," Michelle captioned two photos of herself with Craig. "No matter what he's got going on, he's always making sure those around him know they're loved."

08 of 20

Quality Time

Michelle Obama and her parents, Fraser and Marian Robinson.
Michelle Obama and her parents, Fraser and Marian Robinson.

Michelle Obama Instagram

Michelle proved she was her mom's mini-me when she shared a throwback photo in 2018 of the two wearing similar pink nightgowns. Her late father is pictured next to them. 

"My father, Fraser, taught me to work hard, laugh often, and keep my word. My mother, Marian, showed me how to think for myself and to use my voice," she wrote alongside the image. "Together, in our cramped apartment on the South Side of Chicago, my family helped me see the value in our story, in my story, and in the larger story of our country."

09 of 20

Picture Day

Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama / Instagram

Look at that megawatt smile! Michelle shared a photo of herself from grade school to raise awareness about the importance of education.

"I learned a lot in school — how to do my multiplication tables and structure a paragraph, yes, but also how to push myself, be a good friend, and dust myself off after a failure," she wrote in 2019.

10 of 20

Prom Queen

Michelle Obama Prom

Michelle Obama / Instagram

"Throwing it back to my 1982 prom night and this pink satin, polka-dotted dress," Michelle captioned a pic of herself with her prom date.

We'd definitely vote her Prom Queen. 

11 of 20

First Day Jitters

Michelle Obama
Kenny Bruce

In 2020, Michelle shared an exclusive photo with PEOPLE of herself on campus at Princeton University in 1983. Looking oh-so-'80s, she wore a matching denim jacket and jeans. The throwback snap celebrated the launch of her IGTV series, A Year of Firsts, highlighting the journey of five college freshman.

"I can still remember the mix of excitement, hope, anxiety, and fear that accompanied me everywhere I went during my first year of college," she said in a statement. "If I could tell the girl in this photo one thing, it would be to slow down and take a breath — you've got this." 

12 of 20

Too Cool for School

Michelle Obama at Princeton.
Michelle Obama at Princeton.

Michelle Obama Instagram

Michelle reflected on how "scary" it was for her as a first-generation college student when she shared another photo of herself on Princeton's campus from the early '80s. 

"I was black and from a working-class neighborhood in Chicago, while Princeton's student body was generally white and well-to-do. I'd never stood out in a crowd or a classroom because of the color of my skin before," she captioned the photo before adding that she "found close friends and a mentor" who gave her the confidence to be herself. 

13 of 20

Power Couple

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Michelle Obama / Twitter.

Michelle met Barack in 1989 when she was assigned to be her future husband's mentor at Sidley Austin, a law firm in Chicago. Barack was a summer associate at the time. That same year, they also went out on their first date, chronicled in the 2016 film Southside with You

"We spent the whole day together," Michelle said, per The Washington Post

According to the outlet, they went to the Art Institute of Chicago, ate lunch in the museum's courtyard, had a drink on the 99th floor of the John Hancock building, saw Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing and took a long walk down Michigan Avenue.

14 of 20

Better Together

Michelle and Barack Obama.
Michelle and Barack Obama.

Michelle Obama Instagram

The pair — who looked ultra cool cozied up together in this throwback photo posted by Barack — are the definition of a power couple. 

"He was hip. Cultural. Sensitive," Michelle once described her future husband, as reported by The Washington Post

15 of 20

Wedding Bells

Michelle and Barack Obama on their wedding day.
Michelle and Barack Obama on their wedding day.

Michelle Obama Instagram

The two lovebirds tied the knot on Oct. 3, 1992, at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Michelle's brother, Craig, walked her down the aisle, and Barack's brother was his best man. According to Slate, for their first dance as husband and wife, the couple chose Stevie Wonder's "You and I." 

"I think it's fair to say that had I not been a Stevie Wonder fan, Michelle might not have dated me," Barack said in 2009 when he presented Wonder with the Library of Congress Gershwin Award, per CNN. "We might not have married. The fact that we agreed on Stevie was part of the essence of our courtship."

On their 21st anniversary, Barack posted a black-and-white photo of his new bride from their wedding day, paying homage to their first dance song with this simple caption: "You and I."

16 of 20

Happily Married

Michelle and Barack Obama on their wedding day.
Michelle and Barack Obama on their wedding day.

Michelle Obama Instagram

Just a few years later on their 25th anniversary, Michelle returned the favor, sharing an adorable throwback from her wedding and revealing how Barack had a nasty head cold on their big day. However, when they met at the altar, his cold "miraculously disappeared." She also added they danced "almost all night." 

"Twenty five years later, we're still having fun, while also doing the hard work to build our partnership and support each other as individuals. I can't imagine going on this wild ride with anybody else," Michelle wrote.

17 of 20

Love and Life Advice

Barack and Michelle Obama wedding
Michelle Obama/Instagram

In 2020, Michelle shared another sweet photo of their noses covered in icing from their wedding day. The caption hinted at what she and comedian Conan O'Brien discussed about marriage when he was a guest on her podcast.

"Conan and I reflected on our marriages," read the caption. "This relationship can be one of the most foundational pieces of our identities — bringing us so much joy, meaning, and support every single day."

She continued, "But one thing is for sure: It also takes a lot of work; a lot of honesty with ourselves and our partners. That's one thing I've learned."

18 of 20

Becoming a Mother

Michelle Obama and baby Malia.
Michelle Obama and baby Malia.

Michelle Obama Instagram

After tying the knot in 1992, Michelle and Barack welcomed their first child together, daughter Malia Obama, on July 4, 1998.

To celebrate Malia's 25th birthday in 2023, Michelle posted a throwback photo with her firstborn, writing, "I feel so lucky to be your mom and to be able to watch you become the wonderful young woman you are today. Love you so much!" 

19 of 20

Proud Mom of Two

Barack, Michelle, Malia, and Sasha Obama.
Barack, Michelle, Malia, and Sasha Obama.

Michelle Obama Instagram

Michelle and Barack's younger child, Sasha Obama, arrived on June 10, 2001. In 2020, the former president shared how Michelle and their two daughters inspired his memoir, A Promised Land

"Seeing them grow up into the intelligent, strong, and compassionate young women they've become has been the greatest joy of my life," Barack wrote of Malia and Sasha alongside a photo of them as kids and the acknowledgement page. "I'm reminded constantly that there's no place in the world I'd rather be than with Miche and our girls — and it's why I've dedicated my memoir to them."

20 of 20

First Family: The Obamas

Obama Family Portrait
Annie Leibovitz/White House via Getty Images

Michelle has had quite the documented journey from growing up in the South Side of Chicago to raising a family in the White House. In addition to offering an intimate glimpse into her early life through photos, the former first lady has written about her experience in her two books, Becoming and The Light We Carry

Ahead of an episode from Michelle's The Light Podcast, the former FLOTUS told Today show's Hoda Kotb in 2023 that she was "on the other side of parenting." 

"I'm moving from mom-in-chief to advisor-in-chief," she said. "That's a lovely thing — to be able to watch my girls fly and have the relief that 'Okay, I think I didn't mess them up.' "

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