Michelle Obama Outfits That Put Her Killer Legs On Display

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Michelle Obama is an author, public speaker, former First Lady, mother, wife, inspiration, etc., and she's also the owner of a killer pair of legs. Like her signature arms, which prove that biceps are always in style, Obama has legs that go on for days. She stands at a whopping 5-foot-11 inches, and although she's been this height since she was 16, it wasn't always easy being the tallest girl in her class.

"I was tall. And tall became something to contend with," Obama wrote in "The Light We Carry: Overcoming In Uncertain Times." "Tall stood out ... It was not something I could shake, not something I could hide about myself." In time, Obama realized that being tall is a good thing, and that it's just as much a part of her identity as being a Black woman.

Thanks to this realization, we've been privy to Obama embracing her height and showing it off through her biggest fashion risks of all time, and through her iconic style evolution since leaving the White House. Obama is in no way trying to hide herself, and instead, she's giving us all a lesson in accepting what makes us different and amplifying those former insecurities. While Obama tends to wear pants more than short skirts and dresses, when she does, those stunning stems are on display. After all, as the saying goes, if you've got it, flaunt it. 

In April 2013, Michelle Obama attended the opening ceremony of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, along with her husband, Barack Obama, and former First Lady, Barbara Bush. For the event, Obama wore a pale blue dress with a matching shell, as well as matching shoes. As she and Barack share a laugh, it's hard not to notice three things: the confusion on Barbara's face, Michelle's super-flattering layered long bob haircut, and her legs stealing the show. 

While in 2025 the thought of politicians reaching across the aisle feels basically unfathomable, it wasn't always this way. President Barack Obama saw himself as a leader for everyone, no matter their political affiliation, so it only made sense that Michelle Obama would join former First Lady, Laura Bush, at the Spousal Symposium at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to talk about the role spouses of leaders should play. Not only are her legs ultra-covetable, but so are those black and white pointed-toe heels that are finally back in style.

In September 2015, Michelle Obama joined a handful of other celebrities on Glamour's "The Power Of An Educated Girl" panel at The Apollo Theater in New York City. Although Obama is wearing a navy dress, which, for some, might lead to navy pumps as well, that's not the route she chose. Instead, Obama went for brown heels that are very similar in color to her natural skin tone, which, of course, means her long legs looked even longer thanks to the decision. Obama definitely knows how to highlight her assets.

Although Michelle Obama always sits with her legs crossed when she's wearing a dress or skirt, due to the height of the chair she's in for the SXSW event, Let Girls Learn, her legs look extra-long. In fact, one of her ankles is actually resting on the floor instead of the flat of her foot. While the focus here should be on the discussion, as well as Obama's ability to pull off that fantastic pinstripe outfit, it's hard not to take note of her legs, looking not just endless, but moisturized, healthy, and strong.

Even though she'd been out of the White House for about nine months, the paparazzi just couldn't help themselves when taking this photo of Michelle Obama in Mallorca, Spain, in September 2017. The wrap skirt caught just enough wind to showcase just how fabulous and toned Obama's legs really are. She completed her vacation outfit with a crop top that bared just a bit of midriff, a large woven beach bag, and sunglasses. She's also rocking some serious beach waves and didn't need any drying sea salt spray to accomplish them, thanks to the natural Mediterranean air. 

In October 2017, Michelle Obama joined David Letterman onstage at The Streicker Center. This wouldn't be the only time that she would sit down as an interviewee of the legendary Late Show host, but during this particular talk, Obama's legs were having their own moment. Obama wore a black and white patterned dress and, having jumped on the Mary Jane shoe trend, wore a black heeled version of the iconic shoe. Letterman, of course, rocked his now-famous bushy beard and poor sock choice. Since retiring from The Late Show in 2015, this has been Letterman's go-to look and energy, and it's impossible not to respect him for it.

If you're going to discuss your latest book with fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker, you'd better bring your A-game, and that's exactly what Michelle Obama did in December 2018. While promoting "Becoming," Obama showed up to the event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn wearing a yellow silk dress by Demna Gvasalia and the Balenciaga over-the-knee sequin Knife boots. When photos of this look started to circulate, to say jaws were on the floor would be an understatement. If anyone has the legs for such a pair of boots, it's Michelle Obama. That evening was also probably one of the first and last times in SJP's life that she was upstaged, fashionably speaking, by someone else.

On New Year's Day in 2022, Michelle Obama posted an Instagram photo of herself and her man, sending well wishes for the upcoming year. To show off her gorgeous legs, Obama wore black shorts that she paired with a matching black top, a floral-patterned blazer, and black strappy heels. She completed the entire outfit with a long, double-strand of pearls, a blue pedicure, and some arm candy who goes by the name Barack Obama.

While the case has certainly been made for Michelle Obama having killer legs, we would be remiss not to include this throwback photo of her and Barack that the latter posted on Instagram in October 2019. As Obama wrote in "The Light We Carry: Overcoming In Uncertain Times," it took her a while to accept her height, so to see her in her 20s cozied up to Barack, with her legs fully on display, speaks volumes to how comfortable she finally is with her stature. It's also a beautiful photo of two kids who would ultimately change the world.