Michelle Obama has been on the covers of countless women’s magazines during her tenure as First Lady. Now, in addition to being on the cover of More magazine, she also guest-edited its latest edition, set to hit newsstands on June 23.
“The idea of having Mrs. Obama serve as the first guest editor of More seemed like a crazy idea, but it was at the top of the list for me,” said the magazine’s editor in chief, Lesley Jane Seymour.
Actually, the idea wasn’t too crazy as it has been in the works since Seymour came to More magazine almost seven years ago. Michelle Obama has appeared in numerous articles since coming to the White House, and a quick search of those articles not only glorify her, but also seem to “kiss up” to the First Lady over the years: Michelle Obama’s Tracy Reese Dress to Hit Stores ASAP, Michelle Obama Recycles Michael Kors Gown, Michelle Obama Joins Pinterest, Michelle Obama’s Style, Michelle Obama’s New Hair, Michelle Obama Joins Twitter, Secrets of Michelle Obama’s Style.
Like O.M.G.! The First Lady joined Pinterest and Twitter! She’s just like us! We MUST write about this! The New York Times added:
Ms. Seymour said the magazine was intended for accomplished women “who can have an impact on the world.” For those reasons, she said, Mrs. Obama was both the “ultimate More reader” and “the perfect guest editor.”
“I call her my inspirer in chief,” Ms. Seymour said. “She really is such an inspirational figure. And that really is the mission of this issue.”
More Magazine is a lifestyle magazine for women ages 30-65. That’s quite an age spread, but what better way to convey the mythical “war on women” than through women’s magazines. After all, there’s been an ongoing trend of women’s magazines entering into the world of politics. Cosmo, Marie Claire and Glamour are all guilty of this, even endorsing candidates. (Take a guess on which side of the political spectrum those candidates reside.) Which only makes sense that the entire July/August issue of More would be linked to the First Lady.
“Everything is linked to Mrs. Obama…Every column was done from her point of view,” said Seymour. This statement is almost laughable considering almost every other issue from women’s magazines are written from this “point of view.” At least this is one time they are being honest about it.
In addition to discussing her big four initiatives (helping children live healthier lives, supporting military families, encouraging young people to continue their education after high school and helping girls around the world attend and stay in school), Obama talks about her favorite photographs on the walls of the White House, how exhausting inaugural balls can be, the kind of music she listens to, and highlights national parks and memorials to visit – including Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon and the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka, Kansas.
On More’s website, the magazine teased with the beginnings of a letter from the guest-editor:
“Just days after my family moved to Washington back in 2009, my daughters started their first day at their new schools. I went with Malia, my mother accompanied Sasha, and as I watched my girls climb into those big black cars filled with agents with guns and saw Sasha’s little face pressed against the window as her car pulled away, it hit me: What on earth were we doing?...At that moment, I made a promise to myself—and my girls—that I would do everything possible to make this disruption to their lives worthwhile.”
Oh More magazine – you are such a tease! Now I really can’t wait to hear how Mrs. Obama helped make the “disruption” of moving into the White House worthwhile and hear her talk about “agents with guns.”
Seymour gushed, “The First Lady is the ultimate More woman…She is the perfect combination of passion, intelligence, beauty and glamour, and her gift for moving people to action is the reason I invited her to be our first-ever guest editor. After reading the issue, I hope our readers will be moved to make a difference of their own.”
I think I’ll pass. We don’t need to read More’s upcoming issue written by someone’s point of view to make a difference. We can do that all on our own.
