Michelle Obama Becoming quotes: Highlights from the former First Lady’s bestselling book ahead of her London tour

Following the success of Mrs Obama's book tour, we take a look at some of the best quotes from her bestselling memoir, Becoming
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Georgia Chambers12 April 2019

Following the huge success of her first book tour in the UK, Michelle Obama is returning to London to discuss her best-selling book, Becoming.

Last year, the former First Lady inspired fans with stories of overcoming racism and embracing sisterhood as she hosted a sold-out event at London's Southbank Centre.

This time, she will be visiting the 22,000 capacity O2 Arena on Sunday, April 14.

If, like thousands of other disappointed fans, you weren’t lucky enough to get tickets, here are some of her most memorable quotes from Becoming:

On having 'imposter syndrome':

“I still have a little [bit of] imposter syndrome, it never goes away, that you’re actually listening to me.

"It doesn’t go away, that feeling that you shouldn’t take me seriously. What do I know? I share that with you because we all have doubts in our abilities, about our power and what that power is.

"If I’m giving people hope then that is a responsibility, so I have to make sure that I am accountable.”

On meeting the Queen:

Michelle Obama and Barack Obama visit the Queen and Prince Phillip on a trip to the UK (Getty )
Getty

“I had all this protocol buzzing around in my head and I was like ‘don’t trip down the stairs and don’t touch anybody, whatever you do’.

"And so the Queen says ‘just get in, sit wherever’ and she’s telling you one thing and you’re remembering protocol and she says ‘Oh it’s all rubbish, just get in.’”

On Barack Obama's presidency:

“We mistakenly thought that Barack Obama was going to erase hundreds of years of history in eight years – that’s ridiculous to think that could happen.

“So we’re putting down marbles, and going backwards doesn’t mean the progress wasn’t real.”

Michelle Obama 'Becoming' tour wardrobe

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On advice she'd give young women:

Michelle Obama during a visit to the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in Islington.
PA

“My advice to young women is that you have to start by getting those demons out of your head. The questions I ask myself – ‘am I good enough?’ – that haunts us, because the messages that are sent from the time we are little is: maybe you are not, don’t reach too high, don’t talk too loud.”

On being passionate:

“My parents saw this flame in me… and instead of doing what we often do to girls who are feisty, which is to try and put that flame out, to douse it…because we’re worried about not being ladylike or being bossy, they found a way to keep that flame lit because they knew I’d need it later on.

“To have that flame lit in a girl means you have to value her voice and let her speak and learn how to use it.”

Barack and Michelle Obama's best couple moments

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On losing her Dad to multiple sclerosis:

“I remember watching him decline. I’m sure there is something in my personality…what happens to a kid when their parent is in a weakened state.

“How does that affect you even when your father is strong and loving and capable as a provider and goes to work every day?

“I say all that to say while his death was sudden it was always looming for us because he was the kind of man who wouldn’t get help. He was proud and didn’t believe in doctors. I had to watch him get increasingly worse.”

On being proud of her daughters:

Sasha and Malia Obama ()
Getty

“Imagine being your age and having your father criticised in public.

“Imagine having your first boyfriend plastered all over the tabloids or going to prom with men with guns.

“At the very age where they needed to just blend in they couldn’t because he forced them into a light that made them stand out.

“I had to be mum to them first and foremost…make sure they had the attention of their mother while their mother was giving the attention to the world.”

On sisterhood:

“I want you all to start practicing that kind of sisterhood. We don’t have the luxury of tearing each other down. Our job as women is to do our best at lifting each other up.

“In our friendships and the way we treat other women. There’s no time for mean girls.”

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