Michelle Obama opened up about the intimate details of her 32-year marriage to Barack Obama, revealing how the couple maintains their relationship through low-key date nights at home rather than elaborate outings, according to an interview published Monday, October 28, 2025.
The former first lady appeared on the cover of People magazine, wearing a vibrant strapless top and acid-wash jeans while promoting her new fashion-focused book, “The Look,” co-written with her longtime stylist Meredith Koop. During the interview, she discussed how her approach to romance has evolved since leaving the White House in 2017.
“We’ve been married 32, 33 [years] … I always forget. Sorry, honey,” she told People while discussing her relationship with the former president. When asked about their ideal date nights, she explained that both she and her husband prefer staying home over going out. The couple enjoys simple evenings with nice dinners, lit candles and music while they talk, avoiding the need to get dressed up for public outings.
The revelations come amid ongoing public interest in the Obamas’ relationship dynamics. Earlier in 2025, Barack Obama acknowledged at an April 3 event at Hamilton College that he had been working to improve his relationship with his wife after years of intensive presidential duties. The former president admitted he was in what he called a deep deficit with Michelle and had been trying to dig himself out by doing fun things with her more frequently.
Barack Obama also shared candid insights about family life at home, noting that he constantly loses arguments to his wife and daughters, Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23. He joked that his family members mock and ridicule him at the dinner table, offering a glimpse into the more relaxed dynamics of their post-White House life.
Michelle Obama has been increasingly vocal about her personal life in recent months through various media appearances. In March 2025, she launched a podcast called “IMO” with her brother Craig Robinson, where she discussed her husband’s persistent time management issues. She expressed frustration that when it’s time to leave at 3 o’clock, Barack gets up and goes to the bathroom, rather than being ready to depart. She emphasized that a 3 o’clock departure means having completed all preparations beforehand, not starting to look for glasses at the departure time.
The former first lady also revealed on Kylie Kelce’s “Not Gonna Lie” podcast in March that bedtime is her favorite time of day, noting that her husband teases her about how early she can go to bed. When asked about her ideal bedtime, she indicated any time after dinner works for her, emphasizing her appreciation for getting into good sheets when it’s cool.
Michelle Obama addressed another aspect of their family planning during the podcast appearance with Kelce, sharing that Barack once floated the idea of having another baby after their two daughters. She responded that she thought she had been lucky with Malia and Sasha, dismissing the suggestion.
The October People magazine interview also covered Michelle Obama’s evolution in personal style and beauty choices since leaving the White House. The 61-year-old discussed her approach to aging, stating that while she doesn’t wince at her gray hairs, she does color them, following in the footsteps of her late mother, Marian Robinson, who dyed her hair until she died.
Michelle Obama explained that she now feels more comfortable experimenting with different hairstyles, particularly braids, which she avoided during the White House years. She expressed uncertainty about whether the country was ready for such styling choices at the time and didn’t want her hair to become a distraction. She noted that braids represent freedom for her, allowing her to swim and play tennis without worrying about her appearance.
The former first lady also addressed the challenges of raising daughters in the public eye during Barack Obama’s presidency. Malia and Sasha were 10 and 7 years old respectively when their father was elected in 2008. Michelle explained that what’s considered appropriate for a 13-year-old doesn’t necessarily work when walking down the staircase of Air Force One. The couple had their daughters work with Koop to choose outfits for public events during their White House years.
When it came to private moments, Michelle took a more relaxed approach to her daughters’ fashion choices than her husband. She recalled Barack questioning whether their daughters’ shorts seemed too short, but she told him not to say anything and to let them develop their own style.
The Obamas’ public appearances and lifestyle choices continue to draw attention. In April 2025, Michelle Obama dismissed divorce rumors during an interview on Sophia Bush’s “Work in Progress” podcast, addressing speculation that arose after she skipped high-profile events including President Donald Trump’s inauguration and former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral. She noted that society couldn’t fathom a grown woman making choices for herself and assumed divorce when she decided not to attend certain events.
