Free Michelle Button

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Free Michelle:

Michelle Obama’s hair received a lot of media attention in 2013. Her bangs were called "the most contentious global issue ever." At the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the President projected a Photoshopped portrait of himself sporting her hairstyle. Her speech at the G8 Summit ignited a firestorm on Twitter – not because of what she said, but because of her #bangsfail.

Asked to comment on the public’s fascination with her and her hair, Obama said that it "doesn’t have anything to do with me." She added, “Anyone in this position has a huge spotlight, and in modern-day media the spotlight just gets more intense…the culture has just shifted.”

While the spotlight on her continues to grow, some critics accuse Obama of having a "charm offensive" to garner public approval. The question the critics aren’t asking is: did Obama choose the spotlight or did the spotlight choose her?

So we implore the American public: Free Michelle. Free her from becoming a haircut, a symbol, a meme, a caricature. Yes, Michelle Obama is a famous woman, and yes, her hair legitimately fascinates many people. But we hope that she’s more than that.