Michelle Obama reveals to Meghan Markle the advice she would give her daughters in British Vogue interview
'As a younger woman, I spent too much time worrying that I wasn’t achieving enough'
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Your support makes all the difference.Michelle Obama has spoken with the Duchess of Sussex about motherhood, female education and the advice she would give to her daughters in a new interview in British Vogue.
On Sunday, the fashion publication revealed that Meghan Markle had guest edited the September issue of the magazine, working alongside editor-in-chief Edward Enninful for seven months.
Part of the duchess's role as guest editor entailed selecting an "inspirational" and "motivating" subject for a Q&A feature, for which the royal chose the former US first lady.
While still pregnant with her first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, the duchess sent Ms Obama a series of questions, which the best-selling author responded to with answers which Meghan described as "beautifully curated".
When asked what advice she would give to her daughters, 18-year-old Sasha and 21-year-old Malia, Ms Obama said that she hopes her children don't feel as though they need to "check the boxes you think you're supposed to check", like she did when she was their age.
"As a younger woman, I spent too much time worrying that I wasn't achieving enough, or I was straying too far from what I thought was the prescribed path," Ms Obama stated.
"What I hope my daughters will realise a little earlier is that there is no prescribed path, that it's OK to swerve, and that the confidence they need to recognise that will come with time."
Ms Obama explained that "becoming who we are is an ongoing process", an understanding which she wishes she had realised earlier on in life.
The duchess also questioned the lawyer about motherhood, both the lessons she's learnt while raising Sasha and Malia and what it was like experiencing early parenthood with her husband, former US president Barack Obama.
Ms Obama outlined how in her view, "being a mother" is a "masterclass in letting go".
"Motherhood has taught me that, most of the time, my job is to give them the space to explore and develop into the people they want to be," the 55-year-old said.
"Not who I want them to be or who I wish I was at that age, but who they are, deep inside."
Ms Obama added that she is "excited" for Meghan and Prince Harry to experience the "magic" of early parenthood with their two-month-old son Archie, who was born on Monday 6 May.
Another topic which the duchess touched upon during her interview with the former US first lady was female education, asking Ms Obama about the creation of the Girls Opportunity Alliance.
Launched in October 2018, the Girls Opportunity Alliance is a programme of the Obama Foundation which aims to "empower adolescent girls around the world through education, allowing them to achieve their full potential".
"Today, nearly 98 million adolescent girls around the world are not in school. That’s a tragedy – for the girls, of course, but also for all of us," Ms Obama said.
The public figure explained that she founded the Girls Opportunity Alliance because she had witnessed the "power of education" in her own life.
"And I believe that every little girl, no matter her circumstances, deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and act on her knowledge," Ms Obama stated.
The full feature in the September issue of British Vogue will be available on newsstands and via digital download on Friday 2 August.
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