In a recent interview with People Magazine, Obama expressed her admiration for Beyoncé, saying, “Gosh. If I had some gift, I’d be Beyonce, I’d be some great singer.” 

Although the two have a growing friendship, Obama’s admiration for the singer did not sit well for many readers and critics. As an influential African-American woman, parent, and leader, many believe that Obama’s response was foolish and offensive. However, the dream of being singer Beyoncé is an understandable response for the official life of the 44th first lady.

The accomplishments made by Obama should not be underscored by her quick fantasy of being a pop singer. The first lady is immediately recognizable as an inspiration for young girls. She attended Princeton University, graduated from Harvard Law, and in 2010 launched the “Let’s Move” campaign which involves community members and health leaders in the fight against childhood obesity. 

Although her words have an influence on young girls, the media have taken what she said the wrong way. Huffington Post’s Keli Goff writes, “When the most influential black woman in the world …  names Beyoncé … as someone she aspires to be, how can we expect young black girls who didn’t go to Princeton to aspire to more than that?” 

In Goff’s article the presumption is that young black girls do not have aspirations or role models outside of the entertainment arena. It is shameful and untrue to make such suggestions. Young girls, black or not, have parents, educators, famed writers and political figures such as Obama and her husband to look up to. 

In another response to Obama positioning Beyoncé as a role model, The Root’s Demetria Lucas writes that young girls are being sent the wrong message. She argues that Obama’s message says that although some women may be intelligent and powerful, in the end “what really matters is our looks … and our ability to swivel our hips to sexually satisfy the opposite sex.” 

Although young girls do need respectable women to aspire to, Beyoncé is not a woman who confines herself to demeaning ideas. Watching any of her music videos, Beyoncé may bounce and dance erotically, but her lyrics appeal to a higher sensibility than her physical movements suggest. It is their songs that are most commonly shared and enjoyed by female fans and everyday radio music listeners.

Nearly all of Beyoncé’s songs, such as “Run the World (Girls),” encourage women to respect themselves and lead every day with her strongest foot forward. 

“Help me raise a glass for the college grads … I work my nine to five, better cut my check! This goes out to all the women getting it in you on your grind,” she encouragingly sings. 

While pop stardom is a fantasy that is undeniably appealing to many, the public’s conservative expectations of a political figure such as Obama are suffocating. Regardless of her social and political requirements to uphold a traditional appearance, the woman that she is should not be bashed for sharing the ideals Beyoncé associates with.