For the most part, people seem to like the official portraits of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. That feeling was fully embodied by a small girl caught (in multiple viral social media posts) appreciating artist Amy Sherald’s portrait of the former FLOTUS at its new home at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.
The girl, two-year old Parker Curry, even caught the attention of Mrs. Obama, who decided that she wanted to meet her. On Tuesday, Parker and Obama met in the former First Lady’s office. “Parker, I’m so glad I had the chance to meet you today (and for the dance party)! Keep on dreaming big for yourself…and maybe one day I’ll proudly look up at a portrait of you!” Obama wrote while posting a video of them dancing.
Parker, I'm so glad I had the chance to meet you today (and for the dance party)! Keep on dreaming big for yourself…and maybe one day I'll proudly look up at a portrait of you! pic.twitter.com/faUVTsYWun
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) March 6, 2018
The aforementioned dance party (to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off”) was also documented and shared on Obama’s Twitter account, with the same caption as her Instagram post. Swift also “liked” the post on Instagram.
Jessica Curry, Parker’s mother, told People that it’s hard to state the importance of seeing Michelle Obama in a portrait like that. “As a female and as a girl of color, it’s really important that I show her people who look like her that are doing amazing things and are making history so that she knows she can do it,” Curry said. Here are a few of the viral photos that started it all.
(Via People)