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Elle-Lorraine Brown had to choose a role model for her school's Cultural Heroes Day. The 8-year-old's pick was a college-aged version of former First Lady Michelle Obama.
In addition to an exhibit with information about Michelle Obama's (formerly Robinson's) time at Princeton, Ella-Lorraine also dressed in an outfit matching the future best seller and public speaker.
And I'd say she's spot on!
Ella-Lorraine's parents explained:
"She was really in awe of the idea that with hard work you could become anything."
The girl's mother, Karlyn Johnson Brown, is also a Princeton alum. She helped her daughter, who insisted on portraying the former first lady.
Brown said:
"I loved it because by choosing to portray her hero as a college student, the focus was on Michelle's accomplishments as an individual, not just as an attachment."
And people on social media definitely agree!
@MAKERSwomen @MichelleObama @Princeton Michelle was more than just Barack’s wife and she made sure we knew who she was before and after. 🙂— KDP ❄️ (@KDP ❄️) 1544297760.0
@washingtonpost This is the kind of positive reinforcement we need.— Sharon Drane (@Sharon Drane) 1544453898.0
@MAKERSwomen @MichelleObama @Princeton You never know whose life you while on your journey to greatness. Ain’t God good!!! 😍❤️😁👣— Arethea Pamela Johnson (@Arethea Pamela Johnson) 1544381871.0
@washingtonpost That is what positive role-modelling is about.— Jaime Eagle (@Jaime Eagle) 1544457263.0
Brown has done a good job of surrounding her daughter with black role models and excellence. Ella-Lorraine has dressed as other female heroes, like Bessie Coleman, the first black/native woman to get a pilot's license, or Ruby Bridges, who endured threats and insults to desegregate William Frantz Elementary in 1960.
Ella-Lorraine loves to dress up as her female heroes, like Bessie Coleman and Ruby Bridges. "She knows that folks c… https://t.co/5OKwYbqsCI— MAKERS (@MAKERS) 1544216286.0
The girl's father spoke to MAKERS, saying:
"Ella-Lorraine has never known a time when Black women weren't publicly honored and 'Black girl magic' wasn't a highly celebrated thing. That's awesome."
This is the positivity we need in this world.
@washingtonpost I am in love with this family.— Donna Miller (@Donna Miller) 1544459183.0
@MAKERSwomen @MichelleObama @Princeton Awesome. Brilliant. Fantastic.— Mary Frank (@Mary Frank) 1544217402.0
@MAKERSwomen @MichelleObama @Princeton @ObamaLivesOn @draiochta14 #Michelle2020. Michelle Obama has never been an… https://t.co/g0N1Jozgjo— sassenachfollower (@sassenachfollower) 1544300600.0
@MAKERSwomen @MichelleObama @Princeton That's what our future looks!— Julio Lopez (@Julio Lopez) 1544297583.0
@MAKERSwomen @MichelleObama @Princeton If hero Michelle is a role model to this little girl, then soon the girl wil… https://t.co/8lvEXctMIs— Perraju Dinavahi (Raj) (@Perraju Dinavahi (Raj)) 1544309994.0
Michelle Obama has been on a tour promoting her book, Becoming. In the book, she describes how she was discouraged about going to Princeton.
She writes about a meeting with a college counselor:
"Because rightly or wrongly, I got stuck on one single sentence the woman uttered. 'I'm not sure,' she said, giving me a perfunctory, patronizing smile, 'that you're Princeton material.'"
Michelle went on to graduate cum laude in 1985 from Princeton, and get a J.D. from Harvard in 1988.