Woman, 106, dances with joy at meeting the Obamas

AT 106 years of age, Virginia McLaurin has seen a lot, but we’re not sure the Obamas have encountered anyone quite like the spritely centenarian.

Virginia McLaurin, 106, meets Barack Obama

A 106-year-old woman was so excited at meeting Barack Obama at the White House that she burst out dancing.

Virginia McLaurin is seen dancing excitedly on the spot as the US President and First Lady enter the room — before bounding over to them both

“I thought I would never live to get in the White House,” she later said — referring to her visit to celebrate Black History Month.

What's the secret to still dancing at 106? Watch 106-year-old Virginia McLaurin fulfill her dream of visiting the White House and meeting President Obama. #BlackHistoryMonth

Posted by The White House on Sunday, February 21, 2016

As President Obama enters the room, Ms McLaurin yells out “Hi” — opening her arms wide with excitement.

The president is seen with a huge grin on his face as he asks the centenarian how she is and tells her it’s an honour to meet her.

Ms McLaurin then assertively leads Obama towards his wife, prompting the president to jokingly ask her to slow down.

Feel-good story ... Virginia McLaurin, 106, meets the Obamas. Picture: The White House

“She’s 106!” he tells Michelle, to which the First Lady replies: “No, you are not. Oh my goodness ... I wanna be like you when I grow up.”

“You can be,” Ms McLaurin replies as she grabs the couple’s hands and starts dancing with them both.
Video of the meeting has been widely shared online, with many praising Ms McLaurin’s zest for life aged 106.

Dancing queen ... Virginia McLaurin dances with Barack and Michelle Obama. Picture: The White House

Michelle Obama even found time to compliment her purple manicure and ask what the secret is to be able to dance at such a great age.

“Just keep moving!” Ms McLaurin replies.

McLaurin filed a White House petition in 2014 saying she would like to meet President Obama and his family. She repeated her request in a YouTube video uploaded in December 2014.

Other videos on her channel (which are also posted to the account of Washington activist Deborah Menkat) feature McLaurin, who was born in 1909, recounting stories from her childhood when her family had no running water, and why she decided to stay in her home during a recent snowstorm despite her son’s invitation to stay with him.

“I told him, he can wait on me when I can’t wait on myself,” said the spritely McLaurin.

Other videos on her channel show McLaurin discussing problems with her Washington apartment (namely bedbugs). A community Facebook page was set up to gather donations for the centenarian.