Where now for First Lady favourite Michelle Obama?

THE world fell in love with the most inspirational First Lady ever, and now she’s leaving the White House, she’s about to come into her own.

What will inspirational First Lady Michelle Obama do next? Picture: Nicholas Kamm/AFP

BOUNDING through the plush rooms of the White House in a stylish shirt and pants with the family dogs, Michelle Obama looks like a woman who knows herself.

The First Lady of the United States, who turned 53 yesterday, has just one day left in her exulted position, but she’s left her mark on hearts around the world.

Mrs Obama was the breakout star of her husband Barack’s presidency, using her platform to fight childhood obesity and homophobia, while volunteering her time to help the homeless. She was admired for her wisdom, grace and signature fashion sense.

FLOTUS she may no longer be, but the mother of 18-year-old Malia and 15-year-old Sasha is not going to quietly fade away from public view. She has repeatedly been tipped to one day be president herself, but insists she hates politics and will never run for office.

After Donald Trump’s inauguration on Friday, the Obamas will jump in a private plane and head to Palm Springs, California, for a short family holiday.

Afterwards, the former president intends to write, relax and “not hear myself talk so darn much”, but his wife of 24 years has bigger plans.

Read more: Michelle Obama dressed as Beyonce for her birthday  

Thank you for the birthday wishes and for the greatest gift of all: the opportunity to serve as your First Lady. –mo pic.twitter.com/erjZA6WUXz

— The First Lady (@FLOTUS) January 18, 2017

‘I’M GOING TO WORK ON THIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE’

When the Obamas return to Washington, they will settle into a new $7 million home just three kilometres from the White House in Kalorama for at least two years while Sasha completes her studies.

Mrs Obama, a Harvard-educated lawyer who gave up her $300,000-a-year job as a Chicago hospital executive when her husband become president, will start work at a new office with a small team of staff.

Without the responsibilities of supporting a Commander-in-Chief spouse, she will be free to pursue her own passion projects.

She has said she will continue campaigning on issues such as children’s health, after the success of her Let’s Move exercise initiative and nutrition education programs.

She also vowed to continue the work she began with Joining Forces to support the families of veterans and reaffirmed her commitment to the Let Girls Learn initiative, which helps underprivileged girls get an education.

“I am so excited to continue working on this issue not just for the next seven months as First Lady, but for the rest of my life,” she said in June.

She is also working on her memoirs, which are likely to attract a record-breaking multimillion-dollar advance, and her longtime aide Melissa Winter said there may be “many books in her”, including titles aimed at kids.

The 53-year-old will be keeping busy with campaigns, writing her memoirs and speaking events. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The down-to-earth mother of two is passionate about causes including children’s health, veterans and education. Picture: Jim Watson/AFP

A TRUMP-OBAMA ALLIANCE

Mrs Obama has sat down with the incoming First Lady Melania, but her most significant conversation with any member of the Trump family may have been with the President-elect’s formidable eldest daughter.

“Melania’s spent time with Michelle, which was great, and Ivanka the other day spoke to her,” Mr Trump told Fox & Friends yesterday. “The conversation was going to be a quick conversation. It lasted an hour. And they got along great.”

Ms Trump, 35, is expected to be a powerful influencer in the new administration. She is moving to Washington with her husband, future senior adviser to the president, while her other siblings and stepmother remain in New York, where 10-year-old Barron is still at school.

Mrs Obama and Ms Trump would make a formidable team should they choose to unite on future ventures, with the younger woman expressing an interest in using her platform to campaign for women’s rights, parental leave, reducing childcare costs, equal pay and even climate change.

Eight years after he first became president, Barack’s wife can relinquish her duties as First Lady. Picture: Tim Sloan

The outgoing FLOTUS is not only a fashion icon, but a Harvard-educated former lawyer. Picture: Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images

‘I WAKE UP EACH MORNING IN A HOUSE BUILT BY SLAVES’

Mrs Obama has made it clear she is looking forward to being able to relax in her garden, shop at the supermarket and just open a window of her home.

Having proven a hit media personality with appearances on the Tonight Show, Sesame Street, James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke and the Ellen DeGeneres Show, we can expect to see plenty more of her on our screens.

Her staff have said they will be planning speaking tours and Mrs Obama has spoken of her wish do something intellectually challenging, as well as her campaign work.

The fashion icon’s choice of outfits will continue to provide inspiration and column inches, and she is expected to continue supporting young designers and appearing on magazine covers.

First Ladies historically go on to great achievements after their time in the White House. Jackie Kennedy became a book editor, Laura Bush advocates for literacy and women in Afghanistan and Hillary Clinton launched her own political career.

Mrs Obama is already the most inspirational of them all.

In July, she gave the most powerful speech of the Democratic National Convention, revealing that she tries to teach her children to stay strong with the motto: “When they go low, we go high.”

She added: “I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. And I watch my daughters, two beautiful, intelligent black young women, playing with their dogs on the White House lawn.”

We’re still not ruling out Michelle 2020.