In a rare interview about his family, Barack Obama praises all that is “badass” about Michelle, Malia and Sasha.
“They all have multiple badass qualities,” he tells InStyle of the three.
In a brief interview timed to the release of his upcoming memoir “A Promised Land,” Obama was asked “What’s the most badass thing about Michelle, Malia and Sasha?”
He begins with his wife.
“I think people know Michelle well enough to know how amazing she can be as a public speaker,” he answered.
“They probably are less aware of what it’s like to work out with Michelle when she’s really in her groove. And sometimes that includes her boxing. You don’t want to get in the way when she’s working on a bag — including some kicks. There’s force there.”
Next, he turns to his youngest daughter, Sasha, 19.
“Sasha is, as Malia describes it, completely confident about her own take on the world and is not cowed or intimidated — and never has been — by anybody’s titles, anybody’s credentials. If she thinks something’s wrong or right, she will say so.
“When she was 4, 5, 6 years old, once she made a decision, she would dig in and couldn’t be steered off it. I write about it in the book, how we were trying to get her to taste caviar when we were visiting Russia.
“She was like, ‘Mnn-nnh. No. Sorry. That looks slimy. It’s nasty. I’m not going to do it — even if I’ve got to give up dessert.'” he recalled. “And that part of her character has always been there.”
He described Malia as “just buoyant.”
“She’s somebody who enjoys people, enjoys life and enjoys conversation. She’s never bored, which is a badass quality that can take you places.”