Michelle Obama dresses up as Beyoncé on the pop star’s birthday
Pictured (L-R): Blue Ivy Carter, Michelle Obama and Serena Williams dressed up in Beyoncé's iconic gear. Source: Beyoncé.com
Michelle Obama has dressed up as Beyoncé in honour of the singer’s 36th birthday on September 4.
The former First Lady was one of 18 women who created a special black and white photo tribute to the Lemonade singer on her official website.
Each recreated the look Beyoncé wore in her Formation music video: black dresses, oversized necklaces and plaits, with heads bowed and eyes shielded under wide-brimmed black hats.
Mrs Obama, 53, and Beyoncé have been great friends for nearly 10 years.
In 2008, Beyoncé performed Etta James’s hit At Last at then-President Barack Obama’s first inauguration.
The Obamas have a long-standing relationship with Beyoncé, Husband Jay-Z and their children. Source: Beyoncé.com
She also lent her fame and name to collaborate with Mrs Obama on anti-childhood obesity campaign, Let’s Move.
Her reward? During Beyoncé’s performance at the Global Citizen Festival in 2015, the First Lady appeared on stage with her.
The friendship doesn’t just extend to professional favours.
On her last birthday weekend, Beyoncé hung out at Camp David with the Obama ladies – Michelle and her daughters Malia, 19, and Sasha, 16.
In the latest Beyoncé birthday tribute, other big names to channel their inner Queen Bey included new mother Serena Williams and the star’s former Destiny’s Child bandmates, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland.
The project was also a family affair, with Beyoncé’s daughter Blue Ivy Carter, 5, mum Tina and husband Jay Z’s mum Gloria Carter (plus his grandmother, Hattie White) taking part.
“Happy Birthday Beyoncé from Your Family and Friends,” said a caption.
Apart from just showing love for Beyoncé, the project had a broader goodwill purpose: another message encouraged fans to donate to relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey victims in Houston, the star’s hometown.
Using the hashtag #BEYGOODHOUSTON, the message includes a link to a separate page where supporters can donate to two Texas charities.
Donations will be used to help with “long-term revitalisation” and to buy necessary items including cots, blankets and pillows, baby essentials and wheelchairs.
On top of the photo tribute, other celebrities including Bruno Mars sent love to Beyoncé on her big day.
Singer Adele took to Twitter: “Happy Birthday to the Queen @Beyoncé We love you like no other x”, while Game of Thrones actress Maisie Williams said on social media the birthday girl doesn’t “look a day over 21 – happy birthday my queen”.
Jay Z, 47, also went large for his wife, leading the audience at his annual Made In America festival in Philadelphia in a chorus of the Happy Birthday song.