"Stars flock to the White House to celebrate the birthday of Michelle Obama, whose popularity outshines her husband’s" writes Rebecca Moore

Michelle Obama hit 50 last weekend in a star-studded party at the White House, surrounded by her nearest and dearest, which naturally included The Clintons, Beyoncé, Mary J Blige and Samuel L Jackson. Many of these celebrities immediately uploaded pictures of themselves online, presumably to prove that they’d actually been invited to the biggest shindig of the year.

Admittedly, it is only January. Everyone uploaded pictures except the Clintons, of course, who seemingly strive to avoid any kind of documentary evidence of their movements at all times. Once bitten, and all that.

Anyway, back to the famously youthful-looking first lady. She has immaculate skin that urges me to exfoliate immediately, she sports perfectly toned limbs that inspire my daily hot yoga sessions and a smile that confidently declares: I sleep with the most powerful man in the world.

Yes: I very nearly hate her. Except she has the same blinding charisma of her husband, doesn’t she? Whereas Hilary Clinton was always rather pushy, rather American Mum (not quite of the Sarah Palin variety – good grief, no) but pushy in the sense that if her daughter ever appeared on The X-Factor we’d all be whispering: her mummy has put her up to this, mark my words, poor love. You could even sometimes be forgiven for whispering the same thing about Bill: his wifey put him up to this, poor love.

Since the gloss has been slipping somewhat from Barack’s cool façade lately, Michelle’s popularity has climbed: a recent poll found that 59 per cent of the public viewed her favourably, compared to only a 46 per cent rating for the president himself. Yay, Girl Power. Yet, despite her success, I still can’t quite hate her. Her charitable actions seem to be inspired by causes she genuinely cares about: she’s committed to decreasing obesity within a generation by way of her Let’s Move campaign. Ah, see? You don’t get toned arms by only exerting them twice daily lifting that cappuccino mug to your mouth.

She shimmied across the Atlantic to visit a girls’ school in London in order to promote education and the future role of women. Even more Girl Power. Added to this, she does sleep with Barack, a man who not only has his finger poised over big red buttons but who also frequently serenades the nation.

So, in the whispery tones of Marilyn: Happy birthday, Mrs President.