Michelle Obama on first year in White House

US first lady Michelle Obama says her first year in the White House has been quite hectic, which often makes her feel like a swan "calm and serene above water - but we're paddling like mad, going crazy underneath, trying to look smooth".
 
Mrs Obama has consistently topped power and influence polls on Forbes and Time and has even aced People mag's  "most beautiful" list since president Barack Obama took office a year ago.

The media has scrutinised her every move and gesture and even her dress and shoes.

"It wasn't something that I was prepared for," the Telegraph quoted her as saying.

She said she did not regret anything and even promised to play a bigger role in the coming year.

Mrs Obama said: "I'm a 110-percenter...And, yes, we can do more."

The past year saw the 46-year-old Harvard-educated lawyer, trying to settle her family in the White House and carving out areas for herself where she could make a mark.

She said: "Our goal was to do everything that was done before, so that we'd know what it was, and uphold those traditions, but try to tweak it."

Mrs Obama has advocated healthy eating with her White House kitchen garden, supported the unsuccessful Olympic bid of her hometown of Chicago and has also been snapped hugging dozens of people including the British Queen, a gesture that raised many eyebrows.

Her dressing sense has won her both praise and censure from the fashion world.

But when she had to say what made her most proud in the past year, she quickly pointed out: "That my kids are sane."