About Race - President Barack Obama and Ballerina Misty Copeland

Obama praises wife Michelle's curves as he sits down with prima ballerina Misty Copeland for interview about body image and growing up black in America
 'And so Michelle and I are always guarding against that. And the fact that they’ve got a tall gorgeous mom who has some curves, and that their father appreciates, I think is helpful,'


 More of the story and video after the cut.....



 The president and ballerina interviewed each other for TIME magazine
 Copeland is the first ever African American to be named the principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater
Obama praised her for being a role model to his young daughters as she breaks barriers with her athletic body type. Watch video here
Copeland asked Obama for advice on how to stay humble and grounded when one reaches the top of their field 

They have a shared history of multiracial families, being raised by single mothers and making it to the top position of their respective fields.

Now President Barack Obama and Prima Ballerina Misty Copeland are sharing a table, discussing their thoughts on women's body image, affirmative action and growing up black in America.

 Copeland, the first African American to be named the principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater, has been breaking barriers in the ballet world with her athletic body type. 

And Obama revealed during the TIME interview that it was the likes of Copeland and wife Michelle that were acting as role models for his daughters as they learn the pressures women face today to 'look a certain way'. 

 'That pressure I think is historically always been harder on African American women than just about any other women,' he said. 

'But it’s part and parcel of a broader way in which we socialize and press women to constantly doubt themselves or define themselves in terms of a certain appearance.' 

'And so Michelle and I are always guarding against that. And the fact that they’ve got a tall gorgeous mom who has some curves, and that their father appreciates, I think is helpful,' he added. 

Copeland, who was considered a prodigy after starting ballet at the age of 13, said she hopes her heightened role will help her promote a healthy body image in the ballet world.

'We are fully capable of doing everything that the person who doesn't have an extremely athletic body, that is more thin,' she said. 

'I think that being in this position and showing that I can execute and do all of these things that it’s possible to have any skin complexion, to have a healthy body image for the ballerina body,' she said

     
 'I think it’s given me more of a voice. And it’s I think forcing a lot of these top tier companies to address the lack of diversity and diversifying the bodies that we’re seeing in classical ballet.' 

Obama also said it was also her ambition that made Copeland, who is a part of his fitness, sports and nutrition council, someone for his daughters to look up to.

'Misty's a great example [of] somebody who has entered a field that's very competitive, where the assumptions are that she may not belong. 

'And through sheer force of will and determination and incredible talent and hard work she was able to arrive at the pinnacle of her field. And that's exciting.' 

It is Obama's 'sense of humbleness and humility' that Copeland said she looked up to in the president, and she asked him - as her own principal debut nears - how he managed to maintain it in a role that required so much responsibility

 
 Obama also said it was also her ambition that made Copeland, who is a part of his fitness, sports and nutrition council, someone for his daughters to look up to

 'We are fully capable of doing everything that the person who doesn't have an extremely athletic body, that is more thin,' she said.
'I think that being in this position and showing that I can execute and do all of these things that it’s possible to have any skin complexion, to have a healthy body image for the ballerina body,' she said.
'I think it’s given me more of a voice. And it’s I think forcing a lot of these top tier companies to address the lack of diversity and diversifying the bodies that we’re seeing in classical ballet.'

 

 Obama also said it was also her ambition that made Copeland, who is a part of his fitness, sports and nutrition council, someone for his daughters to look up to.
'Misty's a great example [of] somebody who has entered a field that's very competitive, where the assumptions are that she may not belong.


   
 'And through sheer force of will and determination and incredible talent and hard work she was able to arrive at the pinnacle of her field. And that's exciting.'
It is Obama's 'sense of humbleness and humility' that Copeland said she looked up to in the president, and she asked him - as her own principal debut nears - how he managed to maintain it in a role that required so much responsibility.



    


Courtesy Time