Michelle Obama shares selfie while reflecting on ‘difficult’ year in 57th birthday post

Former first lady celebrated her birthday on Sunday

Michelle Obama celebrates 57th birthday (Getty Images)

Michelle Obama has shared a selfie to Instagram and reflected on the “difficult” past year, in a post for her 57th birthday.

On her birthday Sunday, 17 January, the former first lady used the Instagram post to thank all of those who had wished her a happy birthday.

“Thank you all for the lovely birthday wishes!” Ms Obama wrote, before encouraging her followers to “find joy in the smallest moments”.

“I know this past year has been difficult for us all on so many levels, so I just hope you all are taking care of yourselves and finding joy in the smallest moments,” she continued. “Love you all.”

Along with the uplifting message, the 57-year-old shared a makeup-free black-and-white photo of herself, in which she can also be seen wearing her hair naturally curly.

The photo was met with praise and well-wishes from thousands of Ms Obama’s 44.4m followers, with many applauding the former first lady for showing off her natural beauty.

“Happy Birthday to a woman who is beautiful inside and out. Thanks for being bold and showing us your natural self,” one person commented.

Another said: “What a great and authentic picture!”

“Come on curls!! Happy birthday to our forever first lady,” someone else wrote.

This is not the first time Ms Obama has opened up about the difficulties of 2020. In August, the mother-of-two revealed she had been experiencing “low-grade depression” amid the pandemic and the racial unrest in the country.

“I know that I am dealing with some form of low-grade depression, not just because of the quarantine but because of the racial strife and just seeing this administration, watching the hypocrisy of it day in and day out, is dispiriting,” she said at the time.

Ms Obama’s birthday post came after her husband, Barack Obama, also celebrated her birthday with an Instagram tribute.

Sharing a throwback photo of his wife of 28 years, the former president wrote: “Happy birthday to my love, my partner, and my best friend. Every moment with you is a blessing. Love you, Miche.”

The post prompted a response from Ms Obama, who left a heart and kissing emoji in the comments.