At moments during Michelle Obama's Democratic National Convention speech yesterday, the First Lady was visibly moved – at times, to tears. Passionate, direct and clear, she gave an outstanding speech, one that will surely be remembered for years to come. (And which future First Lady hopefuls might well try to immitate – though of course, no names mentioned here...)
In a Presidential battle that has taken a number of nasty twists and turns, Michelle stood tall as a beacon of maturity, and delivered a considered, heart-felt and powerful oration to hundreds of supporters.
If you missed her rousing address, here are 5 things you should know about it...
1.) She fully backed Hillary Clinton
There is no doubt who Michelle will be backing at the ballot box in November this year.
'This election, and every election, is about who will have the power to shape our children for the next four or eight years of their lives,' she said.
'And I, I am here tonight because in this election there is only one person who I trust with that responsiblity.
'Only one person who I believe is truly qualified to be President of the United States. And that is our friend, Hillary Clinton.'
Michelle went on to tell audience members that when Hillary didn't win the nomination eight years ago, 'she didn't get angry or disillusioned'. 'She, Hillary, did not pack up and go home. Because as a true public servant, Hillary knows this is so much bigger than her own desires and disappointments.'
'Hillary has never quit on anything in her life,' she added.
2.) She Cleverly Criticised Donald Trump... Without Naming Him Directly
'We urge [our daughters] to ignore those who question their father's citizenship or faith,' Michelle said.
'We insist that the hateful language they hear from public figures on TV does not represent the true sprit of this country...
'We explain that when someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don't stoop to their level. No, our model is: when they go low, we go high.'
She later implored supporters to not let 'anyone ever tell you that this country isn't great' and said that issues facing a president 'cannot be boiled down to 140 characters'. 'Because when you have the nuclear codes at your finger tips, and the military in your command, you can't make snap decisions. You can't have a thin skin or a tendency to lash out. You need to be steady and measured and well-informed.'
Who could she be referring to, we wonder? WHO?
3.) She Made A Clear Reference To The Glass Ceiling...
In what can only be described as a total 'Girl Power' moment, Michelle credited Hillary for having the 'guts' to 'keep coming back and putting those cracks in that highest and hardest glass ceiling', until she 'finally breaks through' she said, 'lifting all of us along with her'.
'That,' she concluded, 'is the story of this country.'
4.)... And CLaimed Hillary's Rise Is An Example Of Triumph In The Face Of Adversity
'The story that has brought me to the stage tonight, the story of generations of people who felt the lash of bondage, the shame of servitude, the sting of segregation but who kept on striving and hoping and doing what needed to be done, so that today, I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves,' she said, tearfully, 'and I watch my daughters, two beautiful, intelligent black young women, playing with their dogs on the White House lawn... and because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters – and all our sons and daughters – now take for granted that a woman can be President of the United States.
5.) The Obamas Had Major Concerns For Their Daughters During Time In Office
In an anecdote, she recalled the first time her daughters, Natasha (15) and Malia Ann (then 12), went off their new school in Washington.
'I will never forget that winter morning,' she said, 'as I watched our girls, just 7 and 10 years old, pile into those black SUVs with all those big men with guns.
'And I saw their little faces pressed up against the window, and the only think I could think was: "What have we done?"
'See, because at that moment, I realised that our time in the White House would form the foundation for who they would be become. And how well we managed this experience could truly make or break them.
'That is what Barack and I think about every day as we try to guide and protect our girls through the challenges of this unusual life in the spotlight.'
What – a – speech.
Michelle for President one day?
WATCH the speech in full below...
READ MORE: Let's Change The Way We Talk About Women In Power