April 7, 2009
Posted: April 7th, 2009 12:22 PM ET

ALT TEXT

Michelle and Barack Obama become the third U.S. presidential spouse with a lifelike wax figure on display at Madame Tussauds.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - First lady Michelle Obama joins an elite group Tuesday.

She is to become the third U.S. presidential spouse with a lifelike wax figure on display at Madame Tussauds, a museum and tourist attraction.

Figures of Jacqueline Kennedy and Hillary Clinton stand in the museum alongside lookalikes of Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr. as well as Angelina Jolie and Will Smith.

Madame Tussauds touts its new addition as an "incredibly lifelike" figure in a sleeveless red dress based on the purple dress she wore when her husband claimed the Democratic nomination for president.

The museum unveiled a figure of President Barack Obama in February.

Artists in London studied hundreds of photos and watched hundreds of hours of video footage to create Michelle Obama's likeness, the museum said in a statement.

Crafting such figures is no easy task.

Artists insert each strand of hair individually, and it can take five weeks to create a figure's head, the statement said. Materials such as red silk help create veins in a figure's eyes, it said, and technicians can spend four days perfecting a set of teeth.

Madame Tussauds plans to unveil the first lady's wax figure at 11 a.m. local time.

"Visitors will be able to admire the figure up close," the museum said, "as well as take photos with and even hug Mrs. Obama's figure."

Filed under: Michelle Obama


velma jones   April 7th, 2009 12:51 pm ET

I am so sick and tired of people put the first family down he only been in office 3months give him abreak roman was not build in a day .

norma jean   April 7th, 2009 12:51 pm ET

Hate her or love her she is on top and you gonna see her shine thru out in the next 3 and some years to come. Stop hating the lady is a Typical First Lady yall.

knormb   April 7th, 2009 12:48 pm ET

Madame Tussaud's has museums around the world, including LA, New York and Washington, DC. Ms. Obama will likely end up in DC, beside her hubby.

Nice bow in the picture, though.

cheryl brooks from cali   April 7th, 2009 12:44 pm ET

Great!!!! She's so beautiful inside and out, just like her husband the President she fills me with so much hope... love just everything. I love our First Lady.

Brett   April 7th, 2009 12:29 pm ET

Michelle Obama is not only a beautiful person, inside and out, but she is smart. We need more role models like her.

Marcia Campbell   April 7th, 2009 12:25 pm ET

Michelle is a perfect compliment to her husband – who, dare I say, is the perfect man to get us on the right track again. I am so proud of our new President and First Lady. All you sourpuss conservatives out there need an attitude adjustment ! I have been to Madame Tussauds museum in London. It's a wonderful and quirky place. Go see for yourselves.

Sarty   April 7th, 2009 12:17 pm ET

She deserves this. Thanks Britain. That's how you are showing respect to America. & its first family.

Cynthia - Arkansas   April 7th, 2009 12:14 pm ET

What is wrong with you haters? She is a beautiful, intelligent woman. She brings joy to people who meet her. I think you are all just jealous.

Ariana   April 7th, 2009 12:01 pm ET

I like Michelle and I voted for her husband. But I think the media goes a little too far in worshipping her. And btw, you can't compare her to Jackie!!

Anonymous   April 7th, 2009 11:51 am ET

Awesome! What has she done to deserve this you ask? She's being herself; caring, concerned, humble, and loving. During these ailing and uncertain times she's like the mommy that makes the boo-boo hurt less with a hug and kiss. Just a beautiful individual inside and out...

bill   April 7th, 2009 11:49 am ET

Why not Michelle Obama...afterall it's the museum who gets to chose who they want to replicate. Why all the ugly comments!

barking republican ankle biters   April 7th, 2009 11:41 am ET

At least she isnt a stepford wife,doing and saying only what she is allowed to say and do.

Adiam48   April 7th, 2009 11:41 am ET

Great! She is one I would like to see. She is a beautiful example of a first lady.

MaryK   April 7th, 2009 11:39 am ET

Nice, people are trashing the First Lady. Way to be high class people!!! I've said it before and I'll say it again, comments like that say alot more about you, You disagree with her and her opinions, great, that's what this country is about, but to make snide comments about her personally, shows utter lack of class and amazing ignorance on your part.

Cal_teacher   April 7th, 2009 11:39 am ET

enough already with the gushing over Michelle Obama. I couldn't care less about what she wears. The clothes she wore for "gardening" in a story that ran a hundred times a few weeks ago were so ridiculous- no one gardens in expensive knee-high boots and leggings- very contrived for publicity. If you're going to report on her, at least show me she has more substance than being another pretty face. I haven't respected a first lady since I read about Eleanor Roosevelt. Less is more. Frankly, I believe both Obamas are getting way too much press. What next–a music video?

Fitz in Texas   April 7th, 2009 11:30 am ET

Actually, I really don't care. I have no desire to see this wax figure of Mrs. Obama now, or ever.

FL   April 7th, 2009 11:29 am ET

I really don't understand what all the hype is about Michelle Obama. I think the media is going to turn people off on her and her husband with all the celebrity nonsense. It is kind of nauseating.

Lynn   April 7th, 2009 11:19 am ET

munchmom: All first ladies and presidents get wax figures! I do though think the fact that 80 per cent of Americans approve of her European trip and introduction to the world is enough of an accomplishement.

globalgroove   April 7th, 2009 11:13 am ET

Uh Brandon....Madame Tussuad's is in London...I don't think England got any US stimulus money. And I'm quite sure she has accomplished much more in her life than you ever will in your entire lifetime.

tony in nm   April 7th, 2009 11:12 am ET

Thank God we have Michelle Obama as First Lady!

Slap Happy   April 7th, 2009 11:12 am ET

Uh, this is in London, so I don't think they recieved stimulus money for this. M. Tussauds makes statues of different "pop culture" and political icons and the decision is theirs to make. This goes to show just how much of a hit First Lady Michelle Obama was over there. So for you haters in here, may I suggest that improve your reading skills and lastly: grow up. You are truly pathetic and laughable.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   April 7th, 2009 11:06 am ET

Michelle Obama is not a fashion model, she's an intellectual model for all women around the world.

Hmmm   April 7th, 2009 11:06 am ET

Wax? I think plastic is better.

gary gpp   April 7th, 2009 11:05 am ET

I'd like to see Sarah Palin dipped in wax...

munchmom   April 7th, 2009 11:02 am ET

I will try a THIRD time, CNN. No, I will be nicer this time since that is what gets posted!

I don't think that she deserves this, at least not yet, if ever. Let's see how affective she is after her hubby has been in office for a while, like everyone says about him regarding all of the "work" he has done. She has not impressed me in the least, as she continues the "campaign" that her husband continues to perpetuate. Put someone who is deserving of it–where is Rosalyn Carter, Ladybird Johnson, even old Eleanor Roosevelt? They accomplished things and were basically ahead of their times. Put someone in there who has done something for this country and actually felt good about it.....MY adult life is not more fulfilled by this; rather laughable in my estimation.

Brandon   April 7th, 2009 10:56 am ET

Well this is just comical. I wish they would put this wax figure in the white house so we don't have to listen to her babbling anymore! She has done nothing. She is the first lady of 3 months? I wonder how much stimulus money this museum got for this publicity stunt???

Surreal   April 7th, 2009 10:52 am ET

She looks amazingly life-like.

sniffwhat?   April 7th, 2009 10:52 am ET

Wax is the absolutely perfect medium for this woman!

rainbowgirl   April 7th, 2009 10:43 am ET

That IS a real picture of her (see two stories below where she is waving to the crowd with the President). The description under the picture is misleading, making the reader think that the picture in the black and white dress with the bow is the wax figure, but it's not.

Loletha   April 7th, 2009 10:38 am ET

It looks almost like her, that blouse is not. whats with the big fly bow.

First Lady Michelle Obama is quite the role model for all women around the world.

obama daddy   April 7th, 2009 10:32 am ET

Please tell me....

this is a

JOKE. I am NOT laughing.

what the &$%* has she done to deserve this??

KLK   April 7th, 2009 10:31 am ET

I'll be sure to visit.

TyRenee   April 7th, 2009 10:21 am ET

Great! Can't wait to see it.

Mike   April 7th, 2009 10:18 am ET

Now if only she would learn to dress properly.

Jimmy Boy   April 7th, 2009 10:09 am ET

It looks almost human!

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   April 7th, 2009 10:07 am ET

Michelle deserves it. I bet her wax figure will bring in more tourism to the museum.

GUSS   April 7th, 2009 10:05 am ET

Wow! I thought that was a picture of her. They nailed her, in fact, this is the first wax figure that actually looks like the person it's supposed to be. Very impressive.

FREEMAN   April 7th, 2009 10:02 am ET

Why not? Highly intelligent, well educated, attractive, a role model. She's an inspiration to all woman.

jo jo   April 7th, 2009 9:41 am ET

I think that's beautiful! I will have to visit London again real soon.

phoenix86   April 7th, 2009 9:41 am ET

The wax figure will be 100% lifelike. Identical bone structures as well as identical intelligence. For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of Madame Tussauds.

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