Rabat- Moroccan-French novelist and journalist Leila Slimani conducted an interview with former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama to discuss her most recent book “The Light We Carry.”
The 18-minute interview was aired on both France 5 and Brut. In her conversation with Slimani, the former first lady shared her own experiences with fears, anxieties, and struggles as well as strong coping mechanisms for navigating today’s highly uncertain world.
Michelle Obama, or the “woman behind the icon” as described by Slimani, emphasized that vulnerability is a part of being human.
“We all struggle with fear, we all experience depression and anxiety, and we all wonder if we are good enough for the positions that we are in,” she said.
The former first lady urged all people who have a platform to be honest about the challenges that they face and how to overcome them.
In her book, “The Light We Carry,” Michelle Obama draws on her experiences as a mother, daughter, spouse, friend, and First Lady to share the habits and principles she has developed to successfully adapt to change and overcome various obstacles.
Born in Rabat, Morocco in 1981, Leila Slimani is a best-selling writer, journalist, and diplomat who represented President Emmanuel Macron at the International Francophone Organization.
In 2016, she became an international literary star when she published the psychological thriller “The Perfect Nanny,” with the novel appearing in the New York Times as one of the 10 best books of 2018, the year it was published in English.
Slimani became the first woman to win France’s prestigious Goncourt Prize in 2016 for the same novel.
In recent years, Slimani has become one of the most influential figures in France, with her works highlighting issues that may be deemed controversial by many.
In 2018, Slimani ranked second on Vanity Fair’s 2018 top 50 list of the most influential people in France, while President Macron placing fifth.
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