A few weeks ago, Michelle and Barack Obama’s portraits were revealed at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, which is where the portraits will hang for a while, for everyone to see. One mother, Jessica Curry, brought her 2-year-old daughter Parker Curry to see the portraits last week. Little Parker stood in awe of Michelle’s portrait, and the moment was caught by a photographer (see above). As it turns out, Parker thought Michelle was a queen.
According to 2-year-old Parker Curry’s mother, Jessica Curry, her daughter’s eyes were super-glued to Amy Sherald’s portrait of Obama in the National Portrait Gallery as soon as they passed by the painting. Nearby stood visitor Ben Hines, who snapped the photo of the 2-year-old that quickly went viral. According to Jessica Curry, her daughter thought Michelle was a queen:
“Parker was in front on the portrait, and I really wanted her to turn around so I could get a picture with her, and she genuinely, honestly would not turn around,” Curry told CNN. “She was uncooperative with me because she was just so focused on the portrait and studying it, and she was just so fascinated.”
Curious about her daughter’s infatuation with the painting, Curry told CNN that she asked Parker to describe her interest in it, which was met with an unbelievably powerful and endearing response.
“In further discussion with (Parker) yesterday and today, I realized that she believes Michelle Obama is a queen, and she wants to be a queen as well …,” Curry said. “As a female and as a girl of color, It’s really important that I show her people who look like her that are doing amazing things and are making history so that she knows she can do it.”
I too think Michelle Obama is a queen. Anyway, Michelle loved the story so much that she contacted this family and invited them to her office, which is where Parker got to meet Queen Michelle and they had a dance party to “Shake It Off.”
Parker, I'm so glad I had the chance to meet you today (and for the dance party)! Keep on dreaming big for yourself…and maybe one day I'll proudly look up at a portrait of you! pic.twitter.com/faUVTsYWun
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) March 6, 2018
I’m not crying, you’re crying. (Okay, here’s the joke: I wonder if Parker saw Michelle in person and was like “Mommy I thought we were going to meet Kerry Washington?” Get it? Because the portrait looks more like Kerry than Michelle.)
Photos courtesy of Instagram, Getty.
While this is cute, I’m annoyed Taylor Swift has been brought into this moment.
Couldn’t they have dubbed over that song?
I miss the Obamas.
Yeah, a child’s taste in music is SO annoying.
My 5 year old granddaughter loves that song and only because it is catchy and you can dance to it easily. Don’t think it has anything to do with Taylor Swift. My granddaughter also likes Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Backroad” because it’s catchy and easy to sing to. At that age, it isn’t important as to who the singer is.
Body Like a Back Road?!?! Oh, hell no. I’ve got to listen to that. Just the imagery alone 😂🤣😊
It would’ve been perfect if they had been dancing to Run the World (Girls) by Beyonce.
Queen Michelle, from the mouth of babes.
I miss this elegant, brilliant woman who transformed our public dialogue in so many positive ways.
Me too, Indiana Joanna, Me too! ;'(
I miss the humor, grace, and class that Michelle Obama brought to the FLOTUS position.
Well, that is one smart, adorable little girl. Michelle is definitely a queen to me. I miss her so much. 👑
Yeah may or may not have had something in my eye reading that.
#representationmatters
+1
(Sob)
“When we see a soul whose acts are all regal, graceful, and pleasant as roses, we must thank God that such things can be and are.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Indeed.
That kid is so damn cute.
I miss Michelle. Sigh. Beauty, grace, intelligence, humanity.
Yes, Parker is freaking adorable.
Those cheeks.
Gobble, gobble.
I love this story!!!!
She IS A Queen.
That’s because she is a Queen.
I wish didn’t but I can’t help but compare her with our current FLOTUS. Simple things like this are sweet, easy to do, and PR goldmines. People like people that are kind to babies. The Trump admin needs a PR win so bad and Melania could easily do something like this but she’s hiding out with her boyfriend in NY.
You are so right and sometimes when I am depressed about The Orange One, my son and I watch youtube videos of the Obamas with kids. They are so natural with people, and especially with kids and it is a genuine quality, you can’t fake it. It is an inner kindness that just radiates from them both. Neither Donald nor Melania possess that.
This all day long! And I have news for you all: the little girl is right. Michelle Obama IS a queen.
Forget the Kennedys, the Obamas are America’s royal family and Mrs. Obama will always be my Queen.
I love every bit of this story. And I will never, ever forgive this country for replacing the Obamas with the garbage humans occupying the White House now.
What a lovely story. I love the photo where Parker is describing something to Michelle and she’s just totally tuned in but it doesn’t look at all patronizing. I can’t imagine how Parker must have felt a) looking up at a woman who looks like her in a national museum and b) getting to meet that woman and have that woman make you feel so special and so heard.
Love the Obamas. These stories make me so mad aobut the abrupt nose dive our country took electing the Orange Clown. I could cry every day.
This story is so overwhelming in its warmth and joy. That little girl is too cute and Michelle is forever my Queen.
Parker, my wish for you is to grow up to be an imaginative, strong, successful woman who sees and brings out the best in others. Be well, little one.
Moments like these are why we should continue to resist. We are so much stronger when we build each up, rather than tearing each other down.