Photo credit: Ben Hines
After Michelle Obama’s official portrait by Amy Sherald was unveiled last month at the National Portrait Gallery, she said: “This is all a little bit overwhelming, especially when I think about all of the young people who will visit the National Portrait Gallery and see this, including so many young girls and young girls of color who don’t often see their images displayed in beautiful and iconic ways. I am so proud to help make that kind of history.”
Little did Obama know, only a few weeks later, a photo taken of two-year-old Parker Curry staring in complete awe of her portrait would embody her exact words. The priceless photo was taken by another museum visitor, Ben Hines, and since he posted it last week, it has captured the hearts of millions, including Michelle Obama’s.
So much so, that our forever First Lady invited little Parker to her office for a visit. Obama shared a photo from their visit today with a caption that read:
“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!”
The two even had a dance party. See the inspirational cuteness overload below.
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
advertisement— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) March 6, 2018
“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 …,” Parker’s mother Jessica 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.”
We can’t say it enough, representation matters.