Will Michelle Obama Offer Clues About Her Future Tonight?

Michelle Obama, who's been called the nation's "coolest first lady," will have a prime-time speaking slot tonight at the Democratic National Convention, and her many admirers are hoping she'll retain a high public profile after she and her husband leave the White House -- and maybe she'll provide some clues about it tonight.

The important speaking slot "provides an opportunity for Obama to foreshadow the role she hopes to play after January 2017," The Washington Post reports. Once "a reluctant political spouse," the paper notes, she has become "a fully evolved political superstar, hugely beloved within the Democratic Party and a force within popular culture."

One of her duties tonight will be "to serve as a crucial validator for Hillary Clinton among groups who may remain skeptical of the party's nominee," the Post reports. Additionally, though, "her speech may hint at her future as a public figure," the article continues.

The first lady already dropped some hints last month at the summit dinner for the United State of Women, a group working for gender equality, Politico reports. At the White House event, Obama said she was "just getting started" in her advocacy for girls' education around the world.

"I am so excited to continue working on this issue not just for the next seven months as first lady but for the rest of my life," she said, according to Politico. "And it's going to be good work, because there are a lot of good partners in this room. And I am so looking forward to really diving in." Her recent trip to Liberia, Morocco, and Spain was part of her Let Girls Learn initiative.

Her appearance at the convention tonight will make plenty of news, the Post notes: "Come Tuesday, there will be stories about everything from how warmly she spoke about Clinton to which fashion designer's clothing she wore."

Of course, Obama made news during last week's Republican convention without even trying, as it turned out the speech given by Melania Trump, wife of Donald, "borrowed" lines from Michelle Obama's speech at the 2008 Democratic convention, at which Barack Obama was first nominated for president. Michelle Obama has not commented on the situation.