Michelle Obama Talks Her Famous Bangs, Turning 50 to 'Parade'

Michelle Obama looks chic and gorgeous on the cover of Parade‘s latest issue.

Here’s what the 49-year-old First Lady of the United States had to share with the mag:

On why she grew out her world famous bangs: “You know, it’s hard to make speeches with hair in your face!”

On rules for daughters Sasha and Malia in the Obama household: “I give them as long a leash as they can handle. What I tell my kids is, I’m preparing you for college and for life. So, having independence, knowing how to set your own boundaries, figuring out how to make that balance. We still have screen time rules.”

On whether an African American family in the White House has changed anything: “Absolutely. Children born in the last eight years will only know an African-American man being president of the United States. That changes the bar for all of our children, regardless of their race, their sexual orientation, their gender. It expands the scope of opportunity in their minds. And that’s where change happens.”

On turning 50 in January: “I have never felt more confident in myself, more clear on who I am as a woman. But I am constantly thinking about my own health and making sure that I’m eating right and getting exercise and watching the aches and pains. I want to be this really fly 80-, 90-year old.”

For more from Michelle, visit Parade.com. Bigger picture inside…