26. Michelle Obama doing the first lady thing her own way — Former lawyer, hospital executive, Ivy Leaguer, mother, wife, first lady…Michelle Obama may have put her own career on hiatus to support her husband, Barack Obama, but it was a decision she made herself as a smart, savvy, sophisticated woman (which is the point of feminism anyway!). Able to discuss legislation and pop culture, Michelle is redefining what it is a first lady does (which includes taking a role in moving along national awareness of the issues most important to her, heading up her own initiatives like the Let's Move campaign, and — oh yeah — hanging out with Beyoncé), not to mention going after our own hearts and championing American indie designers.

Photo: Charlie Neibergall/AP/Corbis