Michelle Obama travels to Asia for female empowerment tour

The forever FLOTUS and celebrity friend Julia Roberts will go to Vietnam and Malaysia to promote education to girls

Michelle Obama, our forever FLOTUS, is headed to Vietnam and Malaysia this month to draw attention to girls’ education.

Michelle Obama, our forever FLOTUS, is headed to Vietnam and Malaysia this month to draw attention to girls’ education.

According to PEOPLE, Obama’s special guests on the trip will include actress, Julia Roberts, and Today co-host Jenna Bush Hager, who will highlight some of the stories on the NBC network.

READ MORE: New journal based on Michelle Obama’s memoir ‘Becoming’ on sale now

In October, Obama went on Today to explain her purpose for the trip and why it’s so important.

“More than 98 million adolescent girls aren’t in school, yet the evidence is clear: When girls get the opportunities they deserve, our whole world benefits,” Obama told Today in the fall. “That’s why we’ve been working to lift grassroots leaders and organizations around the world who improve girls’ lives every day.”

Yesterday, the Obama Foundation put out a news release unveiling more details about Michelle’s role and how Roberts will join her. Roberts, 52, and Obama, 55, will meet up on Dec. 9 in Vietnam with the Girls Opportunity Alliance to “to meet with local girls education organizations and beneficiaries of programs that help adolescent girls reach their full potential through education.”

On Dec. 12 in Malaysia, Roberts will join Obama on stage to discuss their time in Vietnam and “lessons from their own leadership journeys and their path-baking careers,” before wrapping up with a Q&A, according to the release. The discussion will be moderated by Deborah Henry, a philanthropist, and a TV show host.

This event marks the Obama Foundation’s first time hosting a gathering comprised of 200 civic leaders from the Asia-Pacific region. The event will be held in Kuala Lumpur from Dec. 10 to Dec. 14 and includes Roberts’ conversation with Michelle Obama. 

READ MORE: Michelle Obama and her ‘voting squad’ are ready to get out the vote

Hager, 38, said she is looking forward to telling the girl’s stories on Today. YouTube Originals will also air some stories.

“I’m so excited,” Hager said, according to PEOPLE. “It’s an awesome opportunity to help shine a light on all of those that are helping keep girls in schools. We know that if a girl stays in school, they are more likely to help lift up not only themselves but their communities, too.”

Last year, the Obama Foundation launched its Girls Opportunity Alliance initiative.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE