YouTube star and make-up guru Michelle Phan can now add a new title to her extensive media resume: political correspondent.
Phan joined First Lady Michelle Obama in Tokyo as Obama makes a five-day journey through Asia to promote her "Let Girls Learn" initiative. The initiative seeks to boost educational opportunities for girls around the world, and has direct support from federal funds. It was inspired by a 2013 meeting with Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Pakistani teenager who survived an attack by the Taliban after speaking out about education for girls.
The trip includes an historic visit to Cambodia, where Obama is speculated to also press human rights issues as her husband did during a 2012 visit. But Mrs. Obama is first visiting Japan, alongside beauty vlogger Phan, who will be posing questions gleaned from social media to the First Lady.
Phan is one of the undeniable mega-stars of the video streaming website, with more than 7.5 million subscribers to her YouTube channel. Phan’s videos focus on make-up techniques, and regularly rack up millions of views. She recently started a series called “Pillow Talk” in which she tackles more everyday questions from fans.
Mrs. Obama is traveling without the president, nor her daughters. She previously made official visits without the president to Mexico, South Africa, Botswana, Haiti and China.
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