Michelle Obama has challenged a new book's account of her role in the White House, saying critics have long attempted to portray her as "some kind of angry black woman".
The Obamas, by New York Times reporter Jody Kantor, portrays the US First Lady as a behind-the-scenes force in the White House.
It also describes tensions between Mrs Obama and former chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, the BBC reports.
In an interview with CBS News, Mrs Obama said she loved being First Lady, but had concerns for her two daughters.
Mrs Obama said Mr Emanuel, who left the White House a year ago and is now mayor of Chicago, is a dear friend who she never had a cross word with.
While she pushed back against the notion she sits in political meetings, Mrs Obama did not deny being an important voice to her husband, Barack Obama.
Mrs Obama told CBS that she had not read the book, or similar reports.
Neither Michelle nor Barack Obama granted an interview for the book, but Ms Kantor said that she had based her accounts on interviews with both current and former White House staff.
