Ex-First Lady Passes Torch to Another as 'Most Admired Woman'

Michelle Obama takes crown from Hillary Clinton, winner since 2002; Barack Obama is men's victor
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 27, 2018 12:00 PM CST
Michelle Obama Just Stole 'Most Admired' Crown From Hillary Clinton
Former first lady Michelle Obama responds to questions during an appearance for her book "Becoming: An Intimate Conversation With Michelle Obama" at Barclays Center on Dec. 19, 2018, in New York.   (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Hillary Clinton has been named the most admired woman in Gallup's annual survey more than any other since Gallup started asking in 1946: 22 times, to be exact, including for each year since 2002. This year, however, another former first lady has finally knocked Clinton off the hill. Michelle Obama took the top spot, followed by Oprah Winfrey, then Clinton. Obama also saw the survey, conducted between Dec. 3 and Dec. 12, give the top spot in the men's category to her husband: Barack Obama took first place for the 11th consecutive year in a row, coming closer to Dwight Eisenhower's record of 12 overall. President Trump came in second for the fourth consecutive year. Here, the top 11 women and men, along with the percentage that picked them as No. 1:

Most Admired Women

  1. Michelle Obama; 15%
  2. Oprah Winfrey; 5%
  3. Hillary Clinton; 4%
  4. Melania Trump; 4%
  5. Queen Elizabeth II; 2%
  6. Angela Merkel; 2%
  7. Ruth Bader Ginsburg; 2%
  8. Ellen DeGeneres; 2%
  9. Nikki Haley; 1%
  10. Malala Yousafzai; 1%
  11. Nancy Pelosi; 1%
Read on for the most admired men.

Most Admired Men

  1. Barack Obama; 19%
  2. Donald Trump; 13%
  3. George W. Bush; 2%
  4. Pope Francis; 2%
  5. Bill Gates; 1%
  6. Bernie Sanders; 1%
  7. Bill Clinton; 1%
  8. Dalai Lama; 1%
  9. Joe Biden; 1%
  10. Elon Musk; 1%
  11. Mike Pence; 1%
Check here to see how much political affiliation affected people's choices. (Last year's results.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X