Michelle Obama Drops Pro-Female Anthem Featuring Missy Elliott, Kelly Clarkson And More
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- First Lady Michelle Obama has teamed up with a first-class scene of women singers to help educate girls around the world.
As CBS2's Jill Nicolini reported, Mrs. Obama has been working to teach young women through her "Let Girls Learn" initiative. In her latest effort, she released the song "This Is for My Girls."
Obama herself doesn't sing. But the song features nine performers, including Missy Elliott, Kelly Clarkson, Kelly Rowland, Lea Michelle, and Zendaya.
The pro-women ballad was written by legendary songwriter Diane Warren. Proceeds with help provide access to education for girls worldwide.
"Today, there are 62 million young girls who are not in school around the world -- who are not getting an education -- because there are cultural norms that keep them down," Obama said.
The first lady spoke out on Wednesday as part of a panel hosted by Queen Latifah at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, along with Sophia Bush and Missy Elliott.
"That's a very good idea, because like then, maybe more women will pay attention to the thought of getting educated and then just dropping out of school," said Liyn Casiana, a sophomore at Martin Luther King Jr. High School for Law, Advocacy and Community Justice.
"If a woman has a job and gets a good future, they can succeed, and it will prove to men they can do exactly as they can," said Julaed Reveron, also a sophomore at MLK High School.
Mrs. Obama shared her own struggles growing up as a black girl on the South Side of Chicago, and uses that story to inspire others
"As a little girl, I did my best to control my own fate, and I'm trying to carry that spirit over to the 62 million girls," she said.
The idea is to support education by signing an online petition on change.org
"I think everybody should be educated equally, and that women should get an education," said MLK High School student Shania Alace. "We need to learn too -- not just men."
"Just us getting the basic education we need helps us just know what our talents are. How can we can make it better -- not just for ourselves, but for the people that come after us," said MLK High School junior Gisselle Juarez.
Some young also men agreed.
"Education is key," said MLK sophomore Jahtiba Gomes. "Without education, what is success?
"People need education to understand how this world works," added MLK sophomore Mahlik Robles.
In order to raise more awareness about education, Mrs. Obama asked everyone to use the hashtag #69milliongirls on social media and to tell the world what they learned in school
The "This Is for My Girls" single is available for purchase on iTunes.
