We're still getting through our stack of THICK September issues, but Essence magazine is already looking forward to October with cover-girl-of-the-moment Michelle Obama.

More: Mrs. O. and Kate Middleton wield style power

Three years after her husband was elected president, Mrs. O is still captivating the world with her confidence, support of military families, love of other strong women, and of course, that impeccable sense of style.

The glam first lady shared her thoughts on surrounding herself with women, raising daughters Malia, 13, and Sasha, 10, to be strong women, taking time for fun and the power of a hug:

On needing her girlfriends: "Women energize me. My husband is terrific. He is my true partner. Spending time with him is key.... But it's also important for us as women to find each other. And there's that natural reenergizing that happens when women get together. We kind of hold each other up."

On finding balance and teaching it to her daughters: "If we don't have the energy, we can't pass it on. I learned it from watching my own mother (Marian Robinson) not invest in herself, for example. She's starting to do that. But she came from the tradition of family first. She wouldn't even go to the hairdresser on a regular basis. I want to show my girls that it is perfectly fine to invest in yourself and to start to do it early, embrace it and not feel guilty about the time we put into ourselves."

What her version of "me" time is like: "You've got to force yourself to take time for yourself, period. As women, we have to put ourselves higher on our own priority lists. That means, for me... taking that time to rejuvenate; taking the time every day to exercise; taking the time to go out for dinner with a girlfriend."

On her inclination to hug people, especially children: "They're nervous, and sometimes the best way to break that is just to give them a hug, because that's ultimately what we all can relate to and we can all connect to, regardless of our race, our gender, our ethnicity, our geographic location."