It was designed as a charm mission as the First Lady championed women's rights and health during a visit to South Africa.
And it looks like the mission was working as Michelle Obama and her two daughters won legions of new fans during visits to community projects in the country's deprived townships.
Flotus was surrounded by admiring children as she read stories to school children and helped with the gardening at a community centre in Johannesburg.
The visit is only the second Mrs Obama has made without her husband, U.S. President Barack Obama,
Digging in: Mrs Obama smiles as she gardens at Vhuthilo Community Centre in Soweto township, Johannesburg today on the second day of her South Africa trip
Going to ground: Michelle Obama plants spinach
Earth mother: Michelle Obama laughs as she pretends to pull out a large carrot which was previously dug out by Young African Women Leaders Forum participants
Got it: NICE AND BIG""SI MCHEZO.. Michelle Obama holds up a carrot at the centre "
The U.S. First Lady earlier paid tribute to a 12-year-old boy shot dead by South African troops during the apartheid era as she visited to Soweto township.
Hector Pieterson became the subject of an iconic image during the 1976 Soweto uprising when his lifeless body was pictured being carried from student protests against apartheid education policies.
Michelle Obama laid a wreath at the Hector Pieterson Memorial in the Johannesburg township along with the Hector's sister Antoinette Sithole, who was also captured in the historic image.
Getting to know you: Michelle Obama holds hands with Sibongile Mazibuko, director, of the Vhuthilo Community Centre"
He's got some nerve: The First Lady laughs as a boy, front right, asks her to join in a dance"
Making friends: Mrs Obama is visiting Johannesburg and Cape Town during her visit to South Africa, before travelling on to Botswana"
History: Mrs Obama poses with young women during a visit to the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg"
Mrs Obama is on her second solo trip abroad as First Lady to promote issues including education and health.
She also urged young Africans to fight for women's rights and to battle the stigma of AIDS during a speech at Regina Mundi Church - which played a key role in the anti-apartheid movement.
Drawing on the leaders of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and the civil rights movement in the U.S., she appeared visibly moved after she was serenaded on to the podium.
Tributes: U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama lays a wreath with Antoinette Sithole, the sister of Hector Pieterson who was shot during the 1976 Soweto uprising, at his memorial"
Loss: Antoinette Sithole was pictured in an iconic image taken during the Soweto uprising as her dying brother was carried away from violent protests"
Iconic: Student Mbuyisa Makhubo carries fatally injured Hector Pieterson after he was shot by South African troops during the Soweto uprising in 1976. Left, his sister Antoniette, then 17"
She said: 'It is because of them that we are able to gather here today... It is because of them that I stand before you as First Lady of the United States of America.
'That is the legacy of the independence generation, the freedom generation. And all of you - the young people of this continent - you are the heirs of that blood, sweat, sacrifice, and love.'
Emotional: Mrs Obama gives an address to the Young African Women Leaders Forum at Regina Mundi church in Soweto township, Johannesburg"
Historic: The First Lady called on people not to allow women to be treated as 'second-class citizens' during her speech"
Popular: Children from a nearby creche hold up placards as Mrs Obama visited the Hector Pieterson Memorial this morning" THATS IS OUR MAMA..WE LOVE YOU MAMA!!
She urged young leaders to ensure women were no longer 'second class citizens' and that girls were educated in schools.
'You can be the generation that stands up and says that violence against women in any form, in any place, including the home - especially the home - that it isn't just a women's rights violation. It's a human rights violation,' Mrs Obama said.
'You can be the generation that ends HIV/AIDS in our time, the generation that fights not just the disease, but the stigma of the disease, the generation that teaches the world that HIV is fully preventable and treatable, and should never be a source of shame.'
Visit: The First Lady is championing women's rights and health during her trip to South Africa and Botswana"
High profile: Mrs Obama hugs an audience member at the Regina Mundi Church - which played a key role in the anti-apartheid movement"
THE SOWETO UPRISING
On June 16, 1976, thousands of school children staged peaceful protests against the use of Afrikaans in secondary schools in South Africa.
But the protests turned violent when police arrived and riots broke out in Soweto, with students throwing rocks.
Police initially used teargas to try and break up the crowds, but then opened fire.
Some twenty three people were killed on the first day of the uprising, and more than 500 people over all, including many children.
International condemnation of the apartheid regime in the wake of the uprising galvanised political support for freedom among black people in South Africa.
But it was another 18 years of struggle before apartheid was officially ended in South Africa with universal suffrage in democratic elections, won by Nelson Mandela's African National Congress.
But the protests turned violent when police arrived and riots broke out in Soweto, with students throwing rocks.
Police initially used teargas to try and break up the crowds, but then opened fire.
Some twenty three people were killed on the first day of the uprising, and more than 500 people over all, including many children.
International condemnation of the apartheid regime in the wake of the uprising galvanised political support for freedom among black people in South Africa.
But it was another 18 years of struggle before apartheid was officially ended in South Africa with universal suffrage in democratic elections, won by Nelson Mandela's African National Congress.
While in Cape Town, she is scheduled to meet Nobel Peace Prize-winner Desmond Tutu and will go on safari while in Botswana.
Hector Pieterson was shot by South African troops as he took part in protests against apartheid education policy.
He was pictured dying as he was carried towards a car by another student, Mbuyisa Makhubo, with his older sister running along beside them.
But the 12-year-old was pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital.
The date of his death is now National Youth Day and his memorial was opened near the place where he was shot in 2002.
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