I had a chance yesterday to interview aspiring First Lady Michelle Obama who was in Kansas City, Mo., for a speech on working women.

In an exclusive interview with the St. Louis American, Michelle said she champions policies that focus on balancing work and family life, helping military spouses, and promoting a universal health care plan.

Although Michelle has never been to St. Louis and a visit here may not be on her radar just yet, she jokingly told me to “talk to my people.”

When she’s not at her office at the University of Chicago Medical Center or out on the campaign trail, Michelle is busy being a wife, a mother, a sister and a best friend.

She admits that often times it is difficult for her to maintain a healthy balance between everything. But no matter what, her daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, come first.

“Clearly, my first priority is my girls and just making sure that in the midst of all this wonderful chaos that they keep their heads on straight and that we’re still focused on the things that are important to them like camp, soccer and birthday parties,” Michelle told me.

She said she still manages to find time for herself despite her life’s demands. She works out three times a week when she’s at home and maintains a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables - which she said is especially important for black women, who lead in preventable diseases, such heart attacks, strokes and diabetes.

“Usually, we as black women deal with our issues when they are at a crisis point,” Michelle told me. “So we need to move beyond that way of thinking about our health. But you can’t do it, if you don’t have access to health care.”

Although she’s serious when it comes to challenges facing working women, Michelle said she enjoys the lighter side of life too, like bargain shopping.

And what about her fashion sense? Where does she get it? Michelle’s purple sheath almost got more attention than Barack did when he clinched his Democratic nomination.

“You know, I don’t know,” Michelle told me. “I think I’m probably like many women, I enjoy looking nice if possible. But I also appreciate a good bargain.”

“So I like nice things, but I also like pretty things that don’t cost a lot of money, that’s the thing that makes me excited - my husband too,” she laughed.

But what’s her favorite clothing store?

“You know, I don’t think I have a favorite. I shop at a ton of them. …I also love places like J. Crew, the Gap and H&M.”

Look for more of my interview with Michelle Obama in next week’s paper.