From hands to hair – the body parts celebrities have made their signature

So now it’s official. Michelle Obama says her goal is no longer having “Michelle Obama arms” and just like that she’s acknowledged that, during her time in the White House, her arms became the new standard for all arms to aspire to.

These were not the limp appendages of a skinny starlet or the ropey arms of an athlete; these were fit, toned, strong arms. Arms that could wield a spade in the White House kitchen garden and look just right in a mid-market fitted sleeveless dress.

Mobama made arms – no small feat this – the body part women most wanted to perfect: a new naked zone that had twice the impact of bare legs or acres of cleavage because they were about strength, fitness and feeling powerful and nothing to do with making yourself more sexually desirable. 

And power arms were the perfect body part for a First Lady to put her name to: anyone can have great arms if they just work hard at it, was the message, and no one can shame you for “flaunting” them, or stick it to you for not dressing age-appropriately. If a First Lady is going to have her name attached to a body part forever she would want it to be arms and not, say, a great ass.

And she got her way. We’ll be talking about Michelle Obama arms long after we’ve forgotten Barack, the same way we might say: “I’m having a Boris hair day.” Or: “Blimey, my teeth are getting a bit Shane McGowan.” Or: “Oh, don’t give me the Di eyes” (we’re saying that again in our house). Here are the body parts that celebrities have put on the map and made their signature … 

Royal Fingers