Michelle Obama once spoke about how Mary Tyler Moore had inspired her, and the reasons are pretty incredible

While tributes and remembrances are being shared, we’ve come across and old interview the former First Lady, Michelle Obama, gave about Mary Tyler Moore, and it’s so darn inspiring.

It was sadly announced yesterday that iconic television icon Mary Tyler Moore had passed away at aged 80. It had previously been reported that Moore had been admitted to hospital and was in a grave condition. However, her spokesperson, Mara Buxbaum, confirmed that she had upsettingly passed away.

“Today, beloved icon, Mary Tyler Moore, passed away at the age of 80 in the company of friends and her loving husband of over 33 years, Dr. S. Robert Levine,” a statement read. “A groundbreaking actress, producer, and passionate advocate for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Mary will be remembered as a fearless visionary who turned the world on with her smile.”

Tributes to the late star began to pour in, with many recounting an old interview given by Michelle Obama about how Mary Tyler Moore had influenced her.

In the interview, which was given to Variety last summer, Michelle spoke about how Moore’s ’70s sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, helped shape her ideas of what it means to be a woman in society.

Recalling how she used to watch the iconic sitcom with her family on a Saturday night when she was 10 years old, Michelle said that Moore’s depiction of a woman who was in control was life affirming.

“She was one of the few single working women depicted on television at the time,” Michelle said. “She wasn’t married. She wasn’t looking to get married. At no point did the series end in a happy ending with her finding a husband — which seemed to be the course you had to take as a woman. But she sort of bucked that. She worked in a newsroom, she had a tough boss, and she stood up to him. She had close friends, never bemoaning the fact that she was a single. She was very proud and comfortable in that role.”

Continuing, Michelle Obama said that how, at age 10 or 11, seeing that positive representation of a single woman was important to her.

“When I saw that, [I] sort of started thinking, ‘You know what? Marriage is an option. Having a family is an option. And going to school and getting your education and building your career is another really viable option that can lead to happiness and fulfillment.’”

Obama isn’t the only woman whom Mary Tyler Moore seriously had an impact on. In 2007, Moore surprised Oprah Winfrey on her OWN program, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and it’s safe to say that Oprah lost it.

We’re completely heartbroken about the sad passing of Mary Tyler Moore. She was an inspiration to millions of people, and our thoughts are with her family and friends during this time.