President Barack Obama acted as MC and was spotted sipping from a martini glass before giving a toast to his wife, while daughters Malia and Sasha joined 500 family, friends and celebrity guests to celebrate the special milestone of the First Lady, affectionately known as Flotus.
Mrs Obama wore a flowing red blouse and pants and was in a “very celebratory” mood all night, rarely leaving the dance floor, according to the Chicago Tribune. “It was such a fun, fun party,” a guest told the paper.
Former First Couple Bill and Hillary Clinton, Sir Paul McCartney, singer Jennifer Hudson, US Attorney General Eric Holder and Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, were among the celebrity guests from the worlds of politics, business, and entertainment who attended the party.
The East Room of the White House had been transformed into a disco, according to reports, with a DJ playing a selection of R&B and contemporary dance music and keeping revellers on the dance floor until well after 3am.
Beyonce, who is a close friend of the Obamas and sang at the President’s first Inauguration Ball in 2008, performed with a full band for 30 minutes and sang hits including ‘Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)’and ‘To the Left’, according to reports. R&B singer John Legend crooned Happy Birthday.
Guests had been advised to wear comfortable shoes and “dancing attire” and to eat beforehand as the party – which began at 9pm – was light on food but heavy on entertainment. Save-the-date notices sent out in December declared there would be “Snacks & Sips & Dancing & Dessert”.
Despite the secrecy surrounding the event, some details were leaked via social media as guests couldn’t contain their excitement. Beyonce uploaded a series of photos to her official Tumblr account of herself, her daughter Blue Ivy and her mother Tina arriving at the White House, and playing with the Obama’s dog Bo.
On Friday, her actual birthday, Mrs Obama tweeted: “Excited to join Barack in the 50+ club today… check out my @AARP card! –mo” with a photo of her grinning while holding up her membership card to the US retirees association.
While there has been no official word from the White House about her birthday soiree, Mrs Obama has been open about embracing her half century.
“I have never felt more confident in myself, more clear on who I am as a woman,” she told Parade Magazine last August, when asked about turning 50. “But I am constantly thinking about my own health and making sure that I’m eating right and getting exercise and watching aches and pains. I want to be this really fly 80-, 90-year-old.”
Mrs Obama also recently admitted she would not rule out having plastic surgery in the future.
“Women should have the freedom to do whatever they need to do to feel good about themselves,” the First Lady told People Magazine. “Right now, I don’t imagine that I would go that route, but I’ve also learned to never say never.”
Beyonce wore a tiny gold dress for the occasion.
The singer arrived at the White House with her daughter Blue Ivy.
Beyonce plays with the Obama’s dog Bo.
The singer’s daughter Blue Ivy also befriended the First Dog.
