Michelle Obama gold VOTE necklace goes viral after DNC debut

As admired as Michelle Obama’s Democratic National Convention speech was Monday night, it was her gold VOTE necklace that took center stage and set the internet on fire.  

The former First Lady gave an impassioned keynote speech on Day 1 of the DNC, telling Americans to ‘vote like we did in 2008 and 2012,’ subtly underscoring the point by wearing a gold necklace that spelled out the word ‘vote.’ 

It went viral almost immediately, and became a top-trending search during last hour of the convention, Google Trends tweeted.

Michelle Obama's $430 gold, ByChari VOTE necklace went viral after it was spotted around the former First Lady's neck during the DNC keynote speech Monday night

Michelle Obama’s $430 gold, ByChari VOTE necklace went viral after it was spotted around the former First Lady’s neck during the DNC keynote speech Monday night 

Social media users flocked to Twitter seeking to identify for comment on the necklace

Social media users flocked to Twitter seeking to identify for comment on the necklace

‘Someone find me Michelle Obama’s VOTE necklace immediately please, I need to wear it every day for the rest of my life,’ one Twitter user wrote.

‘Where can I find Forever FLOTUS Michelle Obama’s V-O-T–E necklace? Asking for a friend,’ another tweeter wrote.    

‘The DNC convention was 95% cringe worthy and 5% Michelle Obama’s necklace,’ joked another Twitter user.  

‘I have now counted FIVE tweets in one quick scroll about Ms. Michelle Obama’s gold vote necklace,’ a Twitter user said, adding: ‘S**t’s bout to be 1) sold out from the original 2) targeted to every woman by rando DTC companies 3) Forever 21, Zara, and H&M are already mass producing this.’ 

Obama's necklace became a top trending Google search an hour after its debut Monday

Obama’s necklace became a top trending Google search an hour after its debut Monday

Obama’s VOTE necklace was custom-made by ByChari, a female-owned company based in Los Angeles. 

Company owner Chari Cuthbert, 36, told the Daily Beast that she had no idea Obama would sport the necklace during the DNC speech until she saw it around her neck in a clip from the video that her mother spotted on CNN Monday afternoon. 

‘It was surreal,’ Cuthbert said. ‘I sat at my desk and cried.’

Still, Cuthbert said, she didn’t trumpet the fact that Obama was wearing one of her designs on social media ‘out of respect’ because she ‘didn’t want to take advantage.’

Miami-born Cuthbert, whose parents are Jamaican, said that Obama’s stylist had called to order the $430 necklace several weeks ahead to the convention, but hadn’t specified when or where it would be worn. 

Cuthbert said that she created a VOTE necklace prior to Obama's stylist ordering one. A November 2018 Instagram post features a VOTE necklace

Cuthbert said that she created a VOTE necklace prior to Obama’s stylist ordering one. A November 2018 Instagram post features a VOTE necklace 

Cuthbert (in jeans) said that she first learned Obama was wearing her VOTE necklace when her bother (standing) sent her a clip of Obama's DNC speech Monday afternoon

Cuthbert (in jeans) said that she first learned Obama was wearing her VOTE necklace when her bother (standing) sent her a clip of Obama’s DNC speech Monday afternoon 

Cuthbert said that before Obama’s stylist came calling, she’d actually created a VOTE necklace for herself and posted it on the ByChari Instagram page. 

‘I rarely voice my political views on social media, but there is too much at risk for us as women and individuals to not do our part,’ reads the caption for a post featuring a the necklace, dated November 5, 2018. 

‘I encourage everyone to go out and vote tomorrow. Make your voice heard.’  

Cuthbert said that she wasn’t sure if Obama’s stylist saw the VOTE necklace when it was posted back then or if the stylist came up with the idea to customize the necklace on their own. 

About an hour after Obama’s speech, Cuthbert said she has seen an ‘a significant uptick in sales.’  

Custom-made necklace pricing for the Original Space Letter Necklace, starts at $300. 

Cuthbert said that prior to the necklace going viral, she had actually planned to use them to promote social activism and was already in the process of having several VOTE necklaces made to give to celebrities ahead of the 2020 Presidential Election.

Cuthbert called Obama her ‘ideal dinner guest’ and added ‘to see her wearing my necklace, it’s insane.’ 

At least one social media user pointed out that as great as Obama’s necklace is: ‘I do hope, though, that people also go VOTE and not just by [sic] a necklace that has those letters on it.’

source: dailymail.co.uk