Julia Roberts will be joining the forever first lady on her girls’ empowerment trip to Vietnam and Malaysia.
This past fall, Obama announced she would be traveling to Vietnam in December to discuss girls’ education. She also mentioned that she would be joined by a few “special guests,” which, at the time, included Today co-host, Jenna Bush Hager. But on Monday, Obama revealed that the “Pretty Woman” actress would be by her side along with others.
The trip will start on Dec. 9 in Vietnam with the Girls Opportunity Alliance “to meet with local girls’ education organizations and beneficiaries of programs that help adolescent girls reach their full potential through education,” the Obama Foundation said in a news release. After that, Roberts will join her on stage for a conversation. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
During the conversation, the two will discuss the Vietnam trip and “lessons from their own leadership journeys and their path-breaking careers,” in addition to a Q&A, PEOPLE reports. According to the outlet, the Obama Foundation will be hosting its first-ever gathering of 200 civic leaders from Asia-Pacific in Kuala Lumpur from Dec. 10 to Dec. 14, which will include Roberts’ talk with the former first lady.
“More than 98 million adolescent girls aren’t in school, yet the evidence is clear: When girls get the opportunities they deserve, our whole world benefits,” Obama said on the Today show in October, in announcing the Vietnam trip.
“That’s why we’ve been working to lift up grassroots leaders and organizations around the world who improve girls’ lives every day.” “I’m so excited,” Hager, 38, added, reacting to news of the Vietnam trip. “It’s an awesome opportunity to help shine a light on all of those that are helping keep girls in schools,” she said. “We know that if a girl stays in school, they are more likely to help lift up not only themselves but their communities, too.” The Obama Foundation launched its Girls Opportunity Alliance last year.
