London, May 26 (IANS) When US first lady Michelle Obama met her future husband Barack at a law firm, she was impressed by his work ethic and his love for his mother. "Couple that with his talent - and he's cute!" she says.

Michelle always thought Barack would be "useful", but she never thought he would end up as the US president, the Daily Express reported.

"I always thought he would be useful but I had no idea he would be president. I didn't think he was going to be president until the night we were standing on the stage and he won," she said.

The first lady was meeting young girls from London's Elizabeth Garrett Anderson school. Her first meeting with the girls came two years ago on a surprise visit.

Michelle got a huge welcome with hugs from the girls.

Raised in a working class family in Chicago, Michelle went on to study at Princeton and Harvard.

She told the girls to realise that they too could achieve great things through education.

"I remember how well-meaning, but misguided, people sometimes questioned whether someone with my background could succeed at an elite university," she said.

She said she lacked self-confidence but later realised she was "just as capable" as other girls.

On being asked if she always felt Barack Obama would achieve greatness, she joked: "Absolutely not."

"I'm kidding. Honestly, when I met him I knew he was a special person, and it had nothing to do with his education, nothing to do with his potential."

Michelle said she was impressed with Barack's relationship with women, his love for his mother and his work ethic.

"He was low key and he wasn't impressed with himself. He was funny and we joked a lot."