The world's most famous first ladies spent the weekend together in France, where they wore matching outfits, gave each other gifts - and even shared a kiss or two for the cameras.
The meeting between Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and Michelle Obama was one of the most anticipated events of the Obamas' whirlwind European tour, and what started as a ferocious fashion face-off ended with the two ladies palling around for the paparazzi.
Bruni-Sarkozy and Obama rocked matching coats with bow-tie necks at their first meeting, greeting each other warmly in the elegant Palais de Rohan, where Obama was the only member of the party of visiting dignitaries to earn a double-cheeked kiss from the supermodel French First Lady.
The ladies held hands for the camera, putting an end to media speculation that the women might square off in a bitter fashion feud.
Obama later gave Bruni-Sarkozy what she called "a gift of friendship" - an acoustic Gibson guitar, specially chosen for the former musician.
"She and Carla Bruni really hit it off – they had a lovely discussion over lunch yesterday and visited spots in Strasbourg together today with the other NATO spouses," a spokeswoman for Mrs. Obama told People magazine.
The girls' get-together was almost ruined by protestors, who unhinged the ladies' plans to visit a French cancer hospital. Security said the hospital wasn't safe for the First Ladies to visit, as some 1,000 protestors were camped out near the hospital.
U.S. & World
The wife of President Barack Obama will also help new best friend Bruni-Sarkozy with her AIDS charity work, Obama's spokeswoman said.
The Obamas' next stop is in the Czech Republic, where they'll spend time in Prague.
