First lady's office launches new Twitter account @FLOTUS

First lady Michelle Obama has a new, official Twitter account for her birthday on Thursday.

The first lady of the United States, appropriately, is now @FLOTUS on Twitter.

The @flotus Office is now on @twitter & will post updates & pics. When it's her, she'll sign -mo. PS: RT to wish Mrs. Obama a #HappyBirthday

— FLOTUS (@FLOTUS) January 17, 2013

The first lady is already on Twitter as @MichelleObama, an account run by the president’s campaign. That account has been mostly inactive President Obama won reelection last November.

The first lady’s staff in the White House will run this new account. Much like her campaign account and other White House Twitter accounts, including the president’s, tweets sent personally by Michelle Obama will be tagged “-mo.” Staff sent the first tweet.

The new account launched just in time for the first lady to receive a new batch of followers for her birthday, and it helps that she already got a re-tweet from the White House, bumping her follower count up to nearly 5,000 within the first half hour of its launch.

She also received a few birthday greetings earlier in the day from members of Congress, including Reps. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Tim Ryan (D-Ohio).

Wishing First Lady @michelleobama a happy birthday today! She's an amazing example for women & young girls everywhere. twitter.com/RepKarenBass/s…

— Congressmember Bass (@RepKarenBass) January 17, 2013

Happy Birthday to Michelle Obama

— Rep. Tim Ryan (@RepTimRyan) January 17, 2013

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