First Lady Michelle Obama has been named the year’s “Most Fascinating Person” by veteran ABC journalist Barbara Walters.

Mrs. Obama bested pop star Lady Gaga, Republican Sarah Palin, crooner Adam Lambert, Michael Jackson’s children, and the First Lady of South Carolina to take the top honor in Babs’ cast of 2009′s Top 10 most memorable people.

Barbara sat down with the First Lady on the ground floor of The White House for Wednesday night’s Barbara Walters Top 10 Most Fascinating People television special, and The View boss couldn’t resist quizzing the President’s wife about her highly-blogged about well-toned biceps.

“Why would you want to talk about my arms?” Michelle laughed, explaining that her sought-after arms began taking form after the birth of the First Couple’s oldest daughter, Malia.

“I have to say that my personal routine hasn’t changed much in the past 11 years. I really started right after I had Malia, our oldest, and some of that, in all honesty, it was a little revenge because I’m married to man who has worked out all his life. Regardless of how busy he is, he finds the time to work out,” Michelle told Barbara.

“Malia was four months old and she was still waking up for that 4 o’clock feeding and I’d get up because I’d be the first one to hear her,” Michelle continued. “I thought, Well, I’m up, I might as well go to the gym and if I get to the gym, then he’ll have to wake up and do that [next] feeding. I’ll get a work out in and everyone will be happy. So if there’s anything that I can attribute these arms to it’s probably just determination.”

Mrs. O also gushed about the family’s Portuguese Water Dog, Bo, who she affectionately dubs “a son.”

“Bo is my baby….He’s wonderful. He’s growing,” she said. “It’s like I’m a mother. You ask about my kid, I’m gone….He thinks he’s a lap dog. He’ll cozy up with me, and I’m just clicking through mindless shows”