Former First Lady Michelle Obama is opening up about her daughter Malia’s decision to professionally distance herself from the Obama name as she steps into the entertainment industry.
Malia Obama, 26, has recently begun using the name Malia Ann for her film projects, a move that raised eyebrows when it was revealed at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival during the premiere of her short film The Heart.
The name change is a nod to her late maternal grandmother, Ann Dunham, who passed away in 1995.
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In a candid conversation on the “Sibling Revelry” podcast, hosted by Kate and Oliver Hudson, Michelle explained that her daughter’s decision stems from a desire to be recognized for her own accomplishments, not her family’s legacy.
“I mean, it is very important for my kids to feel like they’ve earned what they are getting in the world, and they don’t want people to assume that they don’t work hard, that they’re just naturally, just handed things,” Michelle said.
“They’re very sensitive to that — they want to be their own people.”
Ex-President Obama’s eldest daughter Malia puffs on a cigarette, weeks after her sister, Sasha was captured doing same
📸:@PageSix pic.twitter.com/ji2aLFzHKX
— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) October 5, 2023
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Michelle, 61, further elaborated that both Malia and her younger sister, Sasha, 23, have always had an independent streak, especially during their teenage years.
“They are young adult women, but they definitely went through a period in their teen years where it was the push away … [where] you’re trying to distinguish yourself,” she recalled.
While the name change might surprise some, Michelle emphasized that it’s a gesture of intent rather than rejection.
“We were like, they’re still going to know it’s you, Malia,” she said with a laugh. “But we respected the fact that she’s trying to make her way.”
The Obamas have long been vocal about instilling strong values in their children despite growing up in the national spotlight. Michelle said her daughters are now coming to understand and appreciate the parenting decisions made during their formative years.
“As they’re older, I think they are embracing our parenting principles. They have a clearer understanding of why we did a lot of what we did,” Michelle noted.
“They understand us as full human beings now, in the same way that I think I discovered that about my parents when I went away to college.”
#USA: Malia Obama, under the pseudonym “Malia Ann,” has made her directorial debut with a short film titled THE HEART, which is scheduled to screen in “Short Film Program 1” at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, which kicked off today.
Certain media outlets are covering its… pic.twitter.com/sYEiXE31xg
— Akoroko — African Cinema Now! (@akorokoafrica) January 19, 2024
Former President Barack Obama also addressed his daughter’s decision during an appearance on “The Pivot Podcast” in October 2024. He echoed Michelle’s sentiments and recalled his initial reaction to the news.
“I was all like, ‘You do know they’ll know who you are,’” Barack said.
“And she’s all like, ‘You know what? I want them to watch it that first time and not in any way have that association.’ So I think our daughters go out of their way to not try to leverage that.”
Barack, 63, acknowledged that both daughters are determined to succeed on their own merits and resist using their high-profile last name as a career shortcut.
“The challenge for us is letting us give them any help at all,” he admitted. “I mean they’re very sensitive about this stuff. They’re very stubborn about it.”
Malia, a graduate of Harvard University, has been working behind the scenes in television and film for the past few years, including a stint as a writer on Donald Glover’s Amazon series Swarm.
Now, with The Heart debuting under her chosen name, she’s clearly stepping into a new chapter — on her own terms.
Both Michelle and Barack seem to be watching their daughters’ journeys with a mix of pride and respect, even as they’re learning to step back.
In a world where celebrity children are often criticized for riding their parents’ coattails, the Obamas’ daughters appear to be taking a more grounded path — one where their work stands before their name.
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