Malia Obama, the daughter of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, is now an independent adult, carving out her own identity and career path—and she has even chosen to use a new name.
At 25, Malia recently made her directorial debut with the film The Heart at the Sundance Film Festival.
Interestingly, she did not use her famous family name in the film’s credits.
Born Malia Ann Obama on July 4, 1998, she carries her middle name in honor of her paternal grandmother, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 1995 at the age of 52.
Growing up under the public eye as the daughter of a President and later graduating from Harvard, Malia decided to pursue a career in screenwriting.
In The Heart, where she serves as both director and screenwriter, Malia used the pseudonym Malia Ann. She made a stunning appearance on the festival’s red carpet earlier this year, celebrating the premiere of her film.
However, this isn’t Malia’s first experience in the film industry. In 2021, she joined the writing team for the series Swarm, which was later released on Amazon Prime.
With prominent actors like Billie Eilish and Rory Culkin in the cast, Swarm marked a strong beginning to her career.
“Some of her ideas were incredibly bold and creative. She’s a fantastic writer,” said Swarm co-creator Janine Nabers in an interview with E! Online. “She contributed significantly… She’s truly passionate about her work.”
Despite her well-known background, Swarm executive producer Stephen Glover emphasized that Malia was treated just like any other member of the team.
“We can’t give her special treatment just because she’s the former President’s daughter,” he told Vanity Fair. “But she’s very grounded and approachable, so it’s never been an issue.”
Barack and Michelle Obama have proudly expressed their admiration for Malia, sharing heartfelt messages on her recent 25th birthday.
“Happy birthday to this talented, hilarious, and beautiful young woman,” Barack wrote on Instagram. “Malia, I hope 25 brings you everything you’re wishing for and more.”
Michelle echoed his sentiments, posting: “Happy birthday, Malia! I feel so fortunate to be your mom and to watch you grow into the amazing young woman you are today. Love you so much!”
From Malia Obama to Malia Ann, from being the President’s daughter to emerging as a promising Hollywood screenwriter and director, her future certainly looks bright!