Malia Obama, the daughter of former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama, is now a young adult carving out her own identity—and she’s even chosen to adopt a new name.
At 25, Malia recently made her directorial debut with the film The Heart at the Sundance Film Festival.
Born Malia Ann Obama on July 4, 1998, her middle name honors her paternal grandmother, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 1995 at the age of 52. After spending her formative years in the public eye as the President’s daughter and later graduating from Harvard, Malia decided to pursue a career in screenwriting.
For her latest project, The Heart, where she serves as both director and screenwriter, Malia opted to use the name Malia Ann. She made a stunning appearance on the red carpet earlier this year, attending the premiere of her film.
However, this isn’t Malia’s first experience in the entertainment industry. In 2021, she joined the writing team for the series Swarm, which later aired on Amazon Prime. The series, featuring stars like Billie Eilish and Rory Culkin, was a strong start to her career in the field.
“Some of her ideas were absolutely wild and brilliant. She’s an amazing writer,” Swarm co-creator Janine Nabers shared with E! Online about Malia’s contributions. “She brought so much creativity… She’s truly dedicated to her craft.”
Despite her high-profile background, Swarm executive producer Stephen Glover emphasized that Malia was treated just like any other team member.
“We couldn’t give her any special treatment just because she’s the former President’s daughter,” he told Vanity Fair. “But she’s incredibly down-to-earth and easygoing. It was never an issue.”
Barack and Michelle Obama have expressed their pride in Malia, particularly on her recent 25th birthday.
“Happy birthday to this talented, funny, and beautiful young woman,” Barack wrote on Instagram. “Malia, I hope 25 brings you everything you’re hoping for and more.”
Michelle echoed his sentiments, posting: “Happy birthday, Malia! I’m so lucky to be your mom and to watch you grow into the wonderful young woman you are today. Love you so much!”
From Malia Obama to Malia Ann, from being the President’s daughter to an emerging screenwriter and director in Hollywood, it’s clear that a bright future lies ahead!