Malia Obama Drops Surname for Professional Projects, Michelle Expresses Support

Former First Lady Michelle Obama recently addressed her daughter Malia Obama's decision to drop the 'Obama' surname in her professional film projects, opting instead to use her middle name, 'Ann.' Malia, 26, credited herself as 'Malia Ann' for her debut short film, 'The Heart,' which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Michelle Obama shared her thoughts during an episode of the podcast 'Sibling Revelry,' hosted by actors Kate and Oliver Hudson. She explained that both Malia and her younger sister, Sasha, 24, have sought to distinguish themselves from their famous family legacy. 'It is very important for my kids to feel like they’ve earned what they are getting in the world,' Michelle said. 'They don’t want people to assume that they don’t work hard, that they’re just naturally handed things.' She added that Malia's choice to remove the 'Obama' name was met with understanding and respect from her parents, who acknowledged her desire to forge her own path. 'We were like, they’re still going to know it’s you, Malia,' Michelle joked. 'But we respected the fact that she’s trying to make her way.' The former first lady also reflected on her daughters' teenage years, describing a phase where they sought independence. 'They definitely went through a period in their teen years where it was the push away ... where you’re trying to distinguish yourself,' she said. The Obama family, including Barack Obama, recently celebrated Sasha's 24th birthday with a rare family photo shared on social media, highlighting their close bond.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama has publicly commented on her daughter Malia Obama's decision to drop the 'Obama' surname for professional projects, expressing support for her choice. Malia, the eldest daughter of Michelle and former President Barack Obama, used her middle name, Ann, as her last name in the credits of a short film she wrote and directed titled 'The Heart,' which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2024. Michelle Obama revealed these details during an episode of the podcast 'Sibling Revelry,' hosted by actors Kate and Oliver Hudson, which was published on Monday. She emphasized the importance of her daughters feeling they have earned their achievements independently. '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 stated. She added that both Malia, 25, and her younger sister Sasha, 23, are sensitive to perceptions of privilege and strive to establish their own identities. 'Malia, who started in film, her first project she took off her last name, and we were like, they’re still going to know it’s you, Malia. But we respected the fact that she’s trying to make her way,' Michelle explained. The former First Lady also noted that as her daughters have grown older, they have come to embrace the parenting principles she and Barack instilled in them. This development highlights the Obama family's focus on individuality and hard work, as Malia steps into her career in the film industry under a different professional identity.