Malia Obama, the daughter of former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama, has grown into a young woman carving out her own unique journey – and she’s even chosen to adopt a new name.
At 25 years old, she recently made her directorial debut with a film titled The Heart, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Notably, her family name was absent from the film’s credits.
Malia Ann Obama was born on July 4, 1998, and her middle name honors her paternal grandmother, who sadly passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 52 in 1995. Growing up in the public eye as the daughter of the President and later graduating from Harvard, Malia chose to pursue a career in screenwriting.
In her most recent endeavor, The Heart, Malia takes on the roles of both director and screenwriter, using the name Malia Ann. She made a memorable appearance on the red carpet at the film festival earlier this year, celebrating the premiere of her movie.
This isn’t Malia’s first experience in the film industry, though. In 2021, she was part of the writing team for the series Swarm, which was released on Amazon Prime. Featuring talents like Billie Eilish and Rory Culkin, Swarm was a promising beginning for her professional career.
Some of her ideas were absolutely outrageous, yet they were incredibly entertaining and hilarious. Janine Nabers, co-creator of Swarm, praised Malia’s skills to E! Online, saying, “She contributed so much… Her commitment to her craft is truly impressive.”
Even with her notable background, Stephen Glover, the executive producer of Swarm, emphasized that Malia was treated just like everyone else on the creative team.
“We can’t go easy on her just because she’s the daughter of the former President,” he shared with Vanity Fair. “She’s really down to earth and chill, so it’s not an issue at all.”
Proud parents Barack and Michelle Obama have shared their heartfelt pride in Malia, celebrating her recent 25th birthday with warm and loving wishes.
“Happy birthday to this amazing, funny, and beautiful young woman,” Barack posted on Instagram. “Malia, I wish you all the best as you embark on this exciting year ahead!”
Michelle shared her husband’s sentiments, writing: “Happy birthday, Malia! I’m incredibly grateful to be your mom and to witness the amazing young woman you’ve become. Love you tons! 
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From Malia Obama to Malia Ann, transitioning from the President’s daughter to an aspiring Hollywood screenwriter and director, it’s evident that a promising future awaits!