Former First Lady Michelle Obama has finally addressed her eldest daughter Malia’s decision to drop the Obama surname as she forges her path in Hollywood.
Malia Ann, now 25, made headlines after choosing to use her middle name professionally. Her debut short film, The Heart—which she wrote and directed—premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, with credits listing her simply as “Malia Ann.”
Michelle discussed her daughter’s decision during a recent episode of the Sibling Revelry podcast, hosted by siblings Kate and Oliver Hudson. She explained that the choice came after the end of Barack Obama’s presidency and reflected Malia’s desire to establish her own identity, separate from her famous family.
“Our daughters, Malia and Sasha, are 25 and 23 now,” Obama shared. “They’re young adult women, but they definitely went through a period in their teen years where it was about pulling away. They’re still doing that,” she said, acknowledging the complexities of growing up under the public eye.
Michelle emphasized that both daughters are mindful of the privilege they were born into and are determined to build their own careers through merit. “It’s very important to them that people know they’ve earned their opportunities,” she said. “They don’t want anyone thinking things are just handed to them.”
Reflecting on Malia’s choice to drop her last name, Michelle said, “We told her, ‘They’re still going to know it’s you, Malia.’ But we respected her choice. She’s trying to find her own way.”
Michelle appeared on the podcast alongside her brother and In My Opinion (IMO) co-host Craig Robinson. She also shared that neither of her daughters ever wanted the White House spotlight to define them. “They didn’t want to be little princesses,” she said. “They wanted to explore, to take risks, and be out in the world. I knew they needed more freedom than I probably would’ve given them if I were my own mom.”
The Hudsons—children of actress Goldie Hawn and musician Bill Hudson—could relate, having navigated their own journey growing up in a well-known family.
Michelle concluded by reinforcing her belief in her daughters’ independence. “I’m not a martyr,” she said, noting that if she and Barack were to ever divorce, the world would hear about it. But when it comes to her daughters, “They want to be their own people—and I respect that.”
