Malia Obama, the daughter of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, is stepping into adulthood and carving out her own path. As part of this new chapter, she’s even opted to change her name.
At 25, Malia recently made her directorial debut with *The Heart*, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Interestingly, the film’s credits did not feature her family surname.
Malia, born Malia Ann Obama on July 4, 1998, was named after her paternal grandmother, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 1995. Growing up in the spotlight as the daughter of the President, Malia later graduated from Harvard and chose to pursue a career in screenwriting.
In her latest project, *The Heart*, where she both directed and wrote, Malia used the name Malia Ann. She made a notable appearance on the red carpet at the festival for the movie’s premiere.
However, her journey into filmmaking isn’t entirely new. In 2021, Malia was part of the writing team for the series *Swarm*, which debuted on Amazon Prime. The series, featuring stars like Billie Eilish and Rory Culkin, marked a promising start to her professional career.
“Some of her pitches were wild as hell, and they were just so good and so funny. She’s an incredible writer,” said Swarm co-creator Janine Nabers in an interview with E! Online. “She brought a lot to the table… She’s really, really dedicated to her craft.”
Despite her famous family, *Swarm* executive producer Stephen Glover emphasized that Malia was treated like any other member of the creative team. “We can’t be easy on her just because she’s the [former] President’s daughter,” he explained to Vanity Fair. “Nah, she’s very down to earth and cool. So, it’s not a problem at all.”
Her parents, Barack and Michelle Obama, have expressed their pride in Malia, celebrating her recent 25th birthday with heartfelt messages.
“Happy birthday to this talented, hilarious, and beautiful young woman,” Barack wrote on Instagram. “Malia, I hope 25 brings you everything you’re looking for and more.”
Michelle also shared her love, posting: “Happy birthday, Malia! I feel so lucky to be your mom and to be able to watch you become the wonderful young woman you are today. Love you so much! ?”
From Malia Obama to Malia Ann, transitioning from the President’s daughter to an emerging force in Hollywood, her future looks incredibly bright.