Malia Obama, 25, debuted a new moniker as she began her Hollywood career

Malia Obama is no stranger to growing up in the public eye. As the daughter of former U.S. President Barack Obama, she has lived her life in the spotlight, and the media continues to closely follow her activities.

At 25 years old, Malia recently made her directorial debut with the short film The Heart at the Sundance Film Festival. In a spotlight video produced by the Sundance Institute titled “Meet the Artist,” she shared that she is now using the name Malia Ann, moving away from her surname.

Born on July 4, 1998, Malia Ann Obama carries her middle name in honor of her paternal grandmother, who passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 52 in 1995. In a notable shift, she has chosen to emphasize her middle name over her last name.

Regarding her short film, for which she took on the roles of both director and screenwriter, Malia described it as “an odd little story, somewhat of a fable, about a man grieving the loss of his mother after she leaves him an unusual request in her will.” In the YouTube description of the film, she elaborated, stating, “The film explores themes of lost objects, lonely individuals, forgiveness, and regret, while also striving to reveal where tenderness and closeness can be found within these experiences.”

This project is not her first foray into the industry. Prior to this, the Harvard graduate contributed to the writers’ room of Donald Glover’s Amazon Prime series Swarm, co-writing the fifth episode titled “Girl, Bye.”

In a January 2023 interview with Vanity Fair, Swarm co-creator Janine Nabers praised Malia, stating, “She’s a very professional person. She’s an incredible writer and artist. She made significant contributions… She’s very, truly committed to her craft.”

Stephen Glover, the executive producer of Swarm, also commented on Malia’s work ethic. “We can’t be easy on her just because she’s the [former] President’s daughter,” he remarked to Vanity Fair. “No, she is really down-to-earth and cool. So it’s not an issue at all.”

Malia Obama is not the inaugural celebrity to opt for a departure from their family name. Several other notable figures have made similar choices, such as Nicolas Cage, who altered his surname from Coppola, and Angelina Jolie, who chose to forgo her last name, Voight.

In her first venture as a director, Malia presented a relaxed appearance, featuring minimal makeup and her curly hair styled down with small braids interspersed.