In a recent appearance on the podcast Sibling Revelry, former First Lady Michelle Obama opened up about her daughter Malia’s decision to drop the “Obama” surname in her directorial debut.
In the 2023 short film The Heart, Malia is credited simply as “Malia Ann”—a deliberate move, according to Michelle, to forge her own professional identity outside the powerful Obama name.
“They don’t want people to think that everything was just handed to them because they’re our daughters,” Michelle said, referring to Malia and her younger sister, Sasha.
Michelle emphasized that both daughters are aware of the privilege and weight that comes with their last name and are actively trying to build paths of their own. While the move surprised some and even drew criticism, Michelle clarified:
“There’s no distancing here. This is just a young woman trying to do her thing, her way, without the shadow of parents who’ve always been in the spotlight.”
She added that both she and former President Barack Obama fully support Malia’s choice and are proud of her for asserting her independence while remaining true to the values instilled in her.
