Overview

• Malia Ann premiered her short film The Heart at the Sundance Film Festival in January under her professional moniker.
• On the Sibling Revelry podcast Michelle Obama said her daughter’s name change reflects a wish to earn success without automatic ties to her family legacy.
• Since Sundance, Malia has directed a Nike commercial featuring WNBA star A’ja Wilson and contributed writing to Donald Glover’s Swarm series.
• Michelle Obama noted that both her daughters experienced a “push away” phase as they sought personal identity in early adulthood.
• The family has long prioritized raising independent children, supporting Malia’s choice to step out of the Obama spotlight.