Growing up in front of the eyes of the public isn’t something Malia Obama is not familiar with. Being the daughter of the former president of the United States, Barak Obama, she has spent her life under the limelight, and even today, the media is interested in her every move.
The 25-year-old just presented her directorial debut, The Heart, at the Sundance Film Festival. In the Sundance Institute’s “Meet the Artist” spotlight video, Malia Obama revealed she was going by the name Malia Ann, thus ditching her moniker.
Malia, who was born Malia Ann Obama on July 4, 1998, has her middle name honoring her paternal grandmother, who died from ovarian cancer at the age of 52 in 1995, and now, she has dropped her last name in favor of her middle name.
Speaking of the short film for which she served as both director and screenwriter, Malia said. “This is an odd little story, somewhat of fable, about a man grieving the death of his mother after she leaves him an unusual request in her will.” Further, in the YouTube clip of the short film, she wrote, “The film is about lost objects and lonely people and forgiveness and regret, but I also think it works hard to uncover where tenderness and closeness can exist in these things.”
The Heat isn’t her first attempt into the profession. Previously, the Harvard grad worked in the writers’ room on Donald’s Amazon Prime show Swarm, co-writing the fifth episode, “Girl, Bye.”
“She’s a very professional person,” Swarm‘s co-creator Janine Nabers said Malia in a January 2023 Vanity Fair interview. “She’s an incredible writer and artist. She made significant contributions… She’s very, truly committed to her craft.”
Swarm‘s executive producer Stephen Glover also spoke of Malia. “We can’t be easy on her just because she’s the [former] President’s daughter,” he told Vanity Fair. “No, she is really down-to-earth and cool. So it’s not an issue at all.”
Malia Obama isn’t the first celebrity who made the decision to ditch their family name. Other celebs have done that before, including Nicolas Cage, who changed his last name from Coppola, and Angelina Jolie, who dropped her surname, Voight.
For her directorial debut, Malia looked cozy, with minimal makeup, her curly hair down with small braids scattered throughout.
Meghan Markle shares a new photo of her daughter Lilibet
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their royal duties nearly four years ago, yet public speculation about their decision continues. The couple has cited their desire to escape the intense media spotlight as one of the key reasons for their departure.
However, many have questioned this reasoning, as Harry and Meghan have remained in the public eye through high-profile interviews, book releases, and engagements that resemble official royal duties.
Despite their ongoing media presence, they have made concerted efforts to keep their children out of the public eye.
Harry’s complicated relationship with the media is well-documented. He has long believed that the relentless pursuit of his mother, Princess Diana, by paparazzi contributed to her tragic death.
When their son, Archie, was born, Harry was reluctant to share details about the birth. However, he ultimately followed royal tradition and presented Archie to the public outside Portland Hospital in London. The couple released a statement at the time, saying, “Today, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are delighted to share their first public moment as a family.”
Since then, only a handful of photos of Archie have been made public. The same has been true for their daughter, Lilibet, who was born in the United States.
That changed with the release of their six-part Netflix documentary, which offered an intimate glimpse into their family life at their Montecito, California, home—previously described as “Fort Knox” due to its strict security measures. The documentary included rare footage of Archie and Lilibet, giving fans a closer look at the young royals.
When Lili turned one, the Sussexes held a small picnic celebration at Frogmore Cottage, their former UK residence. Photos from the event were shared on social media.
Beyond that, public sightings of Archie and Lilibet have been rare—until recently. In December 2024, the couple released their family Christmas card, which featured six personal photos, including one that captured a glimpse of Archie and Lilibet.
One detail that stood out to many was Lilibet’s striking auburn hair.h
The festive card also included photos of the family’s three beloved dogs—Guy, Pula, and Momma Mia—as well as snapshots from their travels, including visits to Nigeria and Colombia.
The caption read: “On behalf of the office of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Archewell Productions, and Archewell Foundation, we wish you a very Happy Holiday Season and a joyful New Year.”
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