Malia Obama: Instagram Selfie With Pro-Era T-Shirt, Posted Intentionally Or Was It Leaked?

A Malia Obama selfie was released on Instagram Monday. The photo of the first daughter is turning heads after it was mysteriously posted on Twitter January 5.

Gawker noticed the Obama Instagram selfie and immediately pondered whether it was meant to be shared on social media or if it was a total mistake. Where was it taken? How did it get past PR if it wasn’t suppose to get out? Does Malia have a secret Instagram account? What filters does the Obama daughter have?

Malia is seen with her hands behind her head and casually looking into the camera. As the Verge assesses, this is good publicity for Pro Era since the first daughter is wearing one of their t-shirts. The report describes Pro Era as being “a Brooklyn-based rap collective featuring Joey Bada$$, Kirk Knight, CJ Fly and many others.”

In an email sent to Gawker about an hour after the Obama selfie leak, a rep for Joey Bada$$ said they received the photo from “a mutual friend of Malia and the pro era member.”

Gossip Cop reveals that the group took advantage of the extra publicity by posting the image and writing, “Malia Obama rocking that classic Pro Era tee! Make sure you get your official Pro Era gear from theproera.com!”

So, does this mean that 16-year-old Malia Obama is experimenting with modeling by promoting Pro Era’s merchandise?

Gossip Cop reports that they’ve reached out to the White House regarding the Obama Instagram post, and they’re “looking into it.”

A lot of speculative reports are being generated about this picture. It’s a mystery, and until we all find out, it’ll be a big deal. If the selfie was meant to be posted and President Obama and the First Lady approved it, then they’re probably loosening the reins a bit on their strict social media rules.

The Verge looks back at when First Lady Michelle Obama talked with Barbara Walters on ABC’s 20/20 about her daughters using Facebook as a social network; the interview was in 2013.

“I still am not a big believer in Facebook for young people… particularly for them, because they’re in the public eye. Some of it’s stuff they don’t need to see and be a part of… So we try to protect them from too much of the public voice.”

Malia Obama was in the news recently about which college she’ll end attend. The Inquisitr covered that in a separate article, which can be read here.

[Photo: Instagram via Gawker]