Michelle Obama shares why her daughter dropped her last name, which is now Malia Ann. She is using her middle name in an attempt to stand out and not come off as an Obama. Malia is on her way to make it big in her film career in Hollywood. She used her middle name in the film credits of her short film The Heart. Her film premiered at the Sundance Festival. She wrote and directed the movie.
Michelle appeared in a podcast, Sibling Revelry, and discussed the reason her daughter removed the last name. The show is hosted by Kater and Oliver Hudson, who are siblings. Malia has studied at the University of Southern California, just like her sister Sasha. Now, she wants to pursue her Hollywood career without her parents’ name.
Michelle states her daughters are now young adult women at 25 and 23. She talks about the phase in their teen years where they were pushing away. That phase is still there and it’s different as they are the kids of famous people. She related this similarly to the show hosts being kids of famous people too.
Her getting rid of the name might be a part of that rebellion. Michelle states both of her daughters wish to make their own way. It’s crucial for them to feel like they’ve earned their success. They really don’t wish for people to assume they don’t work hard enough. Malia does not want to feel like she was handed things, according to her mother.
Former first lady Michelle Obama said she and her husband, Barack, respect their daughter Malia dropping her last name “Obama” in professional projects — and praised how both of their daughters more generally “want to be their own people.”
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— ABC News (@ABC) June 5, 2025
She is a sensitive young girl and wants to be her own person first. Michele said, “She took off her last name, and we were like, they’re still going to know it’s you.” Despite this, they still respect her wishes as she tries to make her way in life.
It makes total sense for Malia to not use her last name anymore. The entire world knows her through her parents. It’s her attempt to make her own name and legacy in the world. If dropping the last name helps her do so, she will have full support from her parents. Michelle also states in the podcast that her daughters didn’t want to be little princesses in the White House. She appeared in the podcast alongside her brother, discussing her life and kids and shedding light on racism and personal dilemmas.
The Obama’s oldest daughter has dropped her last name.
Known professionally as Malia Ann, the Indie film director is striking out on her ow
At only 25 years old, Malia boasts a net worth estimated in the millions—a staggering fortune for someone just launching her career. pic.twitter.com/5R5x0oEbZU
— Tosca Austen (@ToscaAusten) May 18, 2025
Michelle discussed how her kids wanted to push the envelope but also needed some rope. They wish to be individuals in the world. As kids of famous parents the allegations of nepotism and being handed things is real. Several celebrities and politicians’ kids enjoy the privileges of it. However, Malia does not seem to want that and Kudos to her for that. Any professional projects of hers will not have the Obama name.
