Malia Obama has a new name. Read on to know more
Malia Obama is stepping into the spotlight under a new name.
As her Hollywood career gains momentum, the eldest daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama has opted to go by Malia Ann, shedding her last name for her latest film endeavor, The Heart.
The revelation came as a surprise to fans when Malia was introduced as filmmaker Malia Ann in a spotlight video by the Sundance Institute. It appears to be a deliberate move to carve out her own identity separate from her prominent parents, who have also ventured into the entertainment industry with Higher Ground Productions.
Although her parents, the former president and first lady, are now involved in filmmaking, they were notably absent from the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, where Malia, aged 25, made her red carpet debut at The Heart's premiere.
Describing her film as «an odd little story, somewhat of a fable, about a man grieving the death of his mother after she leaves him an unusual request in her will,» Malia showcased her directorial debut at Sundance.
Produced by Donald Glover's company Gilga, The Heart marks Malia's first foray into directing, although she already boasts writing credits as a staff writer on Glover's Amazon Prime show Swarm.
In a Vanity Fair interview in January 2023, Swarm's co-creator Janine Nabers praised Malia's professionalism, describing her as «an incredible writer and artist.» Donald Glover also commended Malia's talents, emphasizing that her famous lineage did not influence her
