Malia Obama, the eldest daughter of former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, is stepping into the spotlight in a new way. The 25-year-old is making strides in the entertainment industry and recently made headlines for choosing to use a different name professionally.
A Tribute to Family Heritage
Born as Malia Ann Obama on July 4, 1998, her middle name honors her paternal grandmother, Ann Dunham. Malia has always been known for her intelligence, grace, and artistic inclinations. Despite growing up in the public eye and attending Harvard University, she has chosen to forge her own identity in Hollywood, independent of her family’s political legacy.
Stepping into Filmmaking
Malia’s passion for storytelling has been evident for years. She made her entry into the entertainment industry in 2021 as part of the writing team for Swarm, an Amazon Prime series featuring notable stars like Billie Eilish and Rory Culkin. Her talent was quickly recognized by industry professionals.
Janine Nabers, co-creator of Swarm, praised Malia’s creativity and dedication, telling E! Online, “Some of her pitches were wild and incredibly creative. She’s an amazing writer and brought so much to the table.” Similarly, Swarm executive producer Stephen Glover emphasized that she earned her place on the team through hard work and not because of her last name. “We can’t treat her any differently just because of who she is. She’s down to earth and very talented,” he told Vanity Fair.
