Who are Barack Obama's daughters Malia and Sasha dating? A rare look into the sisters' private lives

Time of India

01-05-2025

All eyes were on the daughters of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, when the siblings made a rare appearance at the album release party for their friend and R&B singer Destin Conrad.
Now, 26 and 23 the Obama sisters garnered attention for their elegant fashion choices. Photographer Ryder shared photos from the event, capturing the Obama sisters flanking Conrad in a candid yet stylish shot. Malia kept her look understated but cozy in a brown leather coat, angled slightly away from the camera, exuding effortless cool. Sasha opted for a breezier ensemble, sporting a cropped white tank, low-rise jeans, and a woven belt, complete with a surfer-chic leather cord necklace featuring an amber pendant.
Who are Malia and Sasha dating?
Malia Obama, 26, who was previously linked to record producer Dawit Eklund, seems to be currently single. On Valentine's Day 2025, Malia was seen dining with friends, suggesting she's not in a relationship. Earlier, Malia dated British Harvard classmate Rory Farquharson, with whom she quarantined during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sasha Obama on the other hand is dating
Clifton Powell Jr.
, the 25-year-old son of actor Clifton Powell. They began dating in 2022 after Sasha transferred to the University of Southern California. Clifton Jr., a former college basketball player, now works as a commercial executive. They have kept their romance low-key and are said to be serious about each other.
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A peek into their early days
When Barack was in office in 2008, Malia and Sasha were 10 and 7, respectively, and it was quite a challenge to give them a normal teenage life, considering they were always under constant scrutiny. Keeping their teenage years out of the tabloid was quite a task. Michelle Obama in an interview shared, transitioning her daughters into adulthood wasn't a small feat. "Every weekend was a nightmare," she recalled in a recent interview. Yet today, she and Barack watch proudly as their daughters flourish on their own, and even share an apartment in L.A.
Looking at their lives today, Obama sisters who spent nearly a decade growing up in the White House, have built lives of their own in Los Angeles. Malia, a Harvard graduate, is emerging as a creative force in film. She made her writing debut on Donald Glover's Swarm and premiered her directorial short film The Heart at Sundance under the name Malia Ann.
The film explores themes of grief, loneliness, and forgiveness. In a "Meet the Artist" segment, Malia said she hopes it helps viewers feel 'a bit less lonely.' Her father, Barack Obama, shared on The Pivot Podcast that she dropped 'Obama' to avoid any assumptions, wanting audiences to judge her work on its own merit.
Sasha, who earned her sociology degree from USC in 2023, has leaned into a more low-key public persona but remains a figure of interest thanks to her distinct fashion choices and growing independence.
Michelle in an interview with PEOPLE said the two share a unique bond as the two grew up 'with the brightest spotlight in the world' on them during their formative years.
Malia, Barack and Michelle's first daughter was born six years after their marriage on July 4, 1998. Their younger daughter, Sasha, was born on June 10, 2001.
Malia and Sasha: How alike are they really?
Malia, described as 'wise and thoughtful' by her parents, understood her responsibilities early on and by the time she was in first grade, she set her own alarm and made her bed every morning. Barack told InStyle that Malia is "somebody who enjoys people, enjoys life and enjoys conversation. She's never bored, which is a badass quality that can take you places."
Sharing an anecdote about his elder daughter, Obama said: "When [Malia] was 6 years old [...] we were walking along the lake, holding hands, and she turned to me and said, 'Daddy, are we rich?' I said, 'We're very well off compared to a lot of people, but we're not really rich, as some people might define really rich.' "
"And she said, 'Well, that's good because I don't want to be really rich. I think I want to live a simple life.' And I looked at her and wondered, 'Where did she come up with that?' " he said.
From a young age, the Obamas have described their daughters as bright, kind, and full of personality. 'My younger one, Sasha, is just full of energy and the comedian in the family,' Barack told PEOPLE back in 2008. Sasha's childhood was a lively mix of basketball, gymnastics, tap dancing, and piano lessons—activities she often shared with Malia. Their home was loving but structured, guided by simple rules like 'no whining.'
Obamas depart for Martha's vineyard
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