Here's why Malia Obama changed her name

USA Today

2 days ago

Here's why Malia Obama changed her name
Former First Daughter Malia Obama is trying to make her way in the world of film, but you might not know it right away thanks to a slight name change.
Malia, the eldest daughter of former president Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle, is now 26 years old and has had some success directing with a 2024 short film Heart and a 2025 Nike ad featuring WNBA star A'ja Wilson. On her professional projects, the aspiring filmmaker has dropped her famous last name, instead going by Malia Ann, her first and middle name.
Michelle Obama recently addressed the name change on Kate Hudson's "Sibling Revelry" podcast:
"Malia, who started in film, I mean, her first project — she took off her last name, and we were like, 'They're still going to know it's you, Malia,'" the former First Lady told Hudson and co-host Oliver (Hudson's brother). "But we respected the fact that, you know, she's trying to make her way."
With her films showing at festivals like Sundance, it is understandable that Malia would want first impressions of the project to be based on merit, not the connection with the name Obama.
"Her first film went to Sundance and all these fancy film festivals, and she didn't use Obama as a director on the credits," the 44th president said in 2024 on "The Pivot Podcast" with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway. "I was all like, 'You do know they'll know who you are.' And she was like, 'You know what? I want them to watch it that first time and not in any way have that association.'"