Latest news with #MaliaObama
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Malia Obama's bold Nike debut honors HBCU culture
When Malia Obama stepped behind the camera to direct her first commercial, she didn't just make art—she made history. The Nike spot, launching A'ja Wilson's signature 'A'One' sneaker on May 6, did more than promote a shoe; it's a cinematic love letter to Black excellence, athletic greatness, and the undeniable rhythm of HBCU culture. For HBCU sports fans, this moment hits different. Advertisement Obama's direction centers Wilson's roots in Columbia, South Carolina, and her deep ties to Benedict College—where her father, Roscoe Wilson, was once a standout player. The commercial's heart-pounding choreography, performed by Benedict College dancers, mirrors the precision and pride seen every fall on HBCU football sidelines. It's a nod to the halftime shows, the battle of the bands, the sweat and swagger of Black college sports that too often go unseen by mainstream media. 'When you think about HBCUs, you think about tradition, you think about family,' Wilson said. 'That's what raised me.' Wilson, now a two-time WNBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist, continues to shine a spotlight on the communities that molded her. And thanks to Malia's storytelling, that spotlight now beams globally. The 'A'One' isn't just a shoe—it's the first Nike signature sneaker for a Black woman athlete in over a decade. The campaign itself breaks barriers, and with Obama at the helm, it speaks to a new generation of fans who want to see authenticity in sports marketing. Advertisement For HBCU alumni and athletes, this commercial is more than representation—it's validation. Let this be the start, not the exception. Demand more stories rooted in HBCU greatness. Because when the culture leads, the world watches. Related: Charlotte's bold power play to bring CIAA Tournament home Related: Shaquille O'Neal sends strong message by showing HBCU pride on TNT
News24
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
Life after the White House: where are Malia and Sasha Obama now?
Having grown up in the glare of the spotlight, the daughters of Barack and Michelle Obama are now carving out lives and identities of their own which are completely separate from their parents' legacies. Malia (26) has embarked on a directorial career, making her debut with the short film The Heart, which premiered at last year's prestigious Sundance Film Festival. The eldest Obama daughter opted to use the name Malia Ann for the screening, deliberately distancing herself from her famous family. She also recently directed an advert for sports apparel maker Nike. However, the project was clouded in controversy after a fellow filmmaker, Natalie Jasmine Harris, came forward saying the ad looks eerily similar to a her film, Grace. 'It featured two people playing pat-a-cake in a way that echoed an early scene from my 14-minute short film,' Natalie wrote in an essay to Business Insider. 'At first, I was confused, wondering whether it was real,' Natalie adds. 'I was disappointed and hurt.' For Natalie it was not about the children's game, but rather the technical use of cinematography in taking the shots. 'My cinematographer, Tehillah De Castro, noted a lot of similarities from a technical perspective, from the camera angles to the shots to the framing composition and the colour palette,' Natalie says. She has not had any communication from either Nike or Malia since going public with her concerns but hopes it sparks a broader discussion about smaller creatives in film. Film has always been a passion for Malia. Having interned at the Weinstein Company in 2017, she chose to study filmmaking at Harvard, graduating in 2021. Since then, she's done a few projects with music and film artist Donald Glover. PHOTO: Instagram/MichelleObama On the other hand, her sister, Sasha (23), has chosen to stay out of the spotlight. Although the siblings live together in Los Angeles and have been spotted on nights out together, they seem to be on separate journeys. According to Hello!, the closest Sasha has come to the entertainment industry was getting her name in the credits as a casting interviewer for a TV series titled Couples Therapy. However, there's little to indicate that she would choose a similar path to her sister. In an interview on The Jennifer Hudson Show last last year, Michelle shared that her youngest daughter has gone back to university. She revealed that Sasha has opted to further her studies after graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in sociology in 2023. Michelle added that she and Barack are very proud of their daughters. 'They are smart, they're funny, they're wise in their own ways and I love spending time with them,' she said.
Elle
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Malia Obama Debuts Fiery Red Hair After Yoga Class in Los Angeles
Malia Obama is changing up her look for summer. The budding filmmaker and former first daughter was spotted leaving a yoga class in Los Angeles with her new bright red hair pulled into a low bun. To keep things casual for her workout, she wore an oversize gray sweatshirt and black leggings, completing the low-key look with an orange yoga mat. The eldest daughter of former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama has been quietly working as a filmmaker for the past few years. Now referred to professionally as Malia Ann, she recently directed a Nike ad campaign featuring the Las Vegas Aces basketball star, A'ja Wilson. Her last major public appearance was back in September, where she attended the Deauville American Film Festival in France. She was there to present her short film The Heart, which she wrote and directed. It went on to win the festival's first-ever Young Spirit Award. On the red carpet, she wore a trendy checkered-print Vivienne Westwood look with knee-high black boots. In an interview with Paris Match, she called Westwood a 'queen' and said that the outfit was 'cool.' She continued, 'I don't know as much about fashion, but I'm happy to be wearing it.' Last January, she premiered her film at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. The story follows a grieving man who has just lost his mother. While it's about loss and loneliness, 'I also think it works hard to uncover where tenderness and closeness can exist in these things,' she said in a promotional video for Sundance. She went on to thank the cast and crew behind the film, saying, 'The folks who came together to make this film have my heart. Pun intended.'
Vogue
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Malia Obama Debuts Her Brightest Red Hair Dye Job Yet
Malia Obama isn't afraid of the dye job—new era, new filmmaking venture, new look. Now, Malia Ann Obama is debuting her brightest red hair yet. The daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama stepped out following a yoga class in Los Angeles, giving us a look at her more intense red hair: It's a rusty hue, set in braids which the young filmmaker pulled back into a low, gathered up ponytail—a color not too far off her tangerine yoga mat. Photo: Backgrid Malia Obama's sense of style percolates among Gen Z's most recognizable sartorial pillars: looser silhouettes, vintage, power clashing. It's laidback and comfortable, with rotational key pieces like plaid separates and thrifted boots. Her beauty aesthetic follows the throughline: Loose curls with a smattering of little plaits, box braids, and various shades of red. For her directorial debut The Heart and its screening at the Deauville American Film Festival, Obama wore a Vivienne Westwood dress with undulating braids in brick tones. And while she once toyed with a blonde dip-dye, she's oscillated in recent years between hues of cherry, auburn, and now, a most intense and rusty red.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Malia Obama's Nike Ad Slammed By Sundance Director Over 'Echoes' Of Her Short
Following Malia Obama's short film debut at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, the budding filmmaker is accused of lifting heavy inspiration from a fellow director. Natalie Jasmine Harris, whose short Grace competed alongside Obama's The Heart at last year's festival, said she saw 'a lot of similarities' between her title and the former first daughter's recent Nike ad starring WNBA's A'ja Wilson. More from Deadline Donald Glover On Mentoring Malia Obama With Short Film For Gilga, Landing Liam Neeson Cameo On 'Atlanta' & Not Getting Cast On 'SNL' A24 Partners With 'Hereditary' And 'Talk To Me' Producers For Feature Adaptation Of Masha Ko's Sundance Short 'The Looming' New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern Docu 'Prime Minister' Acquired By Magnolia, HBO Docu Films & CNN Films After Prize-Winning Sundance Bow 'At first, I was confused, wondering whether it was real,' wrote Harris in a Business Insider essay about her reaction to discovering the commercial. 'It featured two people playing pat-a-cake in a way that echoed an early scene from my 14-minute short film Grace, which is a Black Southern Gothic short about a girl who's being baptized and questioning her feelings for her best friend.' Deadline has reached out to reps for Obama and Nike for comment. Harris noted she met Obama (who uses the professional credit Malia Ann) 'at the director's brunch and a couple other events' when their shorts were both in competition. 'Initially, I was disappointed and hurt — not just for myself but for my entire team,' she continued. 'I sent the commercial to friends who had the same reaction I did. One put together a shot-by-shot photo comparison. 'Since posting about the issue online, there have been a lot of people who don't understand my disappointment. They're like, 'You didn't invent pat-a-cake.' And that's very true. But it's not about the game, it's about the cinematic tools used to depict it,' explained Harris. The NYU-educated director noted similar camera angles, framing composition and color palettes between Grace and the Nike ad. Been sitting with this for a while. My Sundance short film GRACE (shot brilliantly by Tehillah de Castro) was made with deep love and care. The social cut of the new @Nike commercial directed by Malia Obama (who was also at Sundance my year) feels shockingly similar to my work… — Natalie Jasmine Harris (@nataliejharris) May 6, 2025 'Over time, I've moved through that initial shock into a deeper frustration around how instances like this are very common — and need to change,' wrote Harris. 'It speaks to a larger issue of brands not supporting independent artists and opting for folks who already have name recognition, which doesn't breed innovative films or original storytelling. If they wanted these shots that were similar to my shots, why not hire me to direct?' She added, 'The route that used to work for the Spike Lees and Steven Spielbergs of the world feels less viable today. If we're continuously overlooked, how is the next generation of filmmakers going to exist?' Harris said she's yet to hear from Obama or Nike, 'but I would like for there to be some acknowledgment,' adding: 'I was initially hesitant to speak out, since it involves a former president's daughter and a beloved brand like Nike. Criticizing something involving the WNBA was also hard because it means a lot to me personally, and it already gets such a lack of a spotlight. But I've poured too much into my work to just sit by and watch.' Best of Deadline All The 'Mission: Impossible' Movies In Order - See Tom Cruise's 30-Year Journey As Ethan Hunt Denzel Washington's Career In Pictures: From 'Carbon Copy' To 'The Equalizer 3' 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery
