Michelle Obama says she fully supports Malia’s decision to drop the “Obama” name, calling it part of her journey to build her own identity and stand on her own.
While talking with Kate and Oliver Hudson on their Sibling Revelry podcast, Michelle shared how both Malia and Sasha have been determined to build their identities outside of their parents’ legacy.
Now in their 20s, the former first daughters are choosing to walk their own paths, something their mom understands all too well.
“They’re at that age where you naturally start to pull away and figure out who you are,” Michelle said, speaking candidly about their journey into adulthood. “They don’t want anything handed to them. They want people to know they work for what they’re getting.”
Malia recently debuted her short film The Heart at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, but viewers may have missed her familiar last name. Instead of “Malia Obama,” the credits listed “Malia Ann” a nod to her middle name and a quiet way of stepping into her creative voice without the weight of her family’s fame.
Michelle admitted that while she and Barack laughed a bit over the name switch, knowing people would still recognize her, there was never any pushback.
“We knew people would figure it out, but we respected her decision,” she said. “She’s trying to build something that’s hers.”
As the girls have gotten older, Michelle noted, they’ve begun to understand their parents in a more human way. “They get why we made certain choices when they were growing up,” she added. “That happens when you become an adult yourself, you start to see your parents not just as mom and dad, but as people.”
Malia’s decision to step back from the spotlight of her last name is just another sign that she’s focused on making her own mark and her family is all for it.
