Malia Obama has chosen to drop the Obama surname professionally, using her middle name “Ann” instead, as seen in the credits of her short film The Heart. Her mother, Michelle Obama, recently shared insight into this decision during an appearance on the Sibling Revelry podcast. Michelle explained that both Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23, want to establish their own identities and earn their accomplishments independently, without relying on the recognition of the Obama name. She acknowledged that while the family found it amusing—since people would still know who Malia is—they respected her desire to carve out her own path.

Michelle noted that as her daughters have matured, they’ve come to understand the parenting values she and Barack instilled in them. Barack Obama also commented on Malia’s career, revealing that her film was well-received at festivals like Sundance and emphasizing her decision not to use the Obama name to avoid bias. He praised her for wanting audiences to judge her work on its own merit. Both parents expressed pride in their daughters’ efforts to succeed without leaning on their family’s fame.