Malia Obama

Malia Ann Obama.. ( LEE|ə; born July 4, 1998) is an American filmmaker and writer, and the eldest daughter of former U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama . Known for her work in television and film, Malia began pursuing a career in the entertainment industry following her time as First Daughter.
==Early life==
Malia Obama was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She spent much of her childhood in the public eye after her father was elected President of the United States in 2008. She attended Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., graduating in 2016. After a gap year, she enrolled at Harvard University in 2017 and graduated in 2021.
Malia Obama and her younger sister Sasha Obama were named two of "The Most Influential Teens of 2014" by TIME magazine.
==Early Career and Internships Career==
In March 2016, Malia Obama acted as an informal translator for her father, President Barack Obama, during their visit to Cuba. She translated Spanish to English during a meal in Old Havana, showcasing her language skills during the historic trip.
In the summer of 2016, Malia Obama interned at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spain, during her gap year before attending Harvard University. Malia, who was proficient in Spanish, had previously served as an unofficial translator during her father's visit to Cuba.
In June 2016, Obama travelled to Liberia in Western Africa to promote the Let Girls Learn Peace initiative, a $27 million aid program. She then participated in a panel discussion in Morocco with Freida Pinto, Meryl Streep, and Isha Sesay of CNN. Obama met with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first elected African female head of state (President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018).
Malia's involvement in the entertainment industry began with internships during her teenage years. In 2015, she interned on HBO's Girls, created by Lena Dunham, followed by a role on the set of Halle Berry’s CBS series Extant . In early 2017, she worked as an intern at The Weinstein Company in New York, a position that predated the public revelations about Harvey Weinstein's misconduct .
==Writing and Filmmaking Career==
In 2023, Malia contributed as a writer to the Amazon Prime series Swarm, which was created by Donald Glover and Janine Nabers. She co-wrote the show's fifth episode, "Girl Bye." Both Glover and Nabers noted her professionalism and dedication to the project. In an interview, former President Barack Obama discussed watching the series due to his daughter's involvement. While he expressed admiration for the show, he admitted finding certain aspects "a little disturbing," referring to some of the more intense scenes.
Malia made her directorial debut in 2024 with The Heart, a 19-minute short film produced by Glover's company, Gilga. The film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, centers on a man grieving the death of his mother after a disagreement and an unusual request in her will. To distance herself from her family's political legacy, she chose to be credited as "Malia Ann" for this project . Reception to the film was mixed, with some critics accusing her of benefiting from nepotism. Reviews on the platform Letterboxd averaged 3.2 out of 5, with some describing the film as "half-baked" .
Despite these critiques, Malia was awarded the inaugural Young Spirit Award at the Deauville American Film Festival in France, where she presented the film .
==Public Persona and Fashion==
Malia Obama has gained recognition not only for her work in film but also for her distinct fashion sense. She has been described as a fashion figure. For example, at the Deauville American Film Festival, she wore a Vivienne Westwood ensemble, which drew attention for its signature corset-style top and layered skirt. Malia described it as a unique experience, expressing admiration for the designer's work despite her self-professed limited knowledge of fashion
==Personal Life==
Though Malia grew up in the public eye, she has kept much of her personal life private. Unlike her parents, she has shown little interest in pursuing a political career, focusing instead on her work in the entertainment industry
Category:1998 births
Category:Children of presidents of the United States
Category:Living people
Malia
Category:People from Chicago
Category:Sidwell Friends School alumni
Category:University of Chicago Laboratory Schools alumni
Category:American film directors
Category:Children of presidents of the United States
Category:American women television writers
Category:Screenwriters from Chicago
Category:African-American screenwriters
Category:Illinois Democrats