Malia Obama, the 25-year-old daughter of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, is stepping into Hollywood with a new identity and a passion for storytelling. Recently, she made her directorial debut with the film The Heart, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Notably, she chose to go by the name Malia Ann, leaving her famous last name out of the credits.

Born on July 4, 1998, Malia’s middle name, Ann, honors her late paternal grandmother, who passed away in 1995.

Growing up in the White House and later graduating from Harvard, Malia has always been in the public eye. Now, she’s pursuing a career in screenwriting and filmmaking, showcasing her creativity and vision.

Her film The Heart is a significant milestone, but it’s not her first project in the industry. In 2021, she worked as a writer on the Amazon Prime series Swarm, which featured stars like Billie Eilish and Rory Culkin. Janine Nabers, the co-creator of Swarm, praised Malia’s contributions, calling her ideas “outrageous and hilarious.” Despite her famous background, Malia was treated as an equal on the team, with executive producer Stephen Glover noting her humility and talent.

Barack and Michelle Obama have been vocal about their pride in their daughter. On her 25th birthday, Barack shared a touching message on Instagram, celebrating her as “amazing, funny, and beautiful.” Michelle also expressed her love, calling Malia an “incredible young woman” and expressing gratitude for being her mom.

By choosing to go by Malia Ann, she is forging her own path in Hollywood, proving that her talent and hard work define her more than her last name. With a bright future ahead, Malia is poised to become a rising star in the film industry.