Michelle Obama Breaks Her Silence on Daughter Malia Dropping Last Name

Michelle Obama is reacting to daughter Malia‘s decision to professionally drop her last name.

While premiering her movie The Heart at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival last year, Malia, 26, decided to drop her last name “Obama,” and professionally uses her middle name, going by “Malia Ann.”

During a recent appearance on Kate and Oliver Hudson‘s Sibling Revelry podcast, the 61-year-old former First Last said that Malia “trying to make her way” when it comes to her budding filmmaking career.

Keep reading to find out more…“I mean, it is very important for my kids to feel like they’ve earned what they are getting in the world, and they don’t want people to assume that they don’t work hard, that they’re just naturally, just handed things,” Michelle explained. “They’re very sensitive to that — they want to be their own people.”

Michelle went on to say that Malia and her younger sister Sasha, 23, wanting some independence is nothing new, noting that her daughters have wanted to set themselves apart since they were teenagers.

“Our daughters are 26 and 23. They are young adult women, but they definitely went through a period in their teen years where it was the push away … [where] you’re trying to distinguish yourself,” Michelle explained.

Former President Barack Obama also recently reacted to Malia‘s decision to professionally drop their last name.