Malia Obama Changes Last Name

Malia Obama, now professionally known as Malia Ann, has chosen to drop her last name in her filmmaking career to establish her own identity and avoid the "nepo baby" label. Her directorial debut, The Heart, premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, credited solely to Malia Ann. The 18 minute short film, produced by Donald Glover's company Gilga, explores themes of grief and human connection .

Former President Barack Obama shared on The Pivot Podcast that he cautioned Malia about the recognizability of her identity despite the name change. Malia responded, "I want them to watch it that first time and not in any way have that association" . Both Barack and Michelle Obama have expressed support for their daughters' desire to succeed independently, noting their sensitivity to perceptions of nepotism. 

Malia's career includes internships at The Weinstein Company and on the set of Girls, as well as a writing role on Donald Glover's Amazon Prime series Swarm . Her decision to use her middle name and drop her last professionally aligns with a broader trend among celebrity children seeking to forge their own paths.

Some notable celebrity children who've opted not to use their parents' last name are: Nicolas Cage, Elle King, and Emilio Estevez, who uses his father's birth name.

While some critics argue that the name change doesn't fully dissociate her from her family's prominence, others, like Whoopi Goldberg, defend her choice, emphasizing her right to define her own professional identity . Malia's efforts reflect a commitment to being recognized for her individual talents and hard work in the film industry.