Michelle Obama has opened up about her daughter Malia’s bold choice to forgo the family surname in her professional life — a move that has drawn widespread attention.

At 25, Malia made her directorial debut with The Heart, a short film that premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Viewers were surprised to see her credited not as Malia Obama, but as Malia Ann.

Appearing on the Sibling Revelry podcast with Kate and Oliver Hudson, the former First Lady explained why she and her husband, Barack Obama, backed the decision, according to ABC News.

“Malia took off her last name, and we were like, they’re still going to know it’s you,” Michelle said with a laugh. “But we respected the fact that she’s trying to make her way.”

Michelle also shared that both Malia and her younger sister Sasha, 23, are committed to forging their own identities, separate from the legacy of their well-known parents.

“It’s important for my kids to feel like they’ve earned what they’re getting. They don’t want people to assume it’s handed to them. They’re very sensitive to that,” she said.

Michelle described how she and Barack have watched their daughters mature into strong, independent women who now better understand the choices made during their upbringing in the public eye.

Barack Obama previously spoke about the name change during a 2023 interview on The Pivot Podcast, recalling what he told Malia:

“You do know they’ll know who you are. I want them to watch it the first time without that association.”

He praised Malia’s approach, saying it reflects the value she places on independence and personal effort.

Michelle added that both daughters now “understand us as full human beings” and are starting to appreciate the way they were raised.

Meanwhile, social media users have shown support for Malia’s decision, calling it a powerful example of humility and self-reliance — a young woman determined to earn success on her own terms.

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