Michelle Obama recently shared how she and her husband, former President Barack Obama, reacted when their daughter Malia decided not to use the “Obama” last name in her professional career. She explained that even though Malia wanted to distance herself from the family name, it is difficult to maintain anonymity after years of living in the public eye.

Speaking on the “Sibling Revelry” podcast with Kate and Oliver Hudson on June 3, Michelle said that Malia, who is working in the film industry, dropped her last name for her first project. Michelle and Barack acknowledged that people would still recognize her, but they respected her decision to create her own identity.

Malia first introduced the name change in February 2024 during the premiere of her film, The Heart. In the credits shown in the Sundance Institute’s “Meet the Artist” spotlight video, she used the name “Malia Ann” instead of her full name.

Michelle also noted that both Malia and her sister Sasha, now 26 and 23, are seeking independence. She said that during their teenage years, they went through a phase of distancing themselves from their parents, which she described as a natural part of growing up. This desire to establish their own path continues into adulthood.

Michelle emphasized that her daughters are determined to earn their achievements. They are aware of public assumptions that success may come easily to them due to their family name. As a result, they are sensitive about being perceived as having advantages they did not work for.

She reflected on how she adjusted her parenting approach to meet the needs of her daughters as they grew up in the White House. That experience, she believes, played a role in shaping who they are today. Now that they are older, her daughters understand the reasoning behind many of their parents’ decisions and see them as individuals, similar to how Michelle gained perspective on her own parents when she went to college.

Finally, Michelle mentioned that her daughters did not want to be treated like royalty while living in the White House. They wanted the freedom to explore the world and try new things. Given their unique circumstances, Michelle allowed them more independence than she might have offered under different conditions.