Malia Ann Embraces Hollywood Solo: Leaving Behind the ‘Obama’ Surname

Malia Ann, a newcomer in Hollywood, left behind her famous last name in pursuit of a fresh start as both a filmmaker and an individual.

Formerly known as Malia Obama, the eldest daughter of former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, she embraced her middle name for her latest film endeavor, “The Heart.” Malia made her mark under the pen name “Malia Ann-filmmaker,” as unveiled in the Sundance Institute’s “Meet the Artist” spotlight video, signaling her emergence in the industry.

This decision is seen as a deliberate move to carve her path separate from her influential parents, who themselves ventured into the entertainment realm with the establishment of “Higher Ground Productions” in 2018.

Malia Obama’s Red Carpet Debut as ‘Malia Ann’ at Sundance 2024

At 25, Malia Obama marked her first appearance on the red carpet as Malia Ann during the 2024 Sundance Film Festival earlier this month. She graced the event for the premiere of her film “The Heart.”

Notably, the Obama parents, now emerging as movie moguls through their production company, chose not to attend the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

Malia Ann Premieres Debut Film ‘The Heart’ at Sundance 2024

In her Sundance spotlight, Malia Ann described her project as “an unusual tale, almost fable-like, centering on a man coping with the loss of his mother following an unconventional request in her will.”

“The Heart,” Malia’s directorial debut, has been produced by Donald Glover’s company, Gilga.

Despite being Malia’s directorial debut, the Obama scion already boasts writing credentials as a staff writer for Glover’s Amazon Prime series “Swarm”.

Rising Star in the Film Industry

Throughout her tenure in the film industry, Malia has garnered numerous accolades.

Janine Nabers, Malia’s colleague and co-creator of “Swarm,” described her as “a very professional person” in a January 2023 interview with Vanity Fair. Nabers also praised Malia’s prowess as “an incredible writer and artist.”

Donald Glover, too, commended the Harvard graduate, emphasizing that her esteemed lineage did not influence her treatment on set. Speaking to Vanity Fair in March 2022, Glover remarked, “I feel like she’s just somebody who’s gonna have really good things coming soon. Her writing style is great. We can’t be easy on her because she’s the [former] President’s daughter.”