Michelle Obama has opened up about her true feelings following daughter Malia’s decision to drop the Obama surname as she launches her first film project.
During her time as First Lady, it was difficult for the public to get a clear glimpse into the private lives of the Obama family. However, since leaving the White House in early 2017, Michelle has become increasingly candid about life before, during, and after their time in Washington, D.C.
Much has changed in the eight years since the Obamas departed the Oval Office — including Malia’s recent decision to step into the spotlight on her own terms, choosing to go by a different name professionally as she begins her journey in the film industry.
Malia, 26, used her middle name, Ann, as her last name for the credits of The Heart, a short film she wrote and directed.
Michelle and Malia pictured in 2017 (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)
Michelle has since spoken out after this name change became public knowledge, telling actors Kate and Oliver Hudson in an episode of their Sibling Revelry podcast: “Our daughters [Malia and Sasha] 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.
“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. They’re very sensitive to that, they want to be their own people.”
The former first lady added: “Malia, who started in film, I mean, her first project – she took off her last name, and we were like, they’re still going to know it’s you, Malia. But we respected the fact that she’s trying to make her way.”
Michelle’s two children grew up in the White House environment, with Michelle admitting they didn’t really understand their parents’ positions back then.
Malia has changed her name (Foc Kan/WireImage)
But now they are all grown up, that has all changed.
Michelle added: “As they’re older, I think they are embracing our parenting principles. They have a clearer understanding of why we did a lot of what we did.
“They understand us as full human beings now, in the same way that I think I discovered that about my parents when I went away to college.”
Barack Obama has also touched on his daughter’s name change, speaking on The Pivot Podcast of Malia’s success in film.
“[Malia’s] first film went to Sundance and all these fancy film festivals, and she didn’t use Obama as director on the credits,” the former president told host Ryan Clark.
“She’s all like, ‘You know what? I want them to watch it that first time and not in any way have that association [with the Obama name].’ So I think our daughters go out of their way to not try to leverage that.”
