Malia Obama is back on the Hollywood circuit.
The eldest daughter of former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama stepped out at a Los Angeles screening of the movie Sorry, Baby March 28, marking a rare public appearance for the a budding filmmaker.
The 26-year-old—sister to Sasha Obama, 23—was photographed inside the event with Eva Victor, the drama film’s director, screenwriter and leading actress. Malia, wore a black blazer over a matching cardigan and short skirt, paired with black tights to the screening.
She is not credited as having worked on the movie, which is set for release June 27.
The former First Daughter last appeared at a celebrity event in September.
Malia walked the red carpet at the 2024 Deauville American Film Festival in Deauville, France, where she attended a screening for her short film The Heart. She also received the Young Spirit Award for the project, her directorial debut, which focuses on a lonely man grieving the death of his mother who had made an odd request in her will.
Malia wore a black, gray, white and red plaid off-the-shoulder corset top and blue and white plaid asymmetrical skirt from late designer Vivienne Westwood‘s fall 2024 collection, as well as black knee-high boots.
“Vivienne Westwood, queen,” she told French magazine Paris Match in a rare on-camera interview at the screening. “It’s cool. I don’t know as much about fashion, but I’m happy to be wearing it.”
The event took place months after Malia made her red carpet debut at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, where she debuted The Heart.
A “Meet the Artist” spotlight video released by the Sundance Institute that month introduces the filmmaker as Malia Ann, using her middle name. Her dad later weighed in her choice to use the stage name.
“I was all like, ‘You do know they’ll know who you are, right?’ Obama said on an October 2024 episode of The Pivot Podcast, “and she’s all like, ‘You know, I want them to watch it that first time and not in any way have that association.’ So, I think our daughters go out of their way to not try to leverage that.”
Keep reading to find out which children of celebs have chosen different names as adults…
Chelsea O’Donnell
Rosie O’Donnell and ex Kelli Carpenter‘s adopted daughter filed to change her last name to her birth mom Deanna (née Neuens) Micoley‘s maiden name in January 2025, according to court documents obtained by People.
Suri Cruise
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes‘ daughter went by Suri Noelle—her first name and her mom’s middle name—for her high school graduation ceremony in June 2024.
Malia Obama
Former U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama‘sdaughter Malia Obama dropped her last name to go by just her first and middle monikers—Malia Ann—when credited on her 2023 film project The Heart.
Shiloh Jolie-Pitt
On her 18th birthday in May 2024, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt legally filed to change her name to just Shiloh Jolie after mom Angelina Jolie, dropping dad Brad Pitt‘s surname.
Olivia Jade
Designer Mossimo Giannulli and actress Lori Loughlin‘s daughter Olivia Jade Giannulli doesn’t use her last name as an influencer, going by Olivia Jade for her YouTube career.
Elle King
Rob Schneider‘s daughter was born Tanner Elle Schneider but decided to go by Elle King (her middle name combined with her mom London King‘s surname) for her singing career.
Samia Najimy Finnerty
Hocus Pocus star Kathy Najimy and The Hangover‘s Dan Finnerty share daughter Samia Najimy Finnerty, but she dropped their monikers to go by just Samia for her stage name as a singer.
Nicolas Cage
August Coppola—the brother of Francis Ford Coppola—welcomed son Nicolas Kim Coppola with dancer Joy Vogelsang. However, you know him by a different name: Nicolas Cage, inspired by superhero Luke Cage.
Willow Smith
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith‘s daughter dropped her last name to go by WILLOW as her music stage name.
