Michelle Obama says daughter Malia’s name change signals her 'push away' in battle to create own identity

Michelle Obama says daughter Malia’s name change signals her 'push away' in battle to create own identity
Michelle Obama revealed her eldest daughter Malia Ann's decision to drop her last name was a part of a 'push away' from the famous family (Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: After spending their entire lives under the spotlight, Barack Obama and Michelle’s daughters, Malia and Sasha, are taking every right step to carve their own identity.

Reflecting on their journey, the former first lady recently revealed how her daughters are still in battle with trying to separate themselves from their famous parents.

She even claimed her eldest daughter Malia's decision to drop their name was also a part of a "push away" from the Obama family, according to Hello Magazine.

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 25:  U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks with his daughters Sasha
Former president Barack Obama delivers remarks with his daughters Sasha and Malia (Getty Images)

Michelle Obama claims Malia and Sasha are still trying to separate themselves from the Obama family name

The 61-year-old best-selling author discussed her daughters’ battle as she and her brother Craig Robinson made an appearance on the podcast ‘Sibling Revelry’, hosted by fellow famous siblings Kate and Oliver Hudson.

During the podcast, Oliver asked the duo if they had moments with their children where they wanted to emulate their parents while yet wanting to entirely detach from them.

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 05: U.S. President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Mal
Former president Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and daughters Malia and Sasha (Getty Images)

Michelle confirmed that her daughters definitely went through that phase, and still do.

"Where do we begin?" she quipped, adding, "Our daughters are 26 and 23, they are young adult women. But they definitely went through a period in their teen years…it was the 'push away.'"

"They're still doing that, and you guys know this of children with parents who are known. You're trying to distinguish yourself. It's 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 want to work hard, that they're just naturally handed things, they're very sensitive to that. They want to be their own people,” she continued.

Michelle also referenced Malia's decision to drop her last name while debuting her short film ‘The Heart’ at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Professionally, the 26-year-old filmmaker now uses her first and middle name, Malia Ann.

DEAUVILLE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 06: Malia Ann Obama attends the opening ceremony during the 50th Deauville American Film Festival on September 06, 2024 in Deauville, France. (Photo by Foc Kan/WireImage)
Malia Ann Obama attends the opening ceremony during the 50th Deauville American Film Festival on September 6, 2024, in Deauville, France (Foc Kan/WireImage)

"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 added.

However, the former first lady did state that Malia and Sasha are "embracing" the values she and Barack instilled in them as parents.

"They understand us as full human beings now in the same way that I discovered that about my parents,” she said.

Michelle Obama discusses how keeping Malia and Sasha’s smoking out of tabloids was ‘nightmare’ 


CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 20: Former first lady Michelle Obama speaks on stage during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Delegates, politicians, and Democratic Party supporters are gathering in Chicago, as current Vice President Kamala Harris is named her party's presidential nominee. The DNC takes place from August 19-22. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Former first lady Michelle Obama speaks on stage during the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 20, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

This came just a few days after Michelle Obama discussed the "nightmare" she faced while trying to keep Malia and Sasha away from the spotlight when they entered their teenage years.

"That was a lot of work," she said during her interview on SiriusXM's 'Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa'.

Malia and Sasha essentially grew up in front of the world, as they were just 10 and 7 years old, respectively, when Barack Obama was elected president in 2008.

DENVER - AUGUST 25: Michelle Obama (C), wife of presumptive Democratic nominee U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), stands with her daughters Sasha (L) and Malia during day one of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the Pepsi Center August 25, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. The DNC, where U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will be officially nominated as the Democratic candidate for U.S. president, starts today and finishes August 28th. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
Michelle Obama (C) stands with her daughters, Sasha (L) and Malia, during day one of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the Pepsi Center August 25, 2008, in Denver, Colorado (John Moore/Getty Images)

Michelle, however, was determined to allow them to grow up like any other child, albeit with a lot more Secret Service collaboration and a little more preparation.

"They had to drive and they had to go to prom and they were on teams and they traveled to other schools and they had to do college searches, and they went to parties and they had drinks, and they tried out smoking and they did all the things," Michelle recalled.

She added, “And every weekend was a nightmare, because we had to work to make sure that them being regular teenagers didn’t wind up on Page Six.”

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