News | Entertainment
29 Jun 2025 17:53
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Michelle Obama's daughter was trying to "distinguish" herself by dropping her family surname

    The 60-year-old former US First Lady has daughters Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23, with her ex-president husband Barack Obama, and their eldest ditched the Obama surname so it would not appear in the credits of a short film she was working on, as criticism of "nepo babies" continues to rage


    Speaking on the 'Sibling Revelry' podcast with hosts Kate Hudson, 45, and her older brother Oliver Hudson, 48, Michelle said:

    "Where do we begin? 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."

    Malia decided to go by 'Malia Ann' - her first and middle names - in the credits of her directorial debut, 'The Heart', which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2023.

    While Michelle and Barack, 62, were initially surprised by the decision, the former First Lady said they ultimately understood and supported the motivation behind it.

    "We were like, 'They're still going to know it's you, Malia,'" she said.

    Michelle added: "But we respected the fact that she's trying to make her way."

    She also explained both her daughters "don't want people to assume that they're just naturally handed things" and are deeply sensitive to perceptions of nepotism.

    "They want to be their own people," she said.

    Barack has echoed similar sentiments in the past.

    Speaking on 'The Pivot Podcast', he said: "(Malia's) first film went to Sundance and all these fancy film festivals, and she didn't use Obama as a director on the credits."

    He also recalled telling Malia: "You do know they'll know who you are," to which she replied: "I want them to watch it that first time and not in any way have that association."

    Michelle added her children's decisions to establish distance from their public identity were rooted in a desire for authenticity - and that, as a parent, it was something she had to respect.

    She said: "They're trying to make their mark in a world that sees them a certain way."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     29 Jun: Kneecap play Glastonbury set amid terrorism charge as police investigate crowd chants
     28 Jun: Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Harvey Weinstein cases test the limits and legacy of #MeToo movement
     27 Jun: Charlize Theron's daughter was reduced to tears by her mullet
     27 Jun: Demi Lovato is releasing her first cookbook
     27 Jun: Sharon Osbourne believes that Ozzy Osbourne's fans will "carry him" through Black Sabbath's farewell gig
     27 Jun: John Cena called out a fan for filming him without permission
     27 Jun: Tom Brady is reportedly set to attend Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's lavish Italian wedding
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    All Blacks coach Scott Robertson is keen to see what both Rieko Ioane and Billy Proctor can do in season 2025 More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Dairy farmers are remaining optimistic, despite some road bumps More...



     Today's News

    Rugby:
    All Blacks coach Scott Robertson is keen to see what both Rieko Ioane and Billy Proctor can do in season 2025 17:26

    Law and Order:
    Kneecap play Glastonbury set amid terrorism charge as police investigate crowd chants 17:06

    Netball:
    The Central Pulse have opened up a big halftime lead on the Mainland Tactix in their ANZ netball Premiership match in the capital 16:57

    Rugby:
    All Blacks coach Scott Robertson hopes to channel the lessons of 2024 into his second year at the helm 16:56

    Law and Order:
    The family of missing a 17-year-old missing in Auckland for nearly a week, are desperate for news 16:16

    International:
    Popular and easy winter desserts 15:46

    Environment:
    The clean-up phase has begun in the Upper South Island, following severe flooding and heavy rain 15:36

    International:
    Falling missile debris smash West Bank villages and terrify residents 15:36

    International:
    Zohran Mamdani defeats New York Democratic rivals and claims victory for party's progressives 15:26

    Rugby:
    All Blacks coach Scott Robertson backs Jordie Barrett to slot straight back into the test environment after his loan to Leinster 15:26


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd