Malia Ann Obama
Malia poses for a family portrait with Bo and Sunny in the Rose Garden of the White House on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015.
Born
Malia Ann Obama

July 4, 1998
EducationHarvard University
Occupation(s)Director, Filmmaker
Parents
RelativesSasha Obama (sister)
FamilyObama Family

Malia Ann Obama (born July 4, 1998) is a filmmaker, writer, director, and influencer. She is the eldest daughter of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, and his wife, Michelle Obama.

Early life edit

Malia was born on July 4, 1998, at the University of Chicago Medical Center. At the time her father, Barack, was an Illinois state senator and a law professor, and her mother, Michelle Obama, was serving as the University of Chicago's associate dean of student services. Up until 2008, she and her younger sister, Sasha Obama, attended the private University of Chicago Laboratory School.

At the age of ten, her father was elected as the 44th U.S. President, and in November of 2008, she moved into the White House. Before moving to the White House, the previous president, George W. Bush’s daughters were able to give Malia and Sasha a tour of the house and taught them how to slide down the banister, showing them the untold mysteries of the White House. They also share with them the best places for hide and seek, the movie theatre, and the bowling alley. Learning about the fun they could have in the White House eased Malia and Sasha’s nerves as they moved to an unknown place.[1] Malia and Sasha were the first black children of a President to live in the White House. She then spent most of her adolescent and early teen years in its confines. After moving to DC, she and her sister attended Sidwell Friends School, graduating in 2016.[2] Throughout her childhood, her parents were very strict and provided her with as much privacy and protection as possible.

Teen Life edit

Malia grew into quite the influencer as she transitioned from just an ordinary girl to a celebrity. She was seen as a kind-hearted, well-mannered, and respectful girl who acknowledged her celebrity-like status but prefers to stay out of the public eye.[3] In fact, she tries her best to be as far away from the spotlight as possible. She rarely makes any public appearances and does not have public social media accounts.[1] She spent most of her teenage years in the White House, as her father was in office as president of the United States for two full terms.

Gap Year edit

Before attending college, Malia chose to take a gap year between high school and college. She paved the way for this idea to become a more popular decision among students going from high school to college.[according to whom?] During this time, the students often go on vacations or take on some other adventure. Students hope to find something new about themselves so when they come back from their year-long postponement, they can be more focused on their goals. Parents are not normally for this option, because they think they will not recover academically. The opposite is true. Students who take a year break perform better and finish their education leading them to a more promising career path. Students who are stressed tend to take their frustrations elsewhere such as alcohol or substance abuse. Taking a break is something that can positively benefit students.[4] During Malia’s gap year, she went on many vacations such as South America, Indonesia, and Bolivia. Just like other students, the break allowed her to be with friends and family and visit foreign places, instead of stressing about school.

 
The Obamas descending from Air Force One at Ezeiza International Airport.

College edit

Education has been a very important thing in the Obama family. Her father Barack Obama received degrees from Columbia University and Harvard Law School. Her mother Michelle Obama attended undergrad at Princeton University, as well as Harvard Law School. After graduating from Sidwell in 2016, no one doubted that she would attend a top school. She toured Brown, Yale, and the University of Pennsylvania as well as others before ultimately deciding to attend Harvard University. Although she chose the school both her parents attended, there was no significant push to attend Harvard. Malia had always been interested in filmmaking. Through her time at Harvard University, Malia majored in Visual and Environmental Studies. She graduated from Harvard in 2019.[5]

Career edit

Throughout her life, Malia had many job opportunities, but her passion was filmmaking and television. It was her dream to become part of the entertainment industry. She began her debut when she landed production assistant for Halle Berry’s canceled CBS series “Extant”, in 2014. Her first work in the industry laid the groundwork for future achievements, setting the stage for a promising trajectory. She followed that achievement with another when she received another entertaining gig on the set of HBO’s “Girls” with Lena Dunham in 2015. This milestone marks a significant step forward in her professional growth, showcasing her ability to navigate the intricacies of television production at a young age.[6] Continuing her ascension, her journey led her to the esteemed Weinstein Company in 2017, where she honed her craft in a different aspect of the industry.[2] Her big breakthrough was when she added “director” to her resumé. The former first daughter made her directorial debut with a short film production by Donald Glover’s company, Gilga. The 24-year-old worked alongside her mentor, Donald, in the writer's room of Prime Video’s Swarm, in 2021.[7] Her achievement holds great significance as it highlights the often underestimated potential of Black women.[8]

Religion edit

 
The President talks to Malia prior to the State Dinner. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) March 10, 2016

The Obama family has always been a religious family. Both parents, Barack and Michelle Obama are Christians. They appreciate their faith and attribute it to their successes in life. Throughout Malia’s childhood, she participated in many Christian events because of her parent's faith. Malia Obama has not been vocal about her faith, it is uncertain what faith she belongs to. There is speculation that she is Muslim because her father Barack Obama’s middle name is Hussein and because he spent part of his childhood living in Indonesia.[9]

Personal life edit

Rory Farquharson is the boyfriend of Malia. He is from the United Kingdom, born to a successful and wealthy family. He has also earned attention for his association with British royalty, and also for his outstanding academic achievements. He and Malia met when they attended Harvard University. Having attended Harvard, he is very intelligent. Rory also has a passion for fashion, showcasing a distinctive sense of style. In his high school days, he was an athlete, competing in both rugby and golf. Amidst his prosperous lifestyle, one aspect of concern is his smoking habit, which seems to have influenced Malia to take up the same habit.[10]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Malia and Sasha Obama's far from ordinary childhood". HELLO!. 2023-03-02. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  2. ^ a b "Malia Obama - Education, First Daughter & Facts". Biography. 2021-06-21. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  3. ^ Hudome, H. J. "The Re-Celebrification of Malia Obama: Girlhood, Race, and Celebrity in News Coverage".
  4. ^ "Malia Obama's 'Gap Year' Is Part of a Growing (and Expensive) Trend (Published 2016)". 2016-05-02. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  5. ^ "Here's What Malia Obama Studied At School". The List. 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  6. ^ French, Agatha (2017-01-20). "Malia Obama lands an internship with mega-producer Harvey Weinstein". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  7. ^ "How Malia Obama Is Taking a Major Step in Her Hollywood Career". E! Online. 2023-04-05. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  8. ^ Capshaw, Katharine (2018). "Black Girlhood in the Nineteenth Century by Nazera Sadiq Wright (review)". Legacy: A Journal of American Women Writers. 35 (1): 108–110. ISSN 1534-0643.
  9. ^ "Malia Obama's Faith: Muslim Or Christian? | Dvaita". Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  10. ^ "Who Is Malia Obama's Boyfriend?". The List. 2018-01-24. Retrieved 2023-08-07.