Malia Obama's Stunning Transformation Since Leaving The White House

Malia Obama was only 10 years old when her father Barack Obama took office in 2009, with the former first daughter and her sister Sasha spending some of their most formative years in the public eye. Still, just as Michelle Obama experienced a significant style evolution in subsequent years, Malia has undergone a major transformation since the Obamas left the White House in 2017. The Ivy League graduate has had unique opportunities and made some impressive accomplishments throughout her adult years but continues to live the majority of her life outside of the public eye. 

This low-key living definitely feels in line with what the Obama parents have said about raising their two children. While there were undeniably unique things about Malia and Sasha's upbringing, from having their behavior constantly scrutinized by the public to being taught to drive by secret service agents, Barack and Michelle strove to keep them grounded. "Everybody was on watch to make sure that they both had a normal childhood and that they did not feel as if they got something that they hadn't earned," former President Barack Obama shared on the "The Pivot Podcast," crediting his mother-in-law as a major figure in their lives. "They've turned out amazing. I can't brag about them enough."

Malia Obama was accepted into Harvard University after graduating from Sidwell Friends School in 2016, with the former first daughter opting to take a gap year before attending the Ivy League college. Harvard actively encourages students to defer their enrollment for a year, with Malia taking the institution's recommendations of pursuing internships and spending time traveling. So, while she may have been taking off from school post-White House, she was definitely keeping busy.

The young Obama, who previously served as a personal translator for her father during a family trip to Cuba, interned at the U.S. Embassy in Spain during the summer of 2016, likely putting her Spanish-speaking skills to good use. In 2017, she landed an internship at The Weinstein Co., working at the New York City offices of the Harvey and Bob Weinstein-founded movie studio. The aspiring filmmaker had previously interned on the set of HBO's "Girls," with show creator and star Lena Dunham telling Howard Stern that Malia was "an angel." 

During her gap year, Malia traveled with her mom and sister to promote the Let Girls Learn initiative, with Michelle Obama meeting with local leaders and hosting star-studded panels in Liberia, Morocco, and Spain to promote girls' education. In addition to family vacations to Martha's Vineyard and Bali, Malia later took a discreet trip to Peru and Bolivia (organized by Where There Be Dragons), spending 83 days hiking and living with a family in Tiquipaya. "She was very humble, chatty, spoke Spanish very well," hiking guide Gregorio Mamani told The New York Times. "She was mesmerized by the Bolivian landscape."

After an eventful gap year, Malia Obama started at Harvard University in 2017. The former first family was spotted helping the college freshman move into her new dorm, with Barack Obama opening up about how each family member responded to the emotional experience. "Michelle, she had like a cleaning glove, one of those yellow ones, she's scouring the bathroom and, you know, has all these plans about how everything should be," he revealed on David Letterman's "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction." "[Sasha] was helping to make the bed and fold the clothes and just being really quiet about it, but in a way that was really moving and touching. I was basically useless."

Other than the emotional move-in day experience, not many details are known about Malia's college experience, though she did make headlines after appearing in a music video on YouTube from the Boston-based band, The New Dakotas. In an interview on Medium, Alasdair MacKenzie opened up about the experience, explaining that the band invited Malia and her friend to be in the video after seeing them on campus. "Then a bunch of pretty rank news outlets picked it up, TMZ and tabloid stuff," he said, adding that online users were leaving hateful and racist comments. "And then she called, and she was super chill, but she said, 'My family's publicist doesn't want me to be in this.'" Regardless of her short-lived music video debut, Malia graduated from Harvard in 2021, earning a degree in Visual and Environmental Studies.

While Malia Obama gained pre-college experience working on the set of shows like "Extant" on CBS, her TV writing debut came post-graduation with the 2023 limited series "Swarm." Created by Donald Glover and Janine Nabers, the horror-comedy centers around obsessive superfan Dre, played by Dominique Fishback, and her violent quest to get closer to her Beyonce-inspired pop idol. Obama is credited on Episode 5 of the series, with co-writer and showrunner Nabers opening up about working with the budding creative. "Some of her pitches were wild as hell, and they were just so good and so funny," she told ET. "She's an incredible writer. She brought a lot to the table ... She's really, really dedicated to her craft."

The young Obama went on to make her film festival debut with the short film "The Heart," working in collaboration with Glover's film company. The project premiered at Sundance in January 2024 and went on to earn the Young Spirit Award at the Deauville Film Festival in August. Malia, who's opted to use the name Malia Ann in her creative work, spoke about the project in a video for the event. "This is an odd little story, somewhat of a fable, about a man grieving the death of his mother after she leaves him an unusual request in her will," she explained (per YouTube). Later that same year, she directed the music video for Michael Kiwanuka's track "One and Only." While the credit demonstrates her interest in a variety of filmmaking mediums, we're also glad to see Malia making a music video mark that's sure to last.

Just as Malia and Sasha Obama have both transformed since leaving the White House, their sisterly bond seems to have grown and changed as they've transitioned into adulthood. Since leaving the White House, the two moved into an LA apartment together back in 2022, when the youngest Obama daughter was attending the University of Southern California as a junior. While promoting her book, "The Light We Carry," Michelle Obama lightheartedly talked about visiting the sisterly duo, explaining that they had invited her and Barack over for martinis. "When we got the glasses, they were like, 'Uh, uh, uh — use a coaster!'" the former first lady recounted on an episode of "Today with Hoda & Jenna." She continued, "I'm like, 'You never used a coaster in my house. So now when it's your stuff, you want to take care of it!'"

While she joked about the experience, the best-selling author has also opened up about what it means to see her children grow so close in adulthood. "It feels good to know that the two girls you raised find solace at a kitchen table with one another. It's like the one thing you want for them," Michelle told People. "I think that they realize that they have a unique bond because they're the only two who know what they just went through — growing up in the White House with the brightest spotlight in the world on you as you were going through adolescence and puberty." Malia and Sasha continue to be sporadically spotted at LA hotspots or even the occasional high-profile party, with the two seemingly living their best lives together.

While the Obama sisters have been caught wearing outdated trends, Malia has also made headlines for her fashion prowess. The filmmaker wore a trendy Vivienne Westwood outfit to the 2024 Deauville American Film Festival, with the asymmetrical piece featuring two mismatched plaid patterns and an off-the-shoulder neckline. Malia, who was styled by Michelle Obama's long-time stylist Meredith Goop, accessorized with black boots and wore baby braids in her middle-parted hair. In a rare red carpet interview, she referred to the late Westwood as a "queen," adding, "I don't know as much about fashion, but I'm happy to be wearing it" (via YouTube).

Malia has also been spotted in notable pieces around Los Angeles, with the former first daughter carrying a bag from SC103, a coveted New York-based brand known for their eclectic and handcrafted pieces, to brunch in September 2024. She paired the plaid crossbody piece with a gray, pleated skirt and an orange baby tee layered over a white button-up for a casually cool ensemble. Malia and Sasha similarly caught media attention when they were photographed in Y2K-inspired outfits ahead of a Charli XCX and Troye Sivan concert. The oldest Obama daughter opted for a corset-vest hybrid top in a gray plaid and a pleated denim skirt with a raw edge, styling the combo with sleek black boots and a studded handbag. While Malia claims she doesn't know much about fashion, we wouldn't be surprised if she's inspired quite a few Gen-Z outfits since leaving the White House.