Growing up in the public eye is no easy feat, and Malia Obama knows this all too well. As the daughter of former US president, Barack Obama, she has spent her life in the spotlight. Even today, the media is captivated by her every move.

Now, at the age of 25, Malia has made her directorial debut at the Sundance Film Festival with her film The Heart. In a recent Sundance Institute interview, she revealed that she is now going by the name Malia Ann, embracing her middle name and leaving her last name behind.

The choice of her middle name, Ann, holds special significance. It is a tribute to her paternal grandmother, who passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 52 in 1995. By adopting this new moniker, Malia is honoring her family heritage while stepping into her own spotlight.