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Image source: StarsUnfolded

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Malia Obama Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 5, 2026 • 3 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth4 July 1998

BirthplaceChicago, Illinois

NationalityAmerican

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyParents - Barack Obama and Michelle Obama; Sister - Sasha Obama

Malia Obama Biography

Malia Ann Obama, born July 4, 1998 in Chicago, is the elder daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama. Raised in Chicago, she attended the University ofChicago

Early life and background

Malia Ann Obama was born on July 4, 1998, in Chicago, Illinois. She grew up in the city that has been central to her family’s life and spent her early school years at the University of Chicago Laboratory School before transferring to Sidwell Friends School, where she completed her secondary education in 2016.

Growing up in the public eye as the daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama, Malia experienced a childhood shaped by both private family routines and the responsibilities that came with her parents’ roles. Her parents emphasized normal household responsibilities; she and her sister were expected to take care of their own chores. The family also kept pets, including Portuguese Water Dogs, during their time in the White House.

Physical profile

Malia is tall, listed at approximately 178 cm (about 5 feet 10 inches). She is described as having black hair and black eyes.

Career

After finishing high school, Malia took a gap year before beginning college. During that year she undertook an internship at an independent film studio, reflecting an early interest in the film industry. In 2017 she enrolled at Harvard University in Cambridge. While her declared major has not been publicly specified, her mother has mentioned Malia’s interest in filmmaking on several occasions.

Malia has had a handful of public-facing experiences related to media. She appears in the 2020 Netflix documentary Becoming, which chronicles Michelle Obama’s book tour and life story. Earlier, in 2018, Malia briefly appeared in a music video by a Boston-based band; that appearance was later removed from the uploaded version to protect privacy.

Public life and activities

Although private for much of her childhood due to White House security protocols, Malia became more visible after her father left office. She has attended public events and festivals, including the Sundance Film Festival in 2017, where she participated in a protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline. In 2019 she joined a Juneteenth march for equality.

Malia has also been noted for athletic involvement during her school years, competing in tennis and basketball and winning school-level titles. On several occasions the family has been photographed traveling together, and Malia has spent time living and working abroad, including a summer internship at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid in 2016.

Personal life and public profile

Malia’s birthday falls on the American Independence Day, July 4, and family celebrations have sometimes been shaped by her father’s public duties on that date. While her upbringing included significant Secret Service protection and some constraints—such as movement being handled by agents—the family sought to allow normal adolescent experiences when possible. For example, Secret Service agents taught her how to drive while her father was president, and her parents accommodated her prom night with security in place.

Malia’s personal life has occasionally been subject to media attention. Reports have mentioned her relationship with Rory Farquharson. She has been photographed and written about in relation to social activities and lifestyle choices since attending college.

Public image and interests

Malia has been observed to follow a developing interest in fashion, often noted alongside her mother’s reputation as a style influence. Her public appearances and occasional participation in film- and media-related projects suggest she is exploring opportunities connected to storytelling and filmmaking.

Latest updates

Malia appeared in the documentary Becoming, released on Netflix on May 6, 2020, which follows her mother’s 34-city book tour and personal history. Beyond that appearance and earlier media-related experiences, she has continued her studies at Harvard and maintained a relatively low public profile while engaging selectively in activism, internships, and creative pursuits.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Malia Obama, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Becoming (documentary appearance)

Appeared with her sister in the Netflix documentary that follows Michelle Obama’s book tour and life story.

2020
Music video appearance (edited out)

Briefly appeared in a 2018 music video by a Boston-based band; her part was later removed from the uploaded version.

2018
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Career Highlights

  1. Internship at an independent film studio during a post‑high school gap year
  2. Enrolled at Harvard University in 2017
  3. Appeared in Netflix documentary Becoming (2020)
  4. Summer internship at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid (2016)
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Malia Obama born?

Malia Obama was born on 4 July 1998.

What is Malia Obama’s marital status?

Malia Obama's marital status is listed as Unmarried.