Malia Obama Has Scored Her First Job – And She’s Heading For Hollywood

Remember Malia Obama? That little girl we saw at her dad’s first inauguration is all grown up! And if you’re already feeling old after reading that, then we have more bad news for you: Malia’s also close to graduating college. Yes, time has definitely flown. Now, the former First Daughter is headed for the bright lights of Tinseltown.

It’s all so hard to believe! Wasn’t it just yesterday that Malia was patting that Thanksgiving turkey? Not quite. She’s now an accomplished young woman with an Ivy League education. She even has a serious boyfriend: fellow Harvard student Rory Farquharson.

Ever sensible, though, Malia has reportedly already lined up her first job after college. And as you would expect, this daughter of a former president isn’t going to be slinging suds behind a bar. She’s off to Tinseltown, where her talent has an opportunity to burn brightly.

But then Malia hasn’t exactly had an ordinary life. She was just ten, you see, when she moved into the White House back in 2009. From that young age, she’s constantly been in the public eye – with all of the positives and negatives that entails. Lucky, then, that she had mom Michelle to ground her.

And the former first lady was apparently determined to raise Malia and her younger sister, Sasha, in as normal a manner as possible. This was easier said than done, though! Speaking on The Michelle Obama Podcast in 2020, the mom of two said, “One of the things that I had to learn how to negotiate was creating these boundaries with my kids in the White House. I mean... talk about being raised in a totally different world than I ever knew.”

Michelle added, “It’s like, pluckin’ these little girls out of our normal life on the South Side of Chicago... and then putting them in a historic mansion with butlers and maids and florists and gardeners and Secret Service. Then [it’s] trying to make sure that they understood boundaries, understood responsibility.”

But although Malia and her sister had everything at their fingertips, their grandma Marian Robinson attempted to keep things humble. Instead of treating her granddaughters to a trip on Air Force One or throwing a huge party for them in the State Dining Room, Marian rewarded the pair by handing them “a little extra candy.” Just like other kids, really!

Mind you, Michelle played her part as well. She said on her podcast, “I always tried to make sure that I wasn’t pouting in front of the kids when Barack wasn’t there. If I had made a big deal out of it and said, ‘Oh my God, your dad’s not here again! Oh, he’s missing this’ or ‘I just wish…’ then that’s the signal to them, ‘Well, this isn’t normal.’”

Michelle added of her famous husband, “He worked his schedule around [Malia and Sasha’s] schedule. They weren’t waiting until 9 o’clock at night to eat because dad was running late. They never couldn’t... go somewhere or do something because of dad. I never wanted them to resent the presidency or resent what their dad did.”

However hard Michelle tried to keep life normal, though, some things made Malia and Sasha different from other girls their age. Take their education, for instance. The sisters attended Sidwell Friends School, which has been called “the Harvard of Washington’s private schools.” Following in the footsteps of Tricia Nixon and Chelsea Clinton, the pair received top-class tuition out of reach for most regular folks.

As teens, Malia and Sasha were also famous enough to lend their names to philanthropic causes. Back in 2016, the sisters traveled to the U.K., Spain and Morocco to endorse the Let Girls Learn project. The government initiative had been set up to ensure that young women from across the globe had access to education.

And when the time came for Malia to learn to drive, it wasn’t her parents that took her out for lessons. Instead, she got behind the wheel with a Secret Service agent! Michelle shared this secret in a 2015 TV interview with Rachael Ray. She explained that security wouldn’t let her drive off White House property with her daughter.

When all was said and done, though, the Obamas seemingly succeeded at raising down-to-earth daughters in the most unusual of circumstances. And during a 2020 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the former president said that Malia and Sasha were among his proudest achievements. Yes, even with all the legislation he’d passed in the White House.

Barack explained, “Maybe one of my greatest successes, Michelle’s greatest successes, in those eight years was raising these great girls who don’t have an attitude, don’t feel entitled. But part of it is because of my mother-in-law. If she saw them acting bratty, she said, ‘You guys haven’t done anything. Why are you acting special? You’re just here for the ride.’” Trust grandma to take you down a peg or two!

Eventually, though, the time came for Malia to fly the nest. And she landed at Harvard University – which makes sense, as her parents are both graduates of the Ivy. Talking of her mom and dad, both Barack and Michelle were by Malia’s side to help her settle into college life. And the former first lady opened up about this emotional experience in her podcast.

To keep her feelings of loss at bay, Michelle revealed that she had tried to keep busy. She explained, “Barack and I have two different ways of dealing with that anxiety. I just had a list of things to do. I was unpacking the room, we’re making the bed, we’re cleaning, we’re getting the dorm room ready. We had things. You know, I was occupied.”

Her husband, on the other hand, was at a bit of a loose end for once. Michelle confessed, “Barack was all out of it because he really didn’t have a job. So we had to give him a make-job. Like, ‘Hey, why don’t you try to put this lamp together.’ The lamp was already put together, you know, it just really needed to be screwed.”

But when the presidential couple had driven away? The waterworks finally began. Michelle confessed, “I heard Barack over on the side, just [sniffing]. You know that sort of [thing]. And Allen, his agent, passed a handkerchief back to him. He was like, ‘Thanks, man.’ We both shed some tears.”

Unquestionably the moment was a poignant one for the parents, as it told them their oldest child was all grown up. Michelle said, “There was just something about the actual leaving [Malia], even though she had been to sleepaway camp and she had traveled. There’s just something about that... Like, she’s gone.”

Fast-forward three and a bit years, though, and Malia is on the verge of being a Harvard grad. Not only that, but in February 2021 it was reported that she had landed a job in what has to be one of the hottest writers’ rooms of the moment. Yes, the Obamas’ eldest looks to be going into TV!

Malia’s no stranger to the great and the good of Hollywood, so it’s actually not that surprising a move. Both her mom and dad are well known for having a famous circle of friends. The prominent people the family have rubbed shoulders with over the years include such A-list stars as Beyoncé, Oprah and George Clooney.

We don’t know if Malia’s early exposure to celebrities influenced her career choices as she grew. Back when she was a teenager, though, she made moves into TV and film. In 2014, for instance, she interned on the CBS sci-fi series Extant, which starred Halle Berry as the lead.

And during a 2017 appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Berry spilled the beans on Malia’s time on set. The actress said, “She was fantastic, she was amazing. I was such a huge fan of her. She is such a smart, beautiful, young woman.” Safe to say that Berry was impressed. The star added of Malia, “She was down to do whatever a PA is asked to do, and I had wild respect for her for that.”

That experience apparently didn’t put Malia, off, either, as she later went on to help out with the production of HBO comedy series Girls. And according to the star of the show, Lena Dunham, the teenager was eager to make a good impression on set.

In a 2017 interview with Howard Stern, Dunham said of Malia, “She loved the show, and I mean, obviously, we weren’t, like, making her go get our coffee. You’re not going to send [the president’s daughter to get coffee]. But she wanted to do all the jobs. That was the cool thing. She was totally enthusiastic.”

Following her stint on Girls, Malia moved onto another internship with the since-disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein. It was also rumored that she was looking into studying at New York University, which is home to one of the country’s most prestigious filmmaking courses. Ultimately, of course, she went another way by attending college at Harvard.

And even before she’d graduated, Malia managed to bag herself a top job in the television industry. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she’s been recruited by producer, actor and musician Donald Glover to work on his impending Amazon series.

The news came to light after Glover cut ties with FX – the network that had been the home of his successful series Atlanta. Then, after ending his contract, the star reportedly signed with Amazon in a deal said to be worth eight figures.

In an article about the news, The Hollywood Reporter claimed that Glover was expected to establish his own channel on Prime Video. This space would host the actor’s own work as well as other carefully selected content. Brother Stephen Glover, who had worked as a writer and producer on Atlanta, would be a part of the deal, too.

Where does Malia come into all this? Well, if rumor has it, she may be involved in a mooted series going by the name of Hive. The show is the brainchild of Janine Nabers, the writer and producer behind Watchmen and Away, and it’s said to revolve around a pop music diva in the mold of Beyoncé.

And, apparently, Malia has secured a spot in the writers’ room on the fledgling series. But given that the show is said to be in its early stages, other details about the former first daughter’s involvement in the production are scarce. Amazon has also declined to comment on either its deal with Glover or the development of Hive.

Still, if these reports are true, Malia may be able to swap TV-making tips with her parents. Famously, Michelle and Barack signed a deal with Netflix in 2018 – and they’ve since let us know what they’ll be producing. In the pipeline is a number of documentaries as well as a feature film about the prominent abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

In a statement about the couple’s Netflix collaboration, the former president promised a wide range of programming. He said, “Touching on issues of race and class, democracy and civil rights and much more... each of these productions won’t just entertain but will educate, connect and inspire us all.”

But even though Malia and her parents have potentially found themselves working for rival streaming services, they’ll no doubt remain supportive of one another. On her podcast, Michelle said of her daughters, “Both Malia and Sasha have turned out to be wonderful young ladies. And [they’re] very well-adjusted, given what they had to deal with right at a very important developmental point in their lives.”

It appears the admiration is mutual, too! Speaking about her mom for the 2020 Netflix documentary Becoming, Sasha said, “I’m excited for her to be proud of what she’s done, because I think that’s the most important thing for a human to do: be proud of themselves.”

Meanwhile, Malia spoke of the legions of fans Michelle had attracted on her sold-out book tour. She said, “What this has demonstrated in a way just... Damn, those eight years weren’t for nothing, you know? You see that huge crowd out there, and that last kind of speech you gave about – people are here because people really believe in love and in hope and hope in other people.”

You can certainly feel the love! It’s no wonder, then, that Malia and Sasha moved back in with their parents for a spell in 2020. But Malia didn’t return to her family home alone. She brought her boyfriend along as well. And, luckily, Farquharson won the approval of her father.

In December 2020 Barack said on The Bill Simmons Podcast, “[Farquharson]’s British, wonderful young man… I didn’t want to like him, but he’s a good kid.” Still, there was one small complaint about the family’s new housemate. Barack explained, “Young men eat like… it’s weird to watch them consume food. And my grocery bill went up about 30 percent.” Anyone with a growing son probably knows what he means...

What do we know about Farquharson? Well, he and Malia were first linked back in 2017. He’s the son of an accountant and an investment firm chief executive and comes from a wealthy British family. He even has a royal connection, as his second cousin once served as Master of the Household at Buckingham Palace. Is that good enough to romance a former president’s daughter? We think so.

And the future definitely looks bright for Malia. If the rumors of her new job in Hollywood are true, we’ll no doubt be hearing a lot more about her. Even if they aren’t, she’ll undoubtedly fall on her feet. There’s got to be some perks to being Barack’s daughter, after all...

Both Malia and Sasha could even be famous models if they wanted to, as their fashion game is on point. Yep, the age-appropriate but rather regular clothes are gone, replaced by wardrobes the rest of us can only envy. Don’t believe us? Well, take the following pics as proof of the first daughters’ style evolution.

40. Swearing-in ceremony, 2005

Back in January 2005 a pre-presidency Barack Obama was sworn into the 109th United States Congress, alongside his wife Michelle and young daughters. And the fact that they got a six- and three-year-old to look that neat and professional tells you all you need to know about the Obamas’ excellent parenting skills. Michelle was even able to co-ordinate her scarf with Malia’s dress.

39. On the campaign trail, 2008

When Barack Obama started his presidential campaign in 2007, he brought the young Malia and Sasha along with him. They might’ve been a little bored – check out Malia’s big yawn in the picture – but they brought their under-ten fashion game. The sisters even have coordinating outfits and matching jeans here.

38. Under the flag, 2008

Towards the end of Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, he took Malia and Sasha with him to an event in Missouri’s JFK Stadium. You’ll note that both little girls are dressed in red and blue to match the flag behind them. Did their parents (or they themselves) plan for that? Or was it just a happy coincidence?

37. Election Day, 2008

The Obamas brought their A-game for fashion on Election Day. When Obama was declared the winner, all eyes were on them. Malia’s $110 Biscotti Inc. outfit quickly became a runaway hit with consumers, and so did Sasha’s $72 Gerson & Gerson gown. In fact, the younger Obama’s dress was later re-titled “Sasha” by the manufacturers.

36. Inauguration Day, 2009

Barack Obama’s inauguration was an absolute dream for fashion fans. There was Michelle’s stunning Isabel Toledo outfit, first of all, and then there was that incredible hat Aretha Franklin wore. But the young Obamas kept up with the adults. Sasha and Malia wore colorful coats, with Sasha’s coming from J.Crew – the same company that provided Michelle’s green gloves.

35. Easter egg roll, 2009

In 2009 Malia and Sasha partook in their first Easter egg roll, a White House tradition. There they got to show off their casual ensembles for the first time, too. They wore bright colors, cute pinks for Sasha and more mature blues for Malia. The highlight here was probably the younger Obama’s adorable polka-dot leggings and Converse shoes combo.

34. On holiday, 2009

When the Obamas went to Martha’s Vineyard in 2009, the two girls looked a bit like miniature versions of their mother. They were all wearing stylish shades of white, plus sunglasses. But that’s not remotely a bad thing, since Michelle is a fashion icon in her own right. This holiday may mark the beginning of the Obama girls’ fascination with big bags – they seem to love them.

33. Family photo, 2009

In 2009 Annie Leibovitz took a picture of the First Family in the White House. They were all color-coordinated in monochrome outfits and looked perfect. Around the same time, Michelle was being criticized by the press for always choosing sleeveless outfits – perhaps the girls wearing the same here was them subtly sending a message?

32. Summer dresses, 2010

The big bags are back! And here you can see Malia and Sasha, having previously worn coordinated outfits pretty frequently, start to unco-ordinate. Both are wearing something appropriate for their age group. Malia, as the oldest daughter, sports something not unlike what Michelle’s got on, while Sasha has a more girly outfit.

31. Boarding Air Force One, 2010

Hands up if there’s no way your parents would let you eat ice cream if you had your nice clothes on. Well, that rule isn’t one the president’s daughter has to follow! In 2010 the then nine-year-old Sasha Obama was snapped getting the messy snack while wearing this absolutely stunning dress. And it was all fine, don’t worry.

30. Going to church, 2010

In September 2010 President Obama and his family went to St John’s Episcopal Church, which is close to the White House. The press were there, too, so they all had to look perfect. And Sasha and Malia pulled this off with aplomb. Both wore stylish dresses – black and white for Malia, cute blue for Sasha – and subtle jewelry.

29. Turkey pardoning, 2011

Sasha attended the traditional White House turkey pardoning in 2011, and chose an animal print shirt to wear. Sadly, it didn’t feature a turkey, but rather another animal often found on farms: a horse. Paired with a bright blue blazer and a cute red heart necklace, it looked fantastic on her.

28. Christmas party, 2011

Everyone loves dressing up for Christmas and the Obama daughters are no exception. In 2011 they went onstage in Washington wearing beautiful dresses that the HuffPost adored. The website even wrote of Malia, “The 13-year-old has been spotting in several fashion forward outfits lately and is quickly becoming one of our favorite style gals to watch.”

27. The Kids’ Choice Awards, 2012

Dressing for the Kids’ Choice Awards can’t be easy. It’s a high-profile entertainment event with plenty of photographers but it’s, well, for kids. Sasha and Malia were kids at that point, of course, and they pulled out all the stops. Both wore outfits from the British brand ASOS which were just the right side of casual.

26. Easter egg roll, 2012

The Obamas seem to use the Easter egg roll as an excuse to bring out their most colorful clothes, and why not? You’ll notice that Sasha has the same blue blazer she wore at the turkey pardoning in this photo. If you find a piece you really like you gotta stick with it, and the Obamas are definitely down to earth enough to recycle.

25. The Democratic National Convention, 2012

Malia and Sasha wore super-chic outfits at the 2012 DNC. 11-year-old Sasha had a grey Anthropologie dress with a yellow belt, and Malia sported a blue number from H&M with her nails done in the same color. Even though they were stars of the show, their father told them from the stage, “You still have to go to school tomorrow.”

24. Walking through Lafayette Park, 2012

This photo shows Malia and Sasha on their way to St. John’s with their dad in October 2012. And they’re providing an absolute masterclass on how to dress when the media are watching. Both their outfits are stylish, eye-catching and age-appropriate. Plus, they’re wrapped up warm against the weather as well.

23. Election Night, 2012

The Obama family did, of course, have not one but two successful election nights. For their appearance on stage in 2012, Sasha and Malia didn’t put a single foot wrong. The media noted that the green Chris Benz skirt Sasha sported had actually once belonged to Malia, which was a sweet little touch.

22. Inauguration Day, 2013

Obama’s second inauguration was obviously a big event, so Malia and Sasha brought out their best and most stylish coats. The White House reported on which designers they chose while the eyes of the world were on them – Sasha’s purple coat was from Kate Spade, and Malia’s fuchsia one from Obama favorite J.Crew.

21. China trip, 2014

In 2014 the Obama daughters went on a diplomatic trip to China with their mother. While 12-year-old Sasha wore a fairly simple red dress to mirror her mom’s, Malia did something different. Us magazine wrote of her, “The true star of the foreign photo op, however, was 15-year-old Malia – who resembled her stylish mom more than ever – in a high-waisted floral skirt and matching crop top from Topshop.”

20. Easter portrait, 2015

The Obama family didn’t actually release that many official portraits featuring the girls. This one, taken for Easter celebrations in 2015, was only the third. But it nicely shows how the two young women were evolving their fashion styles. And you’ll note there wasn’t a sleeve in sight. Deploy the “right to bare arms” joke now…

19. At 10 Downing Street, 2015

In June 2015 Sasha and Malia went on a trip to England with their mom. For their visit with the prime minister at 10 Downing Street, they both picked stylish Kate Spade dresses – a bright red one for Malia and a turquoise number for Sasha. The First Daughters looked every bit like princesses on that day.

18. In Venice, 2015

The two Obama girls got to do a lot of travelling in 2015 – they also went to Venice in Italy. While there, this photo was snapped, which perfectly demonstrates their evolving styles. The girls don’t match like they used to anymore. Instead, Sasha is opting for a chic, intricately patterned summer dress while Malia rocks casual denim.

17. Returning to the White House, 2017

One perk of being a First Daughter is that you get a lot of holidays. Here, the girls are exiting the helicopter that took them to Martha’s Vineyard in the summer of 2017. Malia’s back in denim and Sasha has another patterned dress – plus, don’t forget the oversized bags. And their dad has thoughtfully gotten dressed in the same color, too!

16. Welcoming the Pope, 2015

What do you wear to greet the Pope? That’s the sort of question Sasha and Malia had to answer in their day-to-day lives as First Daughters. When His Holiness came to America in the fall of 2015, Malia wore a flowery dress and Sasha a gorgeous pastel skirt from Kate Spade.

15. Turkey pardoning, 2015

The Obama girls always brought it for the annual turkey pardoning. At the 2015 event Sasha looked like a geek-chic queen in her glasses and neat skirt. Malia, on the other hand, went for something a little more edgy with her color-blocked jacket. Both girls had shopped at American Apparel for their outfits, it turned out.

14. White House State Dinner, 2016

Malia and Sasha maintained a very low profile throughout the 2016 White House Dinner. We do know a little about their dresses, though – they were created by Naeem Khan and were quite a bit more grown-up than the Obama girls’ usual outfits. Malia’s was strapless, and Sasha’s had sheer panels in the front. But because the girls were still so young, photos and comments were kept to a minimum.

13. In Havana, 2016

Malia proved red was one of her colors when she went to Havana with her family in 2016. She wore a stylish dress from Alice + Olivia, a New York-based brand. But she wasn’t just there to show off her wardrobe – during that trip she also served as a Spanish-language interpreter for her father.

12. Going on holiday, 2016

The Obama girls chose white outfits for their summer vacation in 2016. As they boarded Marine One to head for Martha’s Vineyard, photographers got a good look at their stylish ensembles. Malia had on a Reformation sundress, and Sasha chose a stripy shirt with a belt and chic white skirt.

11. On the White House lawn, 2016

Sasha is really good at dressing for vacations. Returning to Washington, D.C., with her father in 2016, she rocked this boho dress and wedge shoes, using a funky backpack and fashionable chokers for accessories. It was the perfect summer look and proof she was getting more confident with her styles.

10. At the Made in America Festival, 2016

Malia shook things up in September 2016 with her festival outfit. She sported a cap from her own college, Harvard, plus cutoff shorts, shades and a t-shirt. It was the latter that drew the most comment, as it read “Smoking Kills” and she might have created it herself. Was she, like so many White House occupants before her, using fashion to send out a message?

9. Christmas tree lighting ceremony, 2016

Sasha was the sole Obama daughter at the 2016 White House Christmas tree lighting, as Malia was away on her gap year. She got all dressed up for the occasion and wore a dark blue velvet coat from the brand Opening Ceremony, plus skinny jeans and one of the chokers that were fast becoming her trademark.

8. President Obama’s farewell speech, 2017

It was Malia’s turn to go solo at her father’s all-important farewell address in January 2017, because the then 15-year-old Sasha had an important exam the next morning. So Malia was fashionable enough for two that evening. She wore a black and white dress, from the company Cinq à Sept, and matching tights.

7. In Soho, 2017

Even after Barack Obama had left the White House, the former First Daughters remained people of interest. A photographer snapped this shot of Malia going about her day in Soho wearing a fabulous oversized coat, complete with sneakers, socks and stylish bag. It’s clear that fashion is something that comes naturally to her.

6. Having fun in NYC, 2017

This photo is a great snapshot of what Malia’s post-White House life looks like. She doesn’t have as much pressure on her and can simply enjoy herself with friends in New York City. Here, she’s wearing Chelsea boots, a denim jacket and black jeans. And she also happens to have a New York Giants hat – her father name-checked that team back in 2012.

5. In Indonesia, 2017

The Obama girls obviously weren’t First Daughters anymore by 2017, but they still served as diplomats for their country in some respects. In June of that year they accompanied their father on an Indonesia trip that the media took an interest in. Sasha and Malia wore casual clothes, but they also sported the yellow sarongs that tourists are asked to don when going into temples.

4. On a date, 2019

Malia Obama has a boyfriend now! Feel old yet? The guy in question is a Brit named Rory Farquharson whom Malia met at Harvard. Here she is out in New York City with him, wearing a stylish black jacket appropriate for the January weather. Along with that she’s got a floral dress and Doc Martens worn with socks.

3. Thanksgiving, 2019

In November 2019 Michelle Obama posted a picture on Instagram with the caption, “From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!” It was a fascinating glimpse into how Sasha and Malia’s fashion sense had evolved. Malia, 21, had a lilac shirt dress on while 18-year-old Sasha wore a black gown with a high slit.

2. On the sofa, 2020

In 2020 the documentary Becoming, all about Michelle Obama and her achievements, was released. And Sasha and Malia popped up in it for a rare interview. Malia wore a simple shirt-and-jeans combo but Sasha’s Aaliyah graphic tee was very much the standout. Instantly after she was seen in it, it sold out.

1. On TikTok, 2020

The Obama daughters stayed more or less away from social media… until late 2020, when some TikTok videos featuring Sasha suddenly went viral. In them she’s wearing regular casual clothes, but her jewelry game is absolutely on point. And she also appears to be having fun, which is great to see!