Growing up in front of the eyes of the public isn’t something Malia Obama is not familiar with. Being the daughter of the former president of the United States, Barak Obama, she has spent her life under the limelight, and even today, the media is interested in her every move.
The 25-year-old just presented her directorial debut, The Heart, at the Sundance Film Festival. In the Sundance Institute’s “Meet the Artist” spotlight video, Malia Obama revealed she was going by the name Malia Ann, thus ditching her moniker.
Malia, who was born Malia Ann Obama on July 4, 1998, has her middle name honoring her paternal grandmother, who died from ovarian cancer at the age of 52 in 1995, and now, she has dropped her last name in favor of her middle name.
Speaking of the short film for which she served as both director and screenwriter, Malia said. “This is an odd little story, somewhat of fable, about a man grieving the death of his mother after she leaves him an unusual request in her will.” Further, in the YouTube clip of the short film, she wrote, “The film is about lost objects and lonely people and forgiveness and regret, but I also think it works hard to uncover where tenderness and closeness can exist in these things.”
The Heat isn’t her first attempt into the profession. Previously, the Harvard grad worked in the writers’ room on Donald’s Amazon Prime show Swarm, co-writing the fifth episode, “Girl, Bye.”
“She’s a very professional person,” Swarm‘s co-creator Janine Nabers said Malia in a January 2023 Vanity Fair interview. “She’s an incredible writer and artist. She made significant contributions… She’s very, truly committed to her craft.”
Swarm‘s executive producer Stephen Glover also spoke of Malia. “We can’t be easy on her just because she’s the [former] President’s daughter,” he told Vanity Fair. “No, she is really down-to-earth and cool. So it’s not an issue at all.”
Malia Obama isn’t the first celebrity who made the decision to ditch their family name. Other celebs have done that before, including Nicolas Cage, who changed his last name from Coppola, and Angelina Jolie, who dropped her surname, Voight.
For her directorial debut, Malia looked cozy, with minimal makeup, her curly hair down with small braids scattered throughout.
Kelly Rizzo Shows Incredible Strength in the Face of Grief
Losing a spouse is an incredibly difficult experience, especially when they pass away. It brings immense grief and sadness that can be difficult to move on from. However, Kelly Rizzo, the widow of beloved Full House star Bob Saget, has shown incredible strength in facing her grief head-on.
After two years of mourning, Rizzo has decided to embark on a new chapter in her life – the world of dating. In January 2022, the world was shocked by Saget’s unexpected passing at the age of 65 due to accidental head trauma. Rizzo openly expressed her grief since then but now, she’s ready to take a step forward.
Initially, Rizzo shared that dating was not something she could even fathom, stating, “The thought of anything serious in the near future was just too complicated emotionally.” However, she also acknowledged the importance of companionship and expressed her openness to meeting someone and enjoying simple activities, such as going for a coffee or a hike.
Recently, Kelly Rizzo made her public debut with her new partner, Breckin Meyer. The couple appeared together at the Jam for Janie GRAMMY Awards Viewing Party and posed on the red carpet. Meyer is known for his roles in popular movies like Clueless and the live-action Garfield films.
Rizzo looked stunning in a body-hugging leopard-print dress, while Meyer went for a more casual look with gray khakis and a denim jacket. Their relationship has since been confirmed by the media.
It’s important to remember that healing is a personal journey, and everyone finds love in their own time. Kelly Rizzo’s willingness to open her heart again is a testament to her strength and resilience.
She had previously mentioned that dating was not something she was ready for, as the emotions attached to the idea were still overwhelming. However, she expressed her readiness to explore the possibility in the future.
As we celebrate this new chapter in Kelly Rizzo’s life, let’s also remember the love she shared with Bob Saget. They were married for four years until his passing in 2022. Moving on after losing a loved one is never easy, but we wish her the best of luck in finding happiness in whatever she pursues.
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