Michelle Obama was on the Sibling Revelry podcast with Kate and Oliver Hudson on June 8, 2025, to talk about how her daughters want to be independent. The former First Lady emphasized that her two grown daughters, Malia (25) and Sasha (23), are well aware of how nepotism affects their family and are working hard to establish their own identities.

Michelle said that the sisters are in a "push away" phase, trying to figure out who they are beyond being "just naturally handed things." She said, "I respect and deeply admire that they're saying, 'I know I have this amazing name I'm so proud of, but I really want to make my own way and carve my own path.'" 

Malia's choice to leave out "Obama" and use her middle name, "Ann," in the credits of her short film The Heart, which was shown at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, was a deliberate move to make sure her work stood on its merit. 

Obama said, "Malia, who started in film, I mean, her first project — she took off her last name, and we were like, 'They're still going to know it's you, Malia.' But we respected the fact that she was trying to make her way." 

She continued, "They're young adult women now, but they definitely went through a time in their teens when they pushed people away," she said. “They are still doing that.”

Michelle also reflected on how well the sisters have remained grounded, despite growing up in the public eye. She said, "They are embracing our parenting principles in the same way I think I discovered that about my parents," and she stressed how important it is to her that they earn their chances.