Michelle Obama is breaking her silence on eldest daughter Malia Obama's decision to drop her last name. Malia Ann, who is pursuing a film career in Hollywood, used her middle name as her artistic name for the credits of short film "The Heart" which she wrote and directed,

Michelle Obama knows that it’s not easy to be in the public eye. As the former First Lady of the United States, the scrutiny was real, and she empathizes with her daughter, Malia, 26, as she tries to forge her own path as a filmmaker.

By choosing “Malia Ann” as her professional name, she’s not erasing her identity; she is simply trying to be determine her own narrative. In an industry where connections often matter more than what you do, she’s choosing to be known for the what first.