More than a decade after leaving the White House, Malia and Sasha Obama continue to attract public interest — not because they seek the spotlight, but because they grew up in one. The daughters of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama spent eight formative years navigating a level of visibility few children experience. Now in their twenties, the two young women are building independent lives in Los Angeles, pursuing creative careers, personal goals, and adulthood far from Washington’s political environment.

A recent public appearance at a Los Angeles nightlife venue — where they crossed paths with Canadian artist Drake — offered a rare glimpse into their private lives. The moment quickly circulated online, sparking curiosity about who they are today, what they have been doing since college, and how they are managing adulthood after years under close public scrutiny.

The interest is understandable. For many Americans, the last memory of the Obama sisters dates back to their teens, photographed at holiday events, state visits, and major national ceremonies. But in 2025, Malia and Sasha are fully grown adults with responsibilities, professional ambitions, and the freedom to build lives of their own choosing.

Growing Up in the Public Eye

Malia, born on July 4, 1998, and Sasha, born June 10, 2001, spent their most impressionable years at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. For eight years they attended school, did homework, participated in extracurricular activities, and celebrated personal milestones under the constant observation of a watching public.

Michelle Obama has spoken openly about the challenges they faced. In an interview, she reflected on raising her daughters while knowing the world was always watching: “They had to learn how to balance the unwanted attention, but do it politely. To build their own lives in the spotlight and not be eaten up by it.”

The former First Lady’s goal, even during their years in the White House, was to prepare them for independence. “You’re not going to live here forever,” she told them. “I have to hand you your life and let you manage it.”

That approach proved essential. Today, the Obama sisters are defining adulthood on their own terms.

Malia Obama: A Path Toward Filmmaking

When Malia attended her high school prom in 2014, Barack Obama joked on television that seeing his daughter in heels for the first time was “a little bit jarring.” It was a small moment for most, but a reminder for the rest of the country that the young girl who once appeared at presidential events was growing into adulthood.

After finishing high school, Malia took a gap year and then entered Harvard University, graduating in 2021. Long before completing her degree, she showed an interest in storytelling and production. She spent part of her gap year working as a production assistant on Halle Berry’s TV series Extant, gaining experience on a professional set. She later joined the writers’ room for Donald Glover’s Amazon series Swarm, sharpening her creative voice.

In 2024, using her full name “Malia Ann,” she debuted a short film titled Heart at the Sundance Film Festival. It marked her transition from a student of film to a filmmaker with her own vision and narrative style. Critics described the film as bold, introspective, and stylistically confident — the work of someone intent on forging her own identity in Hollywood.

Though she remains private, her career trajectory suggests she intends to build a life behind the camera, using film as a medium to explore themes of identity, humanity, and culture.

Sasha Obama: A Journey Through Education and Young Adulthood

Sasha, described by her father years ago as “full of energy and the comedian of the family,” has followed a different but equally thoughtful path. After graduating high school in 2019, she began college at the University of Michigan before transferring to the University of Southern California.

She completed her undergraduate degree in sociology in May 2023, a field well aligned with interests in community dynamics, social structures, and public well-being. Sasha has largely avoided the spotlight, focusing on finishing her studies and transitioning into adult life at her own pace.

Those close to the family have emphasized her easygoing personality, grounded energy, and strong relationship with her sister — qualities that continue to define her journey now.

Life in Los Angeles

Today, Malia and Sasha share a home in Los Angeles, where they support one another through the early stages of adulthood. For Michelle Obama, seeing them choose to live together has been one of the most meaningful developments of their post-White House lives. “It feels good to know,” she said, “that the two girls you raised find solace at a kitchen table with one another.”

Living in LA provides the sisters with both privacy and room for creative growth. It also places them within a large community of artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers — an environment that suits their interests and allows them to pursue projects without the constraints of political expectations.

A Rare Night Out — and Public Reaction

Their recent night out at The Bird Streets Club, where they crossed paths with Drake during his Los Angeles tour stop, drew attention largely because sightings of the Obama sisters are uncommon. The images shared online showed them enjoying a night out with friends — something ordinary for young adults their age, but still newsworthy because of their public profiles.

Rather than focusing on their clothing or attempting to sensationalize the outing, the more relevant takeaway is this: the former first daughters are living normal, age-appropriate adult lives. They are exploring their identities, building friendships, celebrating milestones, and enjoying personal freedom for the first time outside of the political world in which they grew up.

Drake himself has long expressed respect for the Obama family. He has spoken publicly about being interested in portraying Barack Obama in a biographical film one day — a concept the former president has lightly endorsed. “Drake seems able to do anything he wants,” Obama said in 2020. “My household’s stamp of approval? I suspect my daughters would be just fine with it.”

The friendly connection between the artist and the Obama family is not new, and their shared appearance at a public venue reflects the overlapping circles of the entertainment landscape in Los Angeles.

The Reality of Adulthood After the White House

Malia and Sasha Obama spent nearly a decade navigating formal protocols, public responsibilities, and a media environment they never chose. Today, they are exploring adulthood with curiosity and independence — and without the need to perform for the public.

Their journeys highlight several broader truths:

Growing up in public does not eliminate the need for young people to find their own identity.

Children of public figures are entitled to private adulthood.

Careers rooted in creativity require time, exploration, and freedom.

Siblings who endure intense public attention together often form strong bonds that last into adulthood.

Whether they are pursuing creative projects, celebrating milestones, or simply enjoying a night out with friends, Malia and Sasha Obama are demonstrating what it looks like to build a life outside the familiar frame of political expectations.