As the eldest daughter of former President Barack Obama, Malia Ann Obama has likely always been in the spotlight, posing for photos at events with her father. Born on July 4, 1998, Malia grew up in the public eye, often seen at speeches and dinners with her parents, Barack and Michelle Obama, and her younger sister, Sasha Obama.
Even before Barack Obama made history as the first African American president in 2008, Malia was already familiar with the spotlight as the daughter of a U.S. senator. Barack represented Illinois in the Senate from 2005 to 2008, following his time as a state senator starting in 1997.
Navigating the tricky preteen and teenage years is challenging enough, but Malia spent that entire phase of her life at the White House during her father’s two presidential terms from 2009 to 2017. She transitioned from a cute child to a successful young adult in front of America’s—and the world’s—eyes! While always present in the public eye, Malia often tried to keep a low profile as she grew up. Her transformation, however, has been truly remarkable.
Malia Obama was just 6 years old when her dad, Barack Obama, became a U.S. Senator
Malia Obama was an adorable 6-year-old when her father, Barack Obama, was elected to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate in 2004, marking the start of her journey in the public eye. After helping her dad cast his vote, Malia sat on Barack’s lap while Sasha sat on Michelle Obama’s lap as the family waited for the election results in a hotel room. Favored to win against Republican candidate Alan Keyes, Barack and his family smiled widely throughout the night, with Malia proudly showing off her missing front baby teeth.
Back then, the Obamas were still mostly just a regular family, although they were starting to gain more attention. In July 2004, Barack delivered the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention in Boston, which established him as a charismatic political figure. His call for unity across party lines set the tone for his future presidential campaign. In his speech, Barack famously said, “The pundits like to slice and dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I’ve got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don’t like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the Red States