Born on July 4, 1998, Malia Obama grew up under the public’s watchful eye. She was often seen with her mother, Michelle Obama, and her younger sister, Sasha, as they joined her father, Barack Obama, at various speeches and events.
Before Barack Obama made history as the first African American president in 2008, he was a U.S. senator from Illinois from 2005 to 2008. During this time, Malia was already in the public eye as the daughter of a senator.
Malia Obama was only six when her father, Barack Obama, was elected to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate in 2004. This marked the beginning of her life in the public eye.
The Obamas were a regular family at the time, but they were gaining more attention. In July of that year, Barack delivered the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention in Boston, which helped establish him as a charismatic politician.
From 2004 to 2007, Barack Obama strengthened his position in America’s political arena and drew increased attention to his charming family. In February 2007, the then-U.S. Senator announced his candidacy for the 2008 presidential nomination at the Old State Capitol, where Abraham Lincoln kicked off his political career. Barack brought his family along during the campaign trail.
The whole family had a busy year. Even then, Barack and Michelle Obama established a routine for their daughters. In 2008, they told People that they gave Malia and Sasha Obama chores, such as setting the table and doing the dishes, in exchange for a $1-a-week allowance. They also made sure to have movie nights together as a family.
Less than a year later, Malia Obama moved into the White House, leaving behind a life of relative normalcy. However, there was a bright spot. In his victory speech, Obama announced that his daughters would finally get a dog.
The search for the perfect First Dog captivated America. Although the Obamas did not adopt a shelter pup, the late U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy gifted them a Portuguese water dog. In 2013, the Obamas welcomed a second Portuguese water dog named Sunny.