Malia Obama is continuing to make incredible career moves in the world of filmmaking,after directingNike'slatest ad forA'jaWilson'supcoming shoe launch.
The former First Daughter directed a pair of vignettes posted to social media ahead of the release of theA'Oneshoe, set to drop on May 6.
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Malia'spassion project
In the first video, a young girl teaches the basketball star a clapping game set to the tune of"Miss Mary Mack",with the lyrics changed to praiseA'ja'sincredible trajectory in the sport.
"A'jaWilson'son top, top, top,can'ttake her spot, spot, spot,"the girl sings as she claps along.
When A'jacontinues to slip up in the game, her young friend stands and says:"Girl, let me show you how a professional does it."
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Fans flocked to the comments to praise the incredible video, with one writing,"These are the most beautiful ads I have ever seen! Everything about this rollout hasbeen donewith such a great deal of intention and care! Only the best for our GOAT!"whileanother added,"Directed by THEE Malia Obama!!!"
"This was perfect. From the hand game to thechild'shair. Spot on. Love it!"wrote a third, while another commented,"I love this commercial so muchit'sgiving Black Girl Magic!!! It made me smile so hard!"
In the second videoreleasedahead oftheA'Onelaunch,A'jasat down for an interview at BigT'sBar-B-Que inColumbiawhere she grew up.
Up-and-coming
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This project is the latest in Malia'sbudding filmmaking career, after she made her directorial debut at the 50th annual Deauville American Film Festival in France in January 2024.She presented her short film, The Heart, at theevent,and won the Young Spirit award for her efforts.
"The film is about lost objects and lonely people and forgiveness and regret, but I also think it works hard to uncover where tenderness and closeness can exist in these things,"she shared in a YouTube video at the time.
The 26-year-old admitted that she was nervous about breaking into the industry in an interview with Paris Match on the day of the festival."I'mso excited. I mean,I'venever done anything like this...so of course [I'm] a little bit terrified, but mostly just excited,"Malia said.
Paving her own path
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She went by Malia Ann in the credits of The Heart, opting to drop her famous last name; however, in the Nike vignettes, Malia added Obama back in a surprising move.Her father, Barack Obama, shared that Malia and his youngest daughterSasha, whom he shares with his wife Michelle, struggle to accept help from their parents.
"The challenge for us is letting us give them any help at all,"the former President said onThe Pivot Podcast."I mean,they'revery sensitiveabout this stuff.They'revery stubborn about it."
"Iwas all like,‘You do knowthey'llknow who you are,'"he said of Malia."Andshe'sall like,'You know what? I want them to watch it that first time and not in any way have that association.'So I think our daughters go out of their wayto not tryto leverage that."She also directed the music video for Michael Kiwanuka'ssingle"One and Only".
To learn more about Malia's budding film career, watch below:
