Yesterday, Malia Obama wore a white tank, some super cute black booties, a zip-up red jacket and a glorious 'I'm unimpressed with the paparazzi' resting face to her internship at The Weinstein Company. On her third day, she wore a crop top, mom jeans and a shearling coat that I desperately need in my life. Is it creepy that I know what an 18 year old wears every day to her internship? Probably. Is it weird that every time I see pap pics of Malia going to work, I loudly proclaim how proud of her I am to my coworker Brian like I'm her Auntie? Absolutely. I am irrationally invested in Malia Obama's career trajectory.
As far as we know, Malia's career started with an internship with HBO that landed her on the set of Girls in the summer of 2015. Earlier this year, Lena Dunham was asked about Malia's time on set.
"She is so smart, I once asked her, 'What's your favorite movie?' She was like, 'Do you want me to list it by favorite, director, writer, or cinematographer?"
She's my imaginary niece so of course this anecdote is endearing and not at all pretentious. I love that she's a film nerd. I want to know all of Malia Obama's favourite movies listed separately by director, writer, and cinematographer. Then, I want to know where she got the blue hooded parka she wore to work on February 23rd.
Aside from her killer instincts when it comes to athleisure, Malia also seems to have some innate professional savvy. She deferred Harvard for a year to get more on-the-job experience in the film industry. According to TMZ, her internship involves reading through scripts and pitching to executives. Thanks to the Sony hacks, we know the reality of what Hollywood executives can be like. They're ruthless. They're egotistical. They're the biggest gossips. This is Malia's future. Not to say that Malia Obama will be a ruthless, egotistical gossipmonger but this is the industry she's signing up for. Harvey Weinstein is all of these things and more. It is fascinating to me that Barack and Michelle's eldest baby girl is potentially working alongside the skeevy dude who allegedly plots and schemes for Oscars every year. Also, are the other execs star-struck by her? Do they refrain from sticking Malia with coffee runs because her parents are two of the greatest human beings alive? Do the other interns hate her? I need to know every detail. While I do a deep-dive to find out what Malia could be eating for lunch in the Weinstein company cafeteria (craft services? What do I Google!?), I also feel guilty that I want to know every detail. Malia Obama is 18. She's already had to endure scrutiny for going to parties, dancing at music festivals and doing regular ass teenager sh-t. She doesn't need us obsessing over every outfit and following her every career move. Will my guilt stop me from trying to find her Harvard class schedule next fall? Nope.
In a few years, Sarah could be writing about the choices Malia is making as a producer. She's totally on track to be featured in THR's Power 100 list one day, right? Is Malia Obama going to produce the feature film about her father's presidency that wins Harvey another Oscar? OK, now I am just writing the script of Malia's life that I want to see but it's possible! Malia could make movies that change the world but what if the films she produces/ writes/whatever she wants to do suck? Just thinking about the pressure that comes with that last name makes me want to puke. Imagine having to live up to a family standard set by Michelle LaVaughn Flawless Robinson Perfection Obama?
As much as I love obsessing over Malia, I do hope that she can go to college, live a relatively normal life and carve her own path. She's supposedly been turning down modelling contracts for years. This is not a girl who wants to be famous even if she's getting into an industry that subsists on fame. One day, I hope she gets to go to work without paps in her face. For now, I can't wait to see what she wears tomorrow.
Here is Malia heading to work yesterday.
