On Friday, May 12, 2023, Sasha Obama—the youngest daughter of former president Barack Obama and (our forever) First Lady Michelle Obama—graduated from the University of Southern California.
The Obamas, including Malia, Sasha’s older sister, were spotted at the commencement ceremony. According to The Los Angeles Times, the family cheered for the other graduates; Barack was seen congratulating the graduates’ families and friends while leaving the scene.
Sasha, who graduated with a degree in sociology, initially transferred to USC from the University of Michigan back in 2022. Her move brought her closer to Malia, who is living in L.A. and working in the film industry after graduating from Harvard in 2021.
Both Sasha and Malia have lived most of their lives in the spotlight: They were regulars on the campaign trail with their father back in 2008, and the sisters famously moved to the White House in 2009 when they were 7 and 10, respectively.
Sasha and Malia spent eight years living at the White House, making the occasional public appearance with their parents at special events.
Neither Michelle nor Barack has shared any public photos of Sasha’s graduation, but both of their Mother’s Day posts on Instagram make it clear that they are immensely proud of their daughter. “Being a mom to Malia and Sasha has been the greatest gift of my life,” Michelle wrote with a photo of her daughters as children. “I am forever grateful to my mom for teaching me the importance of courage, empathy, and hard work—lessons that I’ve passed down to my own girls.”
Join us in congratulating Sasha and the Obamas on this joyous occasion.
Cassie Hurwitz (she/her) is an associate editor at Oprah Daily, where she covers everything from culture to entertainment to lifestyle. She can typically be found in the middle of multiple books and TV shows all at once. Previously, Cassie worked at Parents, Rachael Ray In Season, and Reveal. Her love language is pizza (New York slices, Chicago deep dish, and otherwise).
