Senior Culture Reporter, HuffPost
Barack and Michelle Obama each took a moment this week to celebrate their daughter Sasha’s 21st birthday on social media.
On Friday, the former president shared a throwback photo on his social media platforms that showed him holding his younger child as a baby.
“I have loved watching you grow into the intelligent, beautiful, and caring young woman you’ve become,” he wrote. “And no matter how old you get—you’ll always be my baby girl. Look at those cheeks!”
Happy birthday, Sasha! I have loved watching you grow into the intelligent, beautiful, and caring young woman you’ve become. And no matter how old you get—you’ll always be my baby girl. Look at those cheeks! pic.twitter.com/Ai12grJml8
Michelle Obama followed suit with a similarly heartwarming image of Sasha’s infant days.
“My baby has grown into a beautiful, independent, compassionate, highly capable young woman,” the former first lady tweeted. “But you will always be my littlest pea.”
My baby has grown into a beautiful, independent, compassionate, highly capable young woman. But you will always be my littlest pea. 🥲❤️ I’m so proud of the human you are becoming. Love, your Mommy. pic.twitter.com/vKamMfjYol
Sasha, whose full name is Natasha, is currently a student at the University of Southern California. She’s rumored to be dating Clifton Powell Jr., who is the son of “Ray” actor Clifton Powell.
Appearing on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in April, Michelle Obama touched on how Sasha and older sister Malia, 23, had transitioned to young adulthood after their eight years in the White House.
“I listened to what my mother said when she was raising us,” she explained. “She said: ‘I’m not raising babies, I’m raising real people to be out in the world.’ And I kept that in mind with the girls.”
“I mean, they wouldn’t always be in that bubble of the White House, so they had to learn to make their beds. They had to learn how to drive,” she added. “They had to learn how to be compassionate, independent, responsible people so that they entered the world as responsible, compassionate, capable people. And I think they are amazing young women because of that.”
Senior Culture Reporter, HuffPost
Do you have information you want to share with HuffPost? Here’s how.

source