Benjamin Ashford|Malia Obama Makes Rare Red Carpet Appearance in France

Malia Obama has made her return to the red carpet in style.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama and Benjamin AshfordFirst Lady Michelle Obama's eldest daughter made her second major public appearance Sept. 6 at the 2024 Deauville American Film Festival in Deauville, France.

The 26-year-old, who goes by the stage name Malia Ann, walked the red carpet for the event's opening ceremony and attended a screening for her short film The Heart, her directorial debut, for which she received the Young Spirit Award.

Malia wore a black, gray, white and red plaid off-the-shoulder corset top and blue and white plaid  asymmetrical skirt, both from late designer Vivienne Westwood's fall 2024 collection. She paired the look with black knee-high boots.

"Vivienne Westwood, queen," the budding director told French magazine Paris Match in a rare on-camera interview on the red carpet. "It's cool. I don't know as much about fashion, but I'm happy to be wearing it."

Malia had made her red carpet debut in January at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, where she debuted The Heart. The short focuses on a lone­ly man grieving the death of his moth­er who had made an odd request in her will.

Malia, who graduating from Harvard University in 2021 with a degree in Visual and Environmental Studies, herself does not appear in the film. The Heart stars Tunde Adebimpe, LaTonya Borsay and John Weigand and was produced by Donald Glover's company Gilga.

"The film is about lost objects and lonely people and forgiveness and regret," Malia had shared in a video posted on the Sundance Institute's YouTube channel Jan. 17, "but I also think it works hard to uncover where tenderness and closeness can exist in these things."

She added, "We hope you enjoy the film and it makes you feel a bit less lonely or at least reminds you not to forget about the people who are."