She's with ... the DJ: Malia Obama skips out on Hillary Clinton's historic DNC speech to let loose with friends at Lollapalooza music festival in her hometown of Chicago

  • Malia Obama, 18, did not attend the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week 
  • The recent high school graduate was spotted dancing with friends at the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago on Thursday 
  • Malia, who was accompanied as always by her secret service detail, took in a performance from Norwegian DJ Cashmere Cat 
  • The set ended around the same time that Chelsea Clinton took to the stage in Philadelphia to introduce her mother Hillary Clinton 
  • Malia will vote in her first election this year but has not publicly revealed who she will be supporting in the race 
  • She is currently taking a gap year and will begin her freshman year at Harvard University in 2017 

By Chris Spargo For Dailymail.com

Published: 14:27 EST, 29 July 2016 | Updated: 15:25 EST, 29 July 2016

Malia Obama's presence was not required at the Democratic National Convention for the first time since her father became the Democratic nominee back in 2008, and the recent high school graduate took full advantage of this by skipping out on the scene in Philadelphia to head to a music festival.

President Obama's oldest daughter was spotted dancing up a storm with her friends at Lollapalooza in Chicago on Thursday night, catching a performance from Norwegian DJ Cashmere Cat at around the same time Hillary Clinton was preparing to take the stage and accept her party's nomination for president in a historic moment for the country.

Malia's younger sister Sasha also passed on attending this year's convention while their parents both made their escape from Philadelphia shortly after they delivered their speeches endorsing Clinton. 

Scroll down for video 

No more years: Malia Obama did not attend the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week, choosing instead to catch a music festival (above with friends on Thursday) 

No more years: Malia Obama did not attend the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week, choosing instead to catch a music festival (above with friends on Thursday) 

Letting loose: The recent high school graduate was spotted dancing with friends at the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago (above)

Letting loose: The recent high school graduate was spotted dancing with friends at the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago (above)

Group meeting: Malia, who was accompanied as always by her secret service detail, took in a performance from Norwegian DJ Cashmere Cat

Group meeting: Malia, who was accompanied as always by her secret service detail, took in a performance from Norwegian DJ Cashmere Cat

This is not Malia's first trip to Lollapalooza, having been spotted at the festival back in 2014 as she took in Chance the Rapper's set.

Malia is currently taking a gap year after making the decision to push back her acceptance to Harvard University by one year as her family prepares to transition out of the White House and back into public life.

The Obamas have said that they will be staying in Washington DC rather than returning to their native Chicago at least until Sasha completes high school. 

The teenager has already built up an impressive resume thanks to summer internships on the set of the Halle Berry television series Extant and Lena Dunham's HBO series Girls.

It seems though that she will be taking a break from the grind of show business this summer. 

Malia, who now has only five months left in her second term as first kid, has not spoken publicly about who she plans to vote for come November, when the 18-year-old will cast her ballot for the first time in her life. 

Clinton however very publicly voiced her admiration for Malia and Sasha along with their parents during a campaign stop in North Carolina where she was joined by President Obama.

'I happen to think those two young women may be the most impressive accomplishment of all,' Clinton said while speaking about Obama's legacy.

'And it’s one of the many reasons why it means so much to me personally to have the president’s support in this campaign.'

Civic duties: Malia will vote in her first election this year but has not publicly revealed who she will be supporting in the race (Clinton above on Thursday)

Civic duties: Malia will vote in her first election this year but has not publicly revealed who she will be supporting in the race (Clinton above on Thursday)

Back in the day: The Obama family after the future president delivered his acceptance speech on the final night of the Democratic National Convention in 2008 (above)

Back in the day: The Obama family after the future president delivered his acceptance speech on the final night of the Democratic National Convention in 2008 (above)

President Obama and the First Lady returned the love this week when both endorsed Clinton in rousing and memorable speeches at the convention.

And Michelle took full advantage of the fact that she was speaking on the first night by flying out to Chicago with her daughter the following morning. 

She left her mark in Philadelphia however, and in the end it was her speech that many heralded as the high point of the convention, despite a stacked lineup featuring great orators like her own husband and former President Bill Clinton as well as Clinton's big history-making moment.

The Washington Post wrote in their recap of the week: 'She stood out among the best and brightest politicians within the Democratic Party as the single best and the one who shone the brightest.'  

The New York Times meanwhile said of the First Lady's words: 'It was a strikingly positive speech in a bitter election season, and a vivid rendition of the political worldview that lifted the Obamas to the top of the party in the first place. The powerful response Mrs. Obama drew from the crowd showed just how formidable she is likely to be on the campaign trail.' 

Comments (160)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now