Why The Internet Is Freaking Out About Malia Obama’s Selfie

Today, a pic that sure looks like a PhotoBooth selfie starring First Daughter Malia Obama has surfaced — that fact alone means the Internet is in a tizzy. Add that in the image, Malia wears a T-shirt repping Brooklyn-based rap collective Pro Era, and the Internet's officially gone DEFCON 1.

The photo first surfaced on Pro Era's Twitter last night, complete with a link to buy, because only a damned fool would ignore the PR Valhalla that is an Obama endorsement. Sites like Complex, Vibe, and Gawker picked up the story from there.

Given Michelle Obama's public statements about her daughters' use of social media — she told Barbara Walters last year that she limits Malia's Facebook access, and did not allow then-12-year-old Sasha to use it — the biggest question is where the photo came from. A rep for Joey Bada$$ (a founding member of the collective), told Gawker that "a mutual friend of Malia and [a] pro era member" sent it to Pro Era.

Okay, so we'd prefer it if Malia herself chose to share the pic with the world, but nonetheless, the thought of the First Daughter kicking it in the Executive Residence with a Joey Bada$$ soundtrack cements all the things we've long suspected about the Obamas' coolness. Between this and Malia's known love for Chance The Rapper, we kinda want her to make us a mix tape.

The only question is how much bank Pro Era stands to make from the Obama support. (Remember what happened when Michelle wore J.Crew?) As a comment on Pro Era's Instagram says, "From Flatbush Ave to the White House — now that's progress."