Oh My, How Those Obama Girls Have Grown!

Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. President Barack Obama stands on stage with (L-R) Malia Obama, Sasha Obama and first lady Michelle Obama after accepting the nomination on the final day of the Democratic National Convention at the Time Warner Cable Arena on September 6, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Getty Image

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From convention to possible re-election, the president's daughters have blossomed into young women

Did you catch the look Sasha Obama served her father, President Barack Obama, when he announced that she and her sister were not excused from school the morning following his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte last week?

Legs-crossed and seated primly between her mother, first lady Michelle Obama, and older sister Malia Obama, the 11-year-old seemed to suck her teeth and roll her eyes before quickly revealing a dazzling smile. Yes, she’s developed a little sass since Americans were first introduced to the Obama girls over four years ago.

(Malia, now 14 years old, is nearly as tall as her father! See how the Obama girls’ have grown in the photo gallery above.)

As they’ve grown, just like first daughters in the last two administrations, the Obama girls have played supporting roles to the very active and public lives their parents lead. Initially shielded from reporters and cameras upon their arrival at the White House, today Malia and Sasha actively participate in White House public events. Both have read to children during the annual Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn and lend their support when their dad pardons a turkey at Thanksgiving.

To avoid the cruelty of tabloids and the occasional scandal – think teenage Chelsea Clinton’s torment over her braces, frizzy hair and freckles, and Jenna and Barbara Bush’s underage drinking controversy – the Obama girls have few avenues that could lead them down the path to trouble.

Their mom prohibits all technology use on school nights. Malia, who was recently given a cell phone, isn’t allowed to use it during the week. The girls can only use computers or watch TV during the week for homework assignments. And Facebook is social media non grata while they are at the White House, according to New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor, who was given access to the White House and the first family for her book, “The Obamas,” released earlier this year. (Michelle Obama disputed some claims about her behavior at the White House during a TV interview with Oprah pal Gayle King.)