Style, elegance and her mother's winning smile: How Malia Obama, 16, is turning into a Michelle Jr

Malia Obama, daughter of President Obama, 53, and First Lady Michelle, 50, is growing up on the world's stage, and she's resembling her mother more with every day that passes.

The willowy 5ft 9in 16-year-old has clearly inherited Michelle's tall, slender build as well her elegant sartorial instincts, and her endearingly sunny disposition.

Malia, who is currently a high school junior at the private Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C., has hardly put a foot wrong in terms of her graceful public demeanor - despite being at the prime age for a bout of the terrible-teens.

This year, the pretty brunette, who regularly makes public appearances with her high-profile parents along with younger sister Sasha, 13, was declared by TIME as one of its 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014.

And as for her own key influencers, her parents, Malia appears to be enjoying as normal and healthy an upbringing as is possible for a family who reside in The White House.

Malia reached a number of important milestones this year when she turned 16. She attended her first prom over the summer - the president noted that seeing his daughter in heels for the first time was 'a bit jarring' - and she started taking driving lessons.

As for whether Malia will match her mother's impressive career achievements - first in law and now as a campaign advocate - remains to be seen. 

In August, several news outlets reported that the 16-year-old was spotted checking out Californian universities Berkeley and Stanford. Michelle attended Princeton.

But perhaps a career in the entertainment business could be beckoning instead, given that over the summer Malia worked as an intern on Halle Berry's sci-fi series, Extant.

One thing Malia hasn't quite nailed yet is the effervescent display of support her mother is so skilled at churning out when she's backing her husband's various public stunts.

When she attended The White House's annual 'turkey pardoning' ceremony yesterday as her father led the bizarre ritual, Malia - and Sasha - appeared to be clearly bored and unimpressed.

After the president had pardoned the designated bird, a four-month-old 49-pounder called Cheese, he asked Malia if she wanted to pet the turkey.

'Nah', she replied, in a rare departure from her usual gracious disposition. Time for another coaching session with mom?