Sometimes we are given names that are either too hard to pronounce or too long to keep in their entirety. And if you are someone with a normal 9-5 job, that is completely fine. But, if you are someone in the entertainment industry who wants your name to be known by everyone, this may not be the best thing. That’s why many people choose to either shorten their full names or completely change them.
1. Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus legally changed her name back in 2008 from Destiny Hope Cyrus to Miley Cyrus. The name Miley is a rendition of her childhood nickname “Smiley” in honor of her paternal grandfather.
2. Victoria Beckham
Prior to becoming known as the fashion diva, Victoria Beckham, back in the early days of the iconic group we love, Victoria Adams was the name used for her records. However, when the Spice Girls became rising stars, she changed her name to Posh Spice. Years later, she become the famous Victoria Beckham we know today.
3. Vin Diesel
At the age of 17, Mark Sinclair was a rather big guy. He even used to work as a bouncer at a nightclub called The Tunnel. Around that time he took the name Vin Diesel and started to shave his head regularly.
4. Rachel Weisz
Early in her career, she changed her name to Rachel Vyce, but when people told her that it was too difficult to pronounce, she changed it to Kenya Campbell. She decided to keep it that way for a while, but she soon realized that it sounded unpleasant. The actress then decided to stay with Rachel Weisz and made a lot of iconic movies.
5. Natalie Portman
It was in 1994 when a very young Neta-Lee Hershlag auditioned for Leon and landed her first role in a major production. While filming, the actress changed her name to “Natalie” and took her mother’s maiden last name. Apparently, she wanted to maintain her privacy because some scenes in the movie were polemical.
6. Alicia Keys
Her real name is Alicia Augello-Cook, but she changed it and decided to have her own different stage name with a special meaning behind it. She explained, “It’s like the piano keys, and it can also open a lot of doors,” and she ended up with the name Alicia Keys and broke multiple records in her career.
7. Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop, now known as Jamie Foxx, tried out a couple of different names when he first started doing open mic nights. When he’d sign up to the open mic lists, he used the names Tracy Brown and Stacy Green but eventually landed on Jamie Foxx.
8. Iggy Azalea
Her birth name is Amethyst Amelia Kelly, and she ended up with Iggy Azalea because she has a dog named “Iggy,” and it became her nickname. She came up with the surname Azalea, as she explained, “Because that is a street name that my mom and family live on, and it sounds very feminine, and I thought it would balance out Iggy being so masculine.”
9. Lana Del Rey
The singer’s real name is Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, but she’s now known as Lana Del Rey. When she began singing, she went by the name, “Lizzy Grant,” and also performed as “Sparkle Rope Jump Queen” until she landed on Lana Del Rey.
10. Tom Hardy
Before becoming Tom Hardy, his birth name was Edward Thomas Hardy, and he only used his first name before deciding to go by his middle name instead. Even though the Internet was aware of his true identity, it was not widely publicized.
11. Blake Lively
After Blake became an actress she decided to take the surname of her mother, Elaine Lively as her stage name.
12. Aaron Paul
His full name is Aaron Paul Sturtevant, but when he went to auditions, no one could pronounce his surname, “Sturtevant,” so he had to change it so that everyone could say it, and then he shortened it when he entered Hollywood.
13. Lorde
Lorde changed her original name at the age of 12 when she was signed to a development contract with the Universal Music Group after an agent of theirs saw footage of her singing at a middle school talent show. Her real name is Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor. The royalty hidden in the name Lord encouraged her in changing her original name, but she also added an “e” because she felt that Lord would be too masculine for a girl.
Preview photo credit Laurent VU/SIPA/Sipa Press Russia/East News, mileycyrus / Instagram
I Met My Ex-fiancé Who Dumped Me Because I ‘Wasn’t Good Enough’ – He Was on a Date & My Revenge Was Hard
Hi everyone, I’m Nikki, and I want to share a story about how sometimes karma just needs a little nudge. It all began when I spotted my ex-fiancé at a fancy restaurant with another woman. What started as an ordinary night out for me turned into a delicious opportunity for sweet revenge.
Before we move on to the main story, here’s a bit of context. About five years ago, I was engaged to this guy named Mark. We had been together for three years and I was in love with him: you know, the kind where you cannot imagine your life without your favorite person. Luckily, Mark reciprocated my feelings and always assured me that he too felt the same way. We weredeep into our wedding plans and I was over the moon to start a new chapter of my life with him when, out of the blue, he called it quits. Yes, you heard that right. He broke up with me. His reasoning? I “wasn’t good enough for him.” Apparently, he’d landed a big promotion at work and suddenly felt like I didn’t fit his new image. Sounds crazy, right? According to him, he needed someone more refined, someone posh—basically, someone who wasn’t me. He claimed I lacked ambition and drive and that he wanted a partner who could match his “high standards.” It hit me hard. I was a total wreck, wallowing in self-misery for months. I knew I had to pull myself together, but I just didn’t know how. Everything reminded me of him, of us, and of the time we had spent together. It took me ages to move on from him, but the pain is still fresh in my mind, and so are the memories. It hit me hard, and it took me ages to move on from him. Fast forward to the present: I’m 35, delightfully single, and absolutely thriving in my career. Last Saturday, I decided to treat myself to dinner at a fancy new restaurant in town. Guess who I saw through the window as I approached the entrance? You guessed it: Mark! He looked just as smug as ever, laughing and enjoying dinner with some stunning woman. I knew I couldn’t let this opportunity slip by; I had to warn her in a way he’d never see coming. So, I stepped into the restaurant, feeling a surge of anger, and then, suddenly, inspiration struck. I called over the waiter and, with a sweet smile, asked if he could do me a favor. “Hello. I need your help. Do you see the man at that table? He’s my ex-fiancé,” I explained, keeping my tone light. “It would mean the world to me if you could help me pull off a little prank.” The waiter’s eyes twinkled with interest. “What did you have in mind?” he asked, leaning in slightly. “First, let’s send over a bottle of your most expensive champagne with a note,” I said, already feeling the thrill of my plan coming together. He nodded, taking mental notes. “What’s the note supposed to say?” “To Mark, who always settles for second best,” I replied, grinning. The waiter chuckled and walked away to arrange the first part of my revenge. From my table, I watched as the waiter presented the bottle and note to Mark. His face turned a brilliant shade of red, and the woman looked completely puzzled. I could see Mark trying to explain something, but she didn’t seem too convinced. Next, I decided to hit a bit closer to home. I called the waiter over again. “Now, I’d like to send them an appetizer,” I said. “Something he’s highly allergic to. And another note.” The waiter raised an eyebrow but didn’t question me. “What should this note say?” “Just a reminder of what you can’t have,” I replied, feeling a bit wicked. He nodded and went off to carry out my instructions. I watched with glee as the appetizer was delivered. The woman’s face shifted from confusion to irritation, and Mark looked like he was ready to explode. He was obviously trying hard to maintain his composure, but it was a losing battle. For the final act, I needed some outside help. I quickly called my friend Sarah, who lived nearby. “Hey, Sarah, I need a huge favor. Can you come to the new restaurant downtown? I need you to play a little part in my revenge plot.” Sarah arrived within 20 minutes, just as Mark was looking like he might crack under the pressure. She walked up to their table, pretending to recognize Mark. “Oh my God, Mark!” she exclaimed, loud enough for the whole restaurant to hear. “I haven’t seen you since you were at that dating seminar last month. How’s your fiancée? Did she finally agree to the open relationship?” The entire restaurant seemed to go silent. Mark’s date looked horrified. “What is she talking about, Mark?” she demanded. Mark stammered, trying to explain, but the damage was done. “Clara, it’s not what it sounds like,” he blurted out, his face turning an even deeper shade of crimson. “She’s just a friend, making a joke.” Clara wasn’t buying it. She narrowed her eyes, her face a mix of anger and disbelief. “A joke? About a fiancée and an open relationship? Really, Mark?” She grabbed her purse and stood up. “I can’t believe I wasted my time on you.” She stormed out, leaving Mark standing there, red-faced and furious. I watched from my table, savoring every moment of his downfall. As a cherry on top, I decided to go for one final blow.I walked over to Mark’s table, smiling sweetly. “Hi Mark,” I said, enjoying the look of shock on his face. “Guess I wasn’t so ‘not good enough’ after all, huh?” His mouth opened and closed like a fish, but no words came out. Feeling triumphant, I turned and left the restaurant. My heart was pounding, but it felt amazing. Outside, I took a deep breath of the cool night air, feeling lighter than I had in years. A few days later, I heard from a mutual friend that Clara had broken up with Mark that night. Apparently, he’s been trying to figure out how it all went so wrong ever since. He’s even been asking around, trying to piece together what happened. Meanwhile, I’ve moved on, happier than ever. And that’s my tale, folks. Revenge can indeed be deliciously satisfying, especially when garnished with a touch of humiliation. Don’t you agree? Thanks for reading! Much like Nikki, Phoebe’s seemingly idyllic life was shattered by a shocking discovery. Instead of letting pain and anger consume her, she decided to reclaim her freedom and secure her future, all while her husband remained blissfully unaware of her plans.
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