If success in Hollywood was only about talent, then most celebrities wouldn’t find the need to reinvent themselves. However, building a brand and an image often requires a star to leave their past behind, starting with a name change. The world of reality TV is no exception, with many of the famous faces you know today having traded their birth names for stage-adjacent ones. Whether to generate intrigue, reinvent their image or simply to stand out, these Bravolebrities have adopted new names that have, in some way, shaped their star persona.
Distinguished Stars of RHOC
The famous reality TV show, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (RHOBH), has seen Taylor Armstrong’s transitions from Shana Lynette Hughes, to Taylor Ford, before finally settling on her present name. The changes were influenced by different stages in her life, including admiring a fashion designer and getting married.
Taylor is not alone, as Tamra Judge, previously born as Tamra Sue Waddle, underwent her transformation in response to a necessity. The existence of another Tammy on the show led to her rebranding as Tamra, a change cemented further by her marriage to Eddie Judge.
Identity Shifts in RHONJ
In a similar fashion, one of the most notorious members on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Danielle Staub, was born Beverly Ann Merrill. With her involvement in a kidnapping case, she adopted the name of Angela Minelli for her safety, later transforming herself into Danielle Staub, a name borrowed from her second husband.
The Name Game in RHONY
On another spectrum of the housewives franchise, one cannot ignore Luann de Lesseps from The Real Housewives of New York. While she briefly took her ex-husband Tom D’Agostino’s name during their short-lived marriage, her return to singlehood saw her become Countess once again, a title attributed to her first marriage.
Rising Stars of Vanderpump Rules
Switching gear to the popular series Vanderpump Rules, Jason Michael Cauchi found fame as Jax Taylor. A change that was intentional to propel his modeling career forward. Jax wasn’t the only one to change his name. The series also features Lala Kent, originally known as Lauren Elyse Burningham, before briefly adopting the name Lauryn Burningham and later Lauryn Kent.
To complete the show’s trifecta of name changes, Raquel Leviss reverted to Rachel, her birth name, following a fallout with her co-star.
Wrapping Up
It’s impressive to see how a name change can strongly influence a star’s career progression, especially in the reality TV world. In a landscape where image and intrigue play such a dominant role, a name can mean the difference between fading into obscurity or cementing a place in the limelight. For more insights into the star-studded world of entertainment, check out HitPlay.
