Celebrities change their screen name all the time. Some for personal reasons, while others feel that changing their screen name will give them that chance to stand out in a crowded room full of stars.
Take for example, sexy actress and content creator Ivana Alawi. Before, she used the name of Mariam Al-Alawi,when she competed in GMA-7's talent competition 'StarStruck.'
Meanwhile, singer-actor Ice Seguerra, changed his name from Aiza to Ice to reflect the big change he was going through during the time he came out as a transman.
He said in an interview with Push.com then, “So the reason why I didn't tell anyone to call me Ice is siyempre alam nila na Aiza ako eh so why do I need to change it? Siguro ngayon mas nagma-matter na saken 'yung sincerity, 'yung authenticity. That this is the new me. I'm Ice - still me. Wala naman masyadong pinagbago, maliit pa din ako, kumakanta pa din ako. But I just want you to call me by that name,”
Meet the other stars who made a big change in their stage names in this gallery.
Former sexy actress Ara Mina changed her screen name a number of times. She said in her interview with “Surprise Guest with Pia Arcangel" that they toyed with several names before.
She recalled, “They thought 'yung pag-introduce sa akin hindi Ara Mina, pero Ara Mina talaga.
“Siguro kaya lang ang tingin ng iba, hindi Ara Mina 'yung name ko nung inintroduce ako, kasi after Ara Mina, pagka-introduce sa akin, nagpalit ako four times ng screen names…. Ara Mina Reyes, Dara Mina, Danica Gomez.”
“Ang Mommy ko ang nagdecide. Sabi ko, balik na namin sa Ara Mina'.”
Versatile actress and former 'That's Entertainment' star Glydel Mercado recalled in an interview that she previously used different screen names.
In her chat with PEP.Ph, Glydel stated that when was starting, she used her real name, Flordeliza Sanchez. Then, the wife of Tonton Gutierrez became a talent of Annabelle Rama and gave her the screen name Carrots Alvarez.
In a separate interview with Daddy Wowie Roxas by PEP, he revealed how he came up with the name Glydel, which the actress has been using up until now.
“Kasikatan noon ni Miss Venezuela Minorka Mercado sa Miss Universe 1994," he said. “Bago pa maganap ang coronation, pinagpilian ko na noon ang mga pangalan na Margaux Mercado, Merca [short for Minorca] Mercado, Lyndel Mercado. Then, bigla ko naisip na idagdag ang letter G sa Lyndel so magiging Glyndel. Sabi ko, parang panglalaki ang Glyndel, so inalis ko ang letter N. Sa spelling at sa pandinig, nakakalito like Glaydel, Glidel, Glidelle, kaya finally, Glydel na lang ang spelling ng screen name niya na pinili ko.”
Another artist who came out bravely as a transman is former 'Glee' star Jake Zyrus, formerly known as Charice Pempengco.
He talked about this big change in an interview with USA Today in 2017. He said, "I just thought that I was going to change my social networking sites' user ames, and I just didn't think that everyone would pick it up,"
"But when... everyone was talking about it, I was like, 'I guess this is the perfect time.' It was Pride Month and I just saw that everything was happening in the right place, right time and I started talking about it.”
We have a lot of good memories with 'Little Miss Philippines' graduate Aiza Seguerra as a child star. But now, he prefers to be called Ice Seguerra. He came out in the public first as a lesbian and then as a transman.
In a report from Push.com, Ice shared the reason why he chose his current name. The singer explained, “So why Ice? First of all, di naman talaga malayo kasi [sa] Aiza. And since I was in high school, nickname ko na 'yung Ice. So my closest friends, they call me Ice. They don't call me Aiza. Kasi Aiza for me, napaka parang it's very di na siya personal kasi showbiz 'yung Aiza. Parang ganun. Although nickname ko siya talaga pero since 'yung ginagamit ko siya for work parang 'di siya personal masyado. That's why ever since 'yun 'yung tawag sakin ng barkada ko - Ice. So nilabas ko lang sa iba,”
When Jona changed networks in 2016, she dropped Jonalyn Viray and opted for Jona.
“Actually, nickname ko po kasi siya, so 'yun po ang ibinigay sa akin na pangalan ngayon.” Jona told PEP in an interview.
Jona won in the 2004 Kapuso singing competition 'Pinoy Pop Superstar. '
Based on reports, Ivana Alawi used to have two screen names before. She used the name Mariel Rey and then competed in 'StarStruck' as Mariam Al-Alawi. According to reports, her manager Perry Lansigan wanted her to use the name Ivana Alawi because her real one is written like it was misspelled.
Another 'StarStruck' alumna who opted to change her screen name was Princess Snell. The 'StarStruck' season 5 Avenger used the name Princess Snell, when she joined the reality-based artista search. She now goes by the screen name Nathalie Hart. But who suggested this name to her?
She recalled in an interview with PEP, “Well, it's hard, kasi it took us four months para magkaroon ng bagong pangalan and actually si Tito Leo at si Ms. Roselle Monteverde 'yung nag-isip ng bagong pangalan ko. I don't know, kung saan-saan na lang nila tinitingnan. Minsan nandun kami sa Google, naghahanap lang kami ng mga pangalan.
“There was one meeting na, 'Ano kaya ang pangalan namin,' blah-blah-blah. And then they ended up with Nathalie and sabi nila, 'Iyan na ang pangalan mo!'
We know him as Rex Baculfo, the winner of 'The Clash' Season 5, but now he goes by the name John Rex.
Before Adrian Alandy, we knew him as Luis Alandy. During his chat with the members of the press in 2018, Adrian revealed the reason why he wanted to use his real name.
According to the versatile actor, “It's a new beginning for me. And parang after doing 'Citizen Jake,' doon namin sinabi ni Noel [Ferrer] na, 'Why not use my real name to make it more real, more personal career.'"
It was the talk of the town back then when former matinee idol Rustom Padilla openly admitted on television that he was gay, while participating in a reality TV contest.
Fast forward to January 2009, the actor returned to the country from America and dropped a bombshell during her interview with some reporters at the airport and declared “Rustom is dead.”
She is now living the life of a beautiful and confident transgender actress-model BB Gandanghari.
When she entered show business, versatile Sparkle actress Max Collins used the screen name Isabelle Abiera, which was based on her real name.
She was part of the Star Magic Batch 15 and now, she is considered by many as a reliable drama actress and has starred in several top-rating soaps.
In addition, the Fil-Am actress has proven herself in the world of comedy doing shows like 'Bubble Gang' , 'Juan Tamad', and 'Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis'
Former 'Tween Hearts' star Hiro Peralta is among the celebrities who opted to change their showbiz names. Kapuso viewers knew him as Hiro Magalona before, and yes, he is related to the late Master Rapper Francis Magalona, since his mom and Francis are second cousins.
As part of the relaunch of his career, he changed his name from Magalona to Peralta, when he was cast in the series 'Anna Karenina' in 2013.
Do you still remember when Roxee B was known as Roxanne Barcelo in the popular art program, 'Art Angel?'
Roxee stated in an interview with an entertainment website in 2014 that she changed her name as part of her decision to transform herself as a sexy singer-actress.
Well, Ate Roxanne is now Mommy Roxanne and she has two children, Cinco and Theo with her non-showbiz husband Jiggs.
Roxee announced her marriage in December 2020.
Her role as Aubrey in the afternoon soap 'My Special Tatay' acting opposite Ken Chan served as her breakthrough role for actress-singer Rita Daniela.
When she joined 'Popstar Kids' in 2005 she was known as Rita Iringan. She then changed it to Rita De Guzman and in 2015 she decided to stick with her current screen name Rita Daniela.
She is now balancing her time both as a celebrity and a mom to her son Juan “Uno” Rafael.
'Mga Batang Riles' actor Antonio Vinzon now has a new stage name. The son of veteran actor Roi Vinzon goes by the stage name Anton Vinzon.
In an interview with PEP.PH, Roi shared his thoughts on his son's screen name change. He told the showbiz website, “To make it more appealing to the new gen market,"
Back in April 2023, Anton was launched as part of the teen-oriented group Sparkle Teens.
Former 'Magdalena' star Bela Padilla sat down with the King of Talk Boy Abunda in his afternoon talk show, wherein she shared her decision to use the screen name of Krista Valle before.
Explaining on 'Fast Talk with Boy Abunda' she said, “Because the first few years of my career I wasn't really using Padilla. I was using my real name Krista, actually no, they gave me a screen name it was Krista Valle.
“Jet [Valle] was one of the people who discovered me in ABS-CBN, so, they couldn't use my real name Krista Sullivan it sounded too foreign it's hard to pronounce raw. So, they said okay we will use Jet Valle's name, so my name was Krista Valle. And in the beginning, I wasn't really telling people na I was related to the Padillas, because I wanted to see if this industry would accept me just for what I was just doing or who I was, or my talent or what I could give.” xx Source: Fast Talk with Boy Abunda xx https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV_Rn6EamTM