‘I had to become somebody completely different’: Halsey reveals she adopted her stage name because she ‘didn’t deserve to be famous and successful as herself’
Halsey has revealed she changed her name because she didn’t think she deserved “to be famous and successful” in her own right.
The 26-year-old singer – whose real name is Ashley Frangipane – started going by what would become her stage name when she was a teenager and working on her 2015 debut album Badlands.
She told Cosmopolitan: ‘I think I had the foresight to know that being me wasn’t enough. I had to become somebody completely different.
Opening up: Halsey has revealed she changed her name because she didn’t think she deserved “to be famous and successful” in her own right
‘At the time, I felt that Ashley didn’t deserve to be famous and successful because she wasn’t that special, but if I made Halsey, maybe she could be.
‘[Changing my name] gave me the opportunity to create a new persona that wasn’t bound by the expectations I had for myself or the limitations that others placed on me because of my upbringing or my socioeconomic situation.’
The Without Me hitmaker insisted the name change meant she was about to take her new character to “supernatural heights”.
New identity: The 26-year-old singer – whose real name is Ashley Frangipane – started going by what would become her stage name when she was a teenager
She explained: ‘I created a person, and she could do everything.
‘There was no way that Ashley was going to become a king, but I made a new name for myself and took her to paranormal, supernatural heights.’
Halsey previously revealed she has decided not to speak too much about her personal life but admitted she wasn’t keen on dating any more musicians.
Private: Halsey previously revealed she has decided not to speak too much about her personal life but admitted she wasn’t keen on dating any more musicians (pictured with former partner Yungblud)
The singer, who past boyfriends include rapper G-Eazy and rocker Yungblud, said: ‘A friend of mine – another female artist who has been criticised for dating a lot of people – said, “Ashley, you need to live your f***ing life and ignore what people say about you.”
‘And so now I keep everything to myself in terms of my romantic relationships. I will say that it’s good to not date another musician as then your work follows you everywhere.
‘Now it’s my personal life so I get to go home to somebody that I love and spend time with them, and it not be about work.’