Switching over to my real name on Beauty Swatch
Back in June 2009 when I first started Beauty Swatch, blogging under the pen name of “Akisa” was my security blanket for the blogsphere. I didn’t know how people (both on the internet and at work) would react to the blog concept, and thought that life would just be easier if I didn’t put my identity out there.
If I had so much as an inkling that Beauty Swatch would get to where it is now, and the overwhelming support from everyone, including colleagues and numerous bosses, I would not have confused everyone with a pen name in the first place.
Whilst I’ve gotten used to people calling me both names, the moment I knew it was time to give up my pen name was when I started receiving interview requests from journalists around the world, and I couldn’t bear the thought of prolonging the problem I created.
My name is Yishan.
And from now on, my blog posts, swatches & comments will appear under this name.
You’re welcome to call me either names, although I may react a little faster to my real name being called out on the street.
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Do you use your real name on your blog?
Hooray! I remember the first time we met at the Nuffnang meet, I believe you were introduced to me as Akisa as well! ‘Nice to meet you’ Yishan. =)
Technically, Celeste isn’t my real name. It’s about half my real name. My full name is Celestine and it sounds awfully formal, friends started calling me by Celeste and it’s stuck. Nowadays, only formal documentations contain my full name. Everything else (even my work tags and contracts) are all signed under Celeste.
LOL, I still remember those early days!
Hi Yishan!
I blog under my pen name still and prefer it for personal privacy reasons. I do go by a non pen name but still nickname if pressed for it in real life. Guess I just feel better that way 
I am a private person too, for the past 3 years I felt safe with a pen name. But I must admit there is also something satisfying about seeing my name against my achievements.
That’s very true too! And you absolutely deserve it
Hahaha I think I’ll most likely still call you Akisa. I’m so used to it! It’s like Paris B; we’ve known each other for years, but it’s easier to call her PB than her real name
Tine is part of my real name. It’s a nickname I’ve been given since I was born as my grandmother couldn’t pronounce my name. She tried it, got fed up and said “ahh let’s call her Tine Tine instead!” And it stuck
You call me Akisa, Imma gonna call you Tine Tine
My parents call me Tine too. For some reason they have always thought that to be a better nick name for me than Celeste. I prefer Celeste. Haha.
Hi, Yishan! It’s nice to “meet” you with your real name.
I think it’s brilliant that you’re going to be using it with Beauty Swatch going forward — you’ve really created something to be proud of with the site : )
(I write under Rae, which is technically a diminutive of my legal name, but I figure it still counts as “real”! I use it day-to-day and on all of my non-legal forms, so. *shrugs*)
At least Rae sounds nice. If I broke my name dow into “Yi” or “Shan” – it just doesn’t have the same ring to it… lol~
Welcome Yishan! Totally understand that someone would like to reserve on disclosing their names. You’re so brave. Will continue to support Beauty Swatch!
Thanks Coco!
Hi Yishan, I use a pen name on my blog – ‘Mango’ it has no reference to my real life persona only that its part of my blog’s name and I like Mangos
It’s early days for me in the blogging world so maybe I’ll reveal myself one day but for now I’m happy with my anonymity. Although I think bloggers who use their real name and or nickname come across as more personable – then again using a pen name has its benefits too. I guess you have enjoyed the best of both worlds now 
You’ve accomplished a lot in three years – you should be proud to attach your real name to this blog 
!
Thanks Mango!
Congrats on the brave move! I totally understand why you had the alias to begin with but I’m really happy that I can call you your real name now on twitter!
Still use a pen name – I want to keep my blog and industry life separate as it is in very different fields and feel the name gives me that kind of distance between the two.
One day, I may follow your lead and blog under my real name too
At first that was my main reason too, until I couldn’t bear the thought of being featured in print media under my alias.
I think I created the very same problem for myself too! You probably know, I used to call myself “Pearl” on my blog and it worked well as it’s heartofpearl but when and if people on the street recognised me and call me Pearl, there was no reaction whatsoever! I’m so glad I came out clean about my real name Shizuka LOL. It just makes life a lot more simple. Hi 5*!
I agree, life is much more simple just using our real names!
At first I wanted to use pen name like I used to in previous other blogs.. but then i ended up just using my real name… although technically Dana is not my ‘full real name’ it’s a short of my real name ‘cendana’ … my family don’t even call me ‘cendana’ haha and only few people do, mostly call me ‘dana’ and i answer to both, just as long as you can pronounce it hahaha
i’ve even been called D. …. or use the letter D to sign off… :p as long as you know it’s me. I’ve even been known as ‘blushfully’ … which is no surprise, I suppose
Yay to coming out with your real name though I knew that already ^^ now I can call you by that name but I’m so used to calling you Akisa… lol
ok I’m calling you Dana from now on.. I got used to calling you Cendana!
I sort of write under an alias, Bovary is not my surname though many people who aren’t familiar with the novel from which it originates often refer to me as Emma Bovary. I don’t mind, I answer to both and my post man says it’s my ‘other surname’. Good on you for being brave, Yishan!
I thought Bovary was your surname too!
It’s so nice to know your real name. Hi Yishan!! I love this photo of you….You look so polished and pretty here!
I actually prefer it if blogs have a more personal touch but of course your own boundaries should dictate how much you want to reveal in a public space. I use my real name in my blog without reservation but I suppose I’m not a terribly private person…though my past experience as a journalist has imbued in me to be very clear about my boundaries — I only write about what I feel comfortable telling a stranger. I’ve done this for so many years that I don’t need to think twice about and I don’t feel embarrassed by anything I write anymore.
That’s a great motto to have! I didn’t realise you used to be a journalist!
Hello Yishan, lovely to meet you! x
Thanks Tegan!
I totally thought Melissa was your real name (I think I saw it in other people’s press event post or something like that). Anyway, I think people you know will totally be proud of your website.
My real name is pretty short (and sound a little too endearing to me) so I freak out when people (in real life) I am not too familiar with call me with it….I am not sure why I picked “Citrine” either since I neither like the stone nor the color, I think I just needed something to name the blog so that people who search for Henryk Wieniawski (domain hogging totally intended) the composer don’t end up looking at 3749 tubes of lip gloss.
Melissa is my “coffee name” since I can’t be bothered spelling out my name, haha!