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Untrickled by Michelle Teheux's avatar

I use my real name and face. I wish all this had come along when I was young enough to muster up a little hotness, but here I am 59 with gray hair. At least you know I’m authentic— nobody pretends to be old and gray! I’ve decided, actually, to lean in on it — to own it. It’s just Spike Gillespie and me showing up in long gray braids.

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Jocelyn Millis's avatar

I used my initials and last name when I first started writing online for Medium, but I kept finding people got confused about whether I was male or female.

They also confused J I as JL.

My idea at the beginning was J for Jocelyn and I for the word “I”, then Millis, my last name.

I ended up having to explain it too many times. Jay Squires asked me why I named myself like a moon of Jupiter. He thought it was J1.

I changed my writer’s handle to my actual name : Jocelyn Millis.

It’s been simple since then, only thing I regret is starting to receive emails from men with two first names calling me beautiful. Didn’t get them before.

However, I do use pictures taken at different times on different platforms. It’s all me. Time has done different things to my face but it’s all me.

Sometimes unsavoury men make fun of women’s photos so I’m tolerant if people prefer a logo or a drawing instead of a photograph to present themselves or their writing.

Otherwise I like to see how people look when they’re being themselves. Your photo Rui is a good example, it’s you being you.

Michelle Teheux has great hair and it’s a sign she’s been writing for years. It goes with her personality and writing style - straight talk.

The Brand for Ring -O. Leave it at Walmart is my advice.

But, don’t name your child something cute in the moment.

I taught a girl named Pixie Bright, her parents caused her unmeasurable grief by their thoughtlessness.

And think about initials too.

A boy I went to school with was called Ken doll by the boys.

His name was Kevin Eric Nanton.

His Mom used permanent marker and put his initials on everything he owned. KEN.

It took two days before the smart mouth in the class called him KEN Doll. They never quit calling him that.

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