My  Name:

I have been called Devorah for most of my life. Although my birth certificate says Deborah, as a baby I was officially presented in the temple as Devorah. So both names have been authentically mine throughout my life. Just before starting high school, I decided that I wanted to go by Devorah. I’ve always been very independent, so why not be responsible for my own name? Of course there was a bit of confusion at school during roll call, some bewilderment when people started calling my house asking for Devorah, and other amusing teenage antics. Later, I added the last name Rose with the encouragement of my manager and agent. I’ve been Devorah Rose ever since.

Some bloggers seem to care an awful lot about my name, which is funny since this practice is as old as Abraham. I’m an artist, writer, actress, and girl about town who has simply followed in the footsteps of Mark Twain (born Samuel Langhorne Clemens), Pablo Neruda (born Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basoalto), Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortensen, baptized Norma Jeane Baker), Toni Morrison (born Chloe Anthony Wofford), and Natalie Portman (born Natalie Hershlag).

Still, there are several things I would like to address about the way certain blogs have discussed my name. First and foremost, there is a faulty idea that upon coming to New York City, I decided to change my name. As I explained earlier, I’ve gone by Devorah since high school – so, nope, I didn’t do that. But if that had been the case, various people seem to think that there would be something wrong with that. Well, I disagree. If anyone reading this would like to move to New York City or Los Angeles to pursue a dream of writing, painting, designing or acting and changing your name seems organic to that dream – GO AHEAD AND DO IT! You can be whoever you want to be and express yourself however you would like. Second, another strange idea out there on the internet is that having a stage name, a nom de plume, or simply changing your name is somehow fake or inauthentic. There is nothing fake about a name change. It is a choice and one of the most wonderful things about being in America is the ability to exercise your own free will. So ignore the haters and go ahead and do your thing!

How to break into the fashion industry:

In both Housewives of NY and NYC Prep, I was featured overseeing and producing photo shoots – an important part of my job as Editor-in-Chief of Social Life Magazine. Perhaps due to this exposure, I’ve received countless emails asking me questions about fashion. The most popular question is: “How did you get into the fashion industry and what exactly does one study in college to pursue a career in fashion?” First of all, a very important lesson that life has taught me is: You’ll do well in any field when you love what you are doing. So figure out why you want to go into fashion. When you look at a fashion publication are you attracted to the pictures or what is featured in the photos? Do you see yourself designing clothes, publicizing designers, organizing events, writing about fashion, assisting a designer, photographing models, or representing the talent as an agent? Examine what makes your heart flutter. After you’ve done that then, get an internship in that specific field so that you can learn more first-hand. Make sure you do your job to the best of your abilities and that you respect everyone around you. Fashion is whimsical and magical but can also be very dramatic, so make sure you focus on your job and stay away from interpersonal drama.

Healthy Eating:

I want to be clear that I do not support anorexia, bulimia or any type of eating disorder. When I was featured on The Fashionista Diaries, one of the interns was shown saying, “They don’t even let us take lunch breaks,” to which I responded, “That’s the Manhattan diet.” I have a dry sense of humor and I said it with a straight face but in no way shape or form was I endorsing anorexia. Proper nutrition is essential to living a happy life and reaching your goals. I am well-aware that in today’s society we are bombarded with unrealistic, unattainable examples of beauty . But unhealthy and dangerous eating habits will not help you reach your goals. If you – or anyone you know – are suffering from an eating disorder, please seek help. Here are some websites that focus on these issues:: www.helpguide.org.