What you need to know
Ashley Tisdale French is entering a new era!
The High School Musical alum, 40, announced in a TikTok video posted on Monday, Nov. 17 that she would change her social media handle to Ashley Tisdale French and would use her marital last name professionally from now on.
Ashley, who married husband Christopher French in 2014, said: “I’ve been Ashley French at home for a long time and I’ve never changed that in public because everyone knows me as Ashley Tisdale.”
“But I felt like it was time for people to know me more than just a character or a celebrity,” she explained.
“I’ve been sharing so much of my life on social media for a long time,” Ashley continued. “…At this point, we don’t know what’s real and what’s a bot. And everyone has something to say, but it might not be a positive thing…I felt like I didn’t want to keep sharing like that to protect my peace.”
As well as the name change, Ashley also shared an update in the video about her beauty company, Being Frenshe, which was inspired by her married name.
Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort via Getty
Back in 2022, the actress spoke to PEOPLE about the origin of her name. “When I was creating the blog, I knew it was going to be my very personal platform, where I spoke very openly and authentically about everything I was going through. I was trying to remember a time in my life where I started this journey of learning about myself. And when I got married and he was sober, I was really inspired,” she recalled.
“And my married name is French. I always like to say, ‘At work, I’m Ashley Tisdale, but at home, I’m Ashley French.’ So I think that was the first time for me that people really saw who I was as a person,” Ashley said.
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In September, to mark their 11th wedding anniversary, she posted a tribute to her husband, with whom she shares daughters Jupiter, 4, and Emerson, 14 months, on Instagram.
“How was it 11 years ago? 😭🥰❤️ Happy Anniversary, my love @cmfrench,” she wrote at the time. “This is the best decision I’ve ever made, love my unusual life!”
