On June 1, Caitlyn Jenner proudly revealed herself to the world on the cover of Vanity Fair along with the proud title, “Call me Caitlyn.” Since this debut, one recurring question had to do with her name. Noticing the obvious lack of a “K” in the spelling, many people wondered why Caitlyn intentionally chose to break the Kardashian family tradition. In am interview with Vanity Fair, Caitlyn explained her choice.
Selecting a suitable name was no easy feat for Caitlyn, who admits that the process began two years ago. “It’s one of the hardest things in life—choosing your own name,” she said. After watching the Miss America pageant on TV, a few different names stood out for her, like Heather and Cathy, but Caitlyn was the clear favorite. When her assistant independently suggested the name Caitlyn, Jenner knew that her dilemma had been resolved. “I love that name, too!” she excitedly told her assistant.
However, Jenner still had another decision to consider—whether or not she would spell her name with a “K,” like the other members of the Kardashaian/Jenner clan (Kris, Kourtney, Khloe, Kim, Kendall and Kylie). Jenner ultimately chose to “break tradition and the media associations that went with it.” Caitlyn’s bold decision allows her to be her own woman and have her own identity, separate from the Kardashians.
Be sure to check out Caitlyn Jenner’s interview in the next issue of Vanity Fair when it hits newsstands on June 9!