Mercedeh Javid — who fans have long known as “MJ” or “Mercedes” — is going back to her roots!
The Shahs of Sunset and The Valley: Persian Style star opened up on the Mention It All podcast about why she’s now choosing to use her given Persian name.
“Sometimes you just make things easier for everybody else,” Mercedeh said on the episode.
“But it’s so important to pay the proper homage and ask people to spend an extra second pronouncing my name.”
Part of her decision is rooted in motherhood.
“I see the world through a different lens now,” she explained.
Since her son Shams is half Persian and half Irish/Italian, Mercedeh says it’s important to her that he feels connected to his Persian heritage.
ICYMI: On April 17, 2019, MJ and her then-husband Tommy Feight welcomed their son, Shams Francis Feight, via C-section.
During Shahs of Sunset, Mercedeh was open about her fertility journey and her deep desire to have a son — especially to honor her late father, whom she was extremely close with.
Tragically, he passed away almost exactly one year before Shams was born.
Now, Mercedeh says embracing her Persian name feels like honoring both her roots and the legacy she wants to pass down to her son.
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