Jen Hamilton Maintains Her Last Name Following Separation: “It’s My Identity

Social media influencer Jen Hamilton has announced her decision to retain her last name in light of her separation from her husband, Brian Hamilton.

“It’s part of my identity now,” she shared passionately on Instagram this Monday, July 27. “I’ve made this name meaningful, and I’m determined to keep it.”

Jen revealed her split from Brian on June 15, after a significant “15 years of shared history,” subsequently accusing him of leading a “double life.” (Brian has not publicly addressed these accusations so far.)

“Yes, he lived a double life with a woman aged 56. Yes, I should have walked away sooner—I’m learning to forgive myself,” admitted Jen, who is 35, on Monday. “I’m blessed to have the resources to escape an unhealthy relationship. Unfortunately, many women lack the financial or practical support to leave similar situations.”

Aware of her fortunate position, Jen has been using her voice to promote her Sisterhood of Solidarity fashion collection, which features empowering messages like “I Survived,” “Choosing Myself Today,” and “G.Y.A.U. (Get Your Ass Up).” She pledged last week that “100 percent of the profits will support charities dedicated to helping women rebuild their lives.” Additionally, she committed that all purchases made on her website until the end of August will similarly support women’s charities.

In her latest video, Jen shared the exciting news that she’d raised “over $50,000” in the last few days alone.

“Is what I’m going through just the most craziest s*** I’ve ever heard of in my life? Nope. It is awful though,” she said. “I love to take something awful and turn it into something good for other people.”

Earlier this week, Jen — who works as a nurse — opened up more than ever before about what allegedly led to the end of her marriage.

“While I was at the hospital, taking care of people, he found the time to have a whole other life. As someone who’s never even passionately kissed anyone else in my entire life, this has broken me beyond comprehension,” Jen told her Instagram followers on Sunday, July 26. “I’m done being people’s PR manager. My kids know, everybody in my orbit knows, so I’m just going to give you the nitty-gritty details so it can give you enough information to be, like, ‘OK, I get it.’”

Jen said that she “repressed [her] own natural human desires” throughout their marriage because Brian allegedly showed little interest in intimacy.

“A direct quote I got [from another woman] was, ‘I knew about you. He talked about you all the time. But I didn’t know you had so many followers,’” Jen claimed. “I’ve never, ever in my life told this man a lie. Even when I was getting next-to-no physical affection whatsoever, I would not in a million years look at another guy like that.”

“Secrets and hiding are what I believe made all this possible, so the way I’m dealing with it is by not having any secrets,” she concluded.

Jen and Brian got married in August 2012 and they share two sons, Ellis and Luke.