A woman who went to Paris to marry herself after changing her name to Beautiful Existence says she thinks everyone should self marry.
Beautiful, previously known as Desiree Longabaugh, travelled to the capital of romance for the big day in a trip costing £5,000.
Surrounded by three close friends, the 42-year-old tied the knot in front of the Eiffel Tower with help through the ceremony from an officiant via Skype.
The Seattle native, who works in social media and marketing, wore trainers and a dress bearing the words; “Hardly art” as she said ‘I do’ – and she says her decision has taken the pressure off her.
The mum-of-two explained that marrying herself was alife changing experience.
“After years of exploring different theories on how to understand myself, self-marriage felt right .
Why couldn’t I have a fun, fantastic ceremony the way that I wanted it to be without somebody else’s approval?”
She revealed that she was married for 10 years to the father of her children – Edge, who is 16, and Epic, six – but it had lost its spark.
“The highest measurement of success society pretty much has is whether or not you’re in a couple, but it shouldn’t be that way.”
Beautiful said that a measure of actual success was loving yourself, and that her sons have supported her new marriage.
“They realise their mum doesn’t follow the usual rules. I mean, I have a Mohawk. My name is Beautiful Existence.”
She adds that we have to stop thinking we’re only worth something if we have ‘someone’, adding:
“What we need to realise is that we all already have somebody – we have ourselves.”
