Why Dubai Princess Sheikha Mahra changed her Instagram name to “Xtianna” after divorce

Divorce is often painted as an ending, but for Dubai princess Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, it’s looking more like a spectacular premiere of her life post-split. After her Instagram divorce post that went viral in 2024, it seems that the Dubai princess isn’t just “moving on” in life. Instead, she is reclaiming a version of herself that existed long before the royal titles and the headlines.

Sometime back, Sheikha Mahra’s 1.1 million followers on Instagram noticed a subtle but important shift on her social media profile. The handle that once carried the weight of formal royalty was swapped for “@xtianna”. For the casual observer, it’s just a username; but for Mahra, it’s a homecoming. Here’s why she Sheikha Mahra changed her name on social media:

The choice of “Xtianna” isn’t a random aesthetic tweak. It’s a direct nod to her birth name, Christina. Born in 1994 to Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed, and his Greek-born wife, Zoe Grigorakos, Mahra grew up at the intersection of two very different worlds.

By leaning into her birth name now, she’s signaling a deep, personal reset. After her viral 2024 divorce from Sheikh Mana—announced via a digital “mic drop” where she invoked the triple talaq tradition herself—this name change feels like she’s shedding the layers of expectation placed upon a “Sheikha” and stepping back into the woman she was born to be. It’s an “identity first, title second” era that has fans absolutely cheering.

If you want to understand Sheikha Mahra’s strength, you have to look at her mother, Zoe Grigorakos. Post-divorce, Mahra has made her maternal heritage a centerpiece of her public life. From celebrating Greek Independence Day by lighting up UAE landmarks in blue and white to her frequent, affectionate posts with Zoe, she’s clearly finding her anchor in her Greek roots.

This cultural fusion—Dubai’s golden dunes meeting the spirit of the Aegean—is what makes her so relatable. She isn’t a “stiff” royal living behind palace walls; she’s a daughter honoring the woman who gave her a foundation when things got chaotic. When she met with the Greek ambassador, Antonis Alexandris, in 2024 it wasn’t just a formal photo op—it was a woman building bridges between the two halves of her soul.

Of course, you can’t talk about Mahra’s reinvention without mentioning the man currently holding her hand. Her engagement to Moroccan-American rapper French Montana (Karim Kharbouch) in late 2025 surprised everyone. It was a union which was much talked about for long, but was now confirmed now bringing both the music and royal worlds together.

On paper, a hip-hop star from the Bronx and a princess from Dubai seem like a script from a Hollywood rom-com. But when French Montana opened up about his relationship with Sheikha Mahra on the Joe and Jada podcast earlier this year, he revealed exactly what hooked him: It was her viral divorce post! He saw that viral divorce post—the raw, unfiltered honesty of a woman refusing to be cheated on in silence—and thought, “I like her.” Their relationship, which culminated in a $1.1 million emerald-cut diamond ring and a romantic Paris proposal, represents a fusion of two people who have both had to fight for their narratives. For Mahra, French Montana isn’t just a partner; he’s a witness to her resilience.

Mahra didn’t just survive her breakup; she monetised it. Launching her Mahra M1 perfume line with a flagship scent literally called “Divorce” was a masterclass in branding. It took a word that usually carries a heavy social stigma and turned it into a symbol of power and fresh starts.

Now, as a single mom to a toddler she has with her ex-husband, Mahra is navigating a life that is part-fairytale, part-real-world hustle. She’s proving that you can be a devoted mother and a fierce entrepreneur while still leaving room for a new kind of love.

The “@xtianna” era is a reminder that no matter how public your life is, you always have the right to hit the reset button. Sheikha Mahra is showing the world that “happily ever after” doesn’t have to be a straight line—sometimes, it’s a circle that leads you right back to yourself.