The Duke University student who has been both hailed and vilified across the Internet for working as a porn star to pay her tuition publicly revealed her porn star name Wednesday as Belle Knox. Knox, which is not her real name, made the decision after a male Duke classmate learned of her secret and revealed it on campus. Knox wanted to counteract the hateful messages she’s received since she wrote about her secret life on the Internet.

In a post titled “I’m Finally Revealing My Name And Face As The Duke Porn Star” for the female lifestyle website xoJane.com, the 18-year-old said among the questions she’s received from a prior xoJane.com piece is why she hides behind her porn star name if she is proud of being an adult performer.

“Because the bullies of the world -- starting with that young Duke man who broke his promise to me -- do not dictate my life,” she responded. “Because my decision to do porn does not somehow mean that the world now ‘owns’ or deserves access to every single thing about me and every choice I make.”

Knox said her original xoJane.com post led to bullying and vitriol such as “she deserves to get raped” and “her nose is bigger than her t---.” She said the comments were added with demands that she use her real name in porn.

“The Internet does not dictate my life. My sexuality is not some sort of blackmail to be used against me, granting you ownership over my life or my story. It is my life. It is my story,” the Duke porn star said. “So I'm refusing to let the bullies win. Instead, in revealing my performer name, I'm also going to let you know exactly the level of hate that exists in America regarding women who refuse to be quiet about their sexuality.”

Not only have strangers attacked Knox’s choices, but her friends as well, the porn star said.

“Many have simply shut me out. Some of my best and oldest friends have told me that I deserve anything negative or horrible that comes my way -- and that terrible things are what I have brought upon myself when I decided to do porn,” she wrote.

Knox said her critics are hypocrites.

“Do you really think you are better than us? Perhaps ask your husband or boyfriend or son or brother (or your wife or girlfriend or daughter or sister) if they have ever watched porn. Do they also deserve bad things and terrifying threats against their safety? No? Then look at the double standard you are employing. Look at the hate you are so comfortable inflicting upon the performers but not on the consumers who drive the industry's success and profitability,” she said.

Her decision to publicly reveal herself as the “Duke porn star” has also made her private information a target, Knox said.

“I have had phone numbers and personal details put online. This disgusting action is being done as if to threaten me that if I dare speak out about anything, there will be a price to pay,” she said.

The Duke porn star said society is not in control of her identity.

“The truth of the matter is this: I am one identity when I am a student. I'm another when I do porn. And no one controls either -- but me,” she wrote. “Today, I am choosing to reveal my porn identity to the world. My name is Belle Knox, and I wear my Scarlet Letter with pride.”