The word "persona" refers to the aspect of someone's character or personality that they choose to show to the outside world. It can also refer to a fictional character or role that an actor portrays in a performance or story. Essentially, it's the "mask" that one wears in different social situations, reflecting how they want to be perceived by others.
The term "persona" originates from the Latin word "persona," which means "mask" or "character." In ancient theater, a persona was a mask worn by actors to represent various characters.