The Top 7 Things We Could Learn from Duchess Meghan Markle

With the grand Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle on Saturday, this union had me very interested in the lives of both individuals, particularly Meghan Markle. So I decided to learn a lot about Markle and found her to be quite the breath of fresh air, especially as an example for women all over. Here are seven things we could learn from Duchess Meghan Markle.

1. Stand Up For What’s Right

This go-getter has always represented some amazing causes, but there was a particular occasion that stands out to me. In 1992, When Meghan was just eleven years old, a commercial for Ivory Dishwashing Liquid really bothered her because it stated “Women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans” (as opposed to “People.” She felt that this commercial—as well as others—had misogynist undertones and stereotyped women to only having value when it comes to household duties. So, she wrote a letter to Proctor & Gamble and some powerful people at the time, stating her concerns and requesting that that particularly phrase of the commercial be changed to “People all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans.” Guess what? They listened. The commercial was changed and thus sent the message to Americans that household chores can belong to both women and men, not just women. How inspirational! Imagine how much change we can put into motion if we each take actions, even small, such as Meghan’s and speak up for what we truly believe is right.

2. Set Yourself Apart

There are many ways in which Meghan is unique. One way was in her college years, when she made it clear that she did not want to be just like everyone else. She aspired NOT to be the cliché of a girl from LA who was trying to be an actress, so she double majored in both theatre and international relations (from Northwestern). She was also the first person in her family to graduate from college. Consistently striving to set the bar high and set herself apart from the average obviously served her well in life, and I’m sure more of us would benefit from being a bit ‘off the beaten track.’

3. Support Other Women

In addition to efforts like the one Meghan made when she was just eleven (the Ivory commercial), through her entire life she has advocated for women’s right and the advancement of women. Some other examples include her work in Mumbai and Delhi when she traveled there to raise awareness of issues concerning women, particularly surrounding the topics of education, hygiene, empowerment, economic development and healthcare. After Meghan’s return from India, she wrote an op-ed for Time magazine concerning stigmatization of women in regard to menstrual health. She has also worked with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women as an Advocate. It is evident that Meghan firmly believes in supporting and strengthening the advancement of women. I, myself, have always been a fan of women who lift up other women and I believe it is such an important thing to do on a daily basis. One of my efforts to uplift women this year was through coordinating a shoot and PSA for survivors of child and sexual abuse, in light of the #MeToo movement.

But we don’t all have to perform large-scale efforts like our Duchess of Sussex; even if you don’t consider yourself the feminist of the year, small actions like complimenting a woman or just being a good friend to the women in your life suffice. More positivity and less criticism towards other women make for a better and more woman friendly world!

4. Foster Your Creativity

Creativity makes life infinitely interesting and fulfilling and contributes to our growth. Meghan Markle expresses her creativity most obviously through her acting, which she was known most for before meeting and marrying Prince Harry. Throughout her career, she has played roles on General Hospital, CSI: NY, Without a Trace, CSI: Miami, Knight Riders and many others, as well as worked repeatedly on Deal or No Deal as a suitcase model. The most prominent role she is known widely for is playing Rachel Zane on the show Suits where she was a series regular for the first seven seasons.

However, before her big acting career, many do not know that Meghan worked as a calligrapher and has a love for writing, specifically cursive writing. Back in her adolescent schooling years, Meghan took a cursive writing class for six years and enjoyed it enough to later on work in the calligraphy profession for weddings and events. She has previously remarked “Handwritten notes are a lost art form.”

What is the art form you most embrace?

5. Embrace Your Differences

We all have had challenges—especially in adolescence—that we’ve had to battle; things about us that we are teased for because it makes us different. One of Meghan’s challenges that she had to face when she was growing up was her ethnicity, which wasn’t completely black or white (literally). With her mother’s ancestors descending from African-Americans enslaved in Georgia and her father’s ancestry deriving from Dutch, English and Irish settlers, she is a biracial female. Because of this and especially in the time that she grew up, being biracial—half-black and half-white—was not easy. From dealing with school kids teasing her in adolescence and even in adulthood during her acting career when she was often times told she was ‘too black’ for the white roles and ‘not black enough’ for the black roles, she endured a lot of angst for circumstances she could not change.

However, today she has embraced and celebrates her differences. Describing her ancestry, Markle remarked: “My dad is Caucasian and my mom is African-American. I’m half black and half white… I have come to embrace this and say who I am, to share where I’m from, to voice my pride in being a strong, confident, mixed-race woman.”

So powerful! If we could all celebrate our differences a little bit more rather than ostracize ourselves and others because of them, I feel that the world would be a more accepting place.

6. Don’t Chase A Man (Do You, Boo)

Okay, now this is where I keep it real REAL! Meghan landed the Duke of Sussex (no other than Prince Harry) how, you ask? Did she wear a short skirt and low cut top to catch his eye? Did she giggle like a school girl, flip her hair and flit her eyelashes? Did she dumb down her achievements and intelligence level to not appear so intimidating? Did she text him thirty times a day to check in on him and see where he was or verify what his feelings were for her? Here are the answers to these questions…No, No, No and NO!

Megan, always focused on her career and international efforts, kept plugging away at just that. She was a professional woman and was not in the slightest worried about entering into a relationship, due to her passion for her career. She had also formerly been married and most likely was not trying to rush into another marriage. It wasn’t until a friend of hers who also happened to be connected to the Royal Family circle suggested setting her up on a blind date that she gave the opportunity of being with someone again much thought. Even knowing that her friend associates with a lot of high profile individuals, the only question she asked about her blind date was “Is he nice?”

Flash forward to the future, after meeting Prince Harry and striking chemistry with him, they were very much into each other, but it was clear that he pursued and courted her. Their first two dates were over the course of two days in London, but after the back-to-back rendezvous, with Prince Harry being busy with a month-long trip in Africa immediately after and Meghan having to return back to LA to her busy acting schedule on Suits, it was difficult to see each other. Finally, the distance and time apart from Meghan was bothering Harry so much that, four weeks later, he convinced her to spend five days with him in Botswana and he fly her out. After this point, they decided to commit to each other romantically. But even still, Meghan stayed very focused on her obligations and her busy career and Harry worked around her schedule to fly out and see her whenever he could and vice versa, even just for a couple days here and there (Meghan had early call times for set—sometimes as early as 4 am—and often long days filming). Obviously her success, busy-ness and dedication to her craft did not phase him, as he continued to pursue her and a year and a half after their first date, got down on one knee and popped the big question :).

Other than having natural interest in their love story, I found it so powerful that even with sparking a romance with a member of one of—if not THE most royal family in the world, Meghan Markle did not desperately drop everything to be with him or give up her career or associations because of this opportunity to be with the Prince. She is a strong, intelligent, successful woman who continued on with her plan until Prince Harry ‘put a ring on it’ as they say ;).

And if she can stay on her grind, even with dating royalty, this should be encouragement to women everywhere that when you lead a life with purpose and stay focused on your ambitions, that eventually your prince (or princess 🙂 ) will appear. Just be yourself!

7. Keep it Simple

Last but not least, one thing I admire about Meghan, which I think we could all apply more often than not, is to Keep. It. Simple! This could apply to several areas, but I’m specifically referring to her attire during the Royal Wedding!

During the wedding—as many of you surely have already seen—Meghan graced the aisle with a stunning Givenchy boat-neck gown. Her make up was understated and her hair pulled back into a simple updo. No body-clinging attire, opulent accouterments or extravagant detail. Not that one shouldn’t do that for their own wedding if they so desire, however Meghan’s wedding ceremony dress (and even her wedding reception dress) was a reminder to us that sleek and simple is timeless.

Class, elegance and sophistication: that is Meghan Markle.

Congratulations Duchess on your nuptials and may you have a blessed future with Harry! And may we all be blessed in love and life <3

xoxo,

Lesley Yvonne