Meghan is a vastly different Princess. She is university educated and created a name for herself in activism as a humanitarian by participating in several philanthropic endeavours. Before becoming a royal Meghan Markle was a worldwide ambassador for World Vision, a UN Women advocate, and a counsellor for One Young World, a UK-based charity.
- Ambassador United Nations Women
Meghan became a UN Women ambassador in 2014, working as the UN’s Advocate for Political Participation and Leadership. She made a stunning speech on the significance of gender equality on International Women’s Day in 2015, which has since become famous. Women need a seat at the table, an invitation to sit there, and in some situations, they must establish their table if this is not available. We need a global understanding that without women’s political engagement, we won’t be able to execute change successfully.”
This speech got her a standing ovation from the then UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and several global leaders who were present.
- Meghan became a Global Ambassador for World Vision.
Meghan served as a Global Ambassador for World Vision in Rwanda in 2016. She has witnessed the positive impact that clean water has on the lives of African children and communities. Meghan visited the Kabeza Borehole in Rwanda as part of her charitable efforts. It was erected in 2013 by World Vision and provided clean water to 1,000 people in the surrounding areas
Her campaigns gave clean water to people in need and raised awareness about the need for education to empower communities.
With World Vision Meghan also travelled to India and personally witnessed how the stigma attached to menstruation cycles prevents many young women from pursuing their studies or even working. Meghan visited the Myna Mahila Foundation which empowers women by encouraging the open discussion of taboo topics like menstruation and setting up workshops to make low-cost sanitary protection that allows girls to stay in school.
Writing an essay for Time Magazine Meghan wrote
To break the cycle of poverty, and to achieve economic growth and sustainability in developing countries, young women need access to education. When we empower girls who are eager to learn, we are cultivating women who are empowered to make a difference in their communities and around the world. If we want to make that happen for them, we have to start with ourselves. Period.
- ROLE MODEL TANGIBLE IMPACT
The moment Suits became successful, and I realized people (especially young girls) were listening to what I had to say, I knew I needed to be saying something of value. This is a “When I gave a speech for International Women’s Day and Ban Ki-moon (UN Secretary General) led the standing ovation, I thought, ‘This right here is the point.’ To use whatever status, I have as an actress to make a tangible impact. I’ve never wanted to be a lady who lunches; I’ve always wanted to be a woman who works.
Meghan Markle understood the assignment and when she met Prince Harry, he knew he found his soul mate with shared values.
- The collaborative fundraising cookbook.
Meghan is a hands-on leader and volunteers in underserved communities. She is known for putting her words into action regularly. Collaborating on a fundraiser cookbook for survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire in London. The book was the brainchild of the Duchess. The “Together: Our Community Cookbook” brought together a group of West London ladies from multiple countries around the world. The Hubb Community Kitchen was made up of a group of friends who began gathering and cooking together inspired the 128-page cookbook.
- Meghan advocated for more female representation on television.
During a 2014 One Young World panel discussion on gender equality.
Every script this season seemed to start with ‘Rachel arrives wearing a towel, I said, ‘Nope! I’m not doing it anymore. It’s not going to happen! She called the show’s creator and informed him that she would no longer be doing the scenes.
- She is a global advocate for better education for women and girls.
Duchess Meghan has long advocated for equal educational opportunities for young women, and in January 2019, she designated the Association of Commonwealth Universities as one of her formal royal patronages. The Duchess and Prince Harry flew to Morocco in February 2019 with the goal of “seeing progress being made to encourage girl’s learning, inspire young people, and support families from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
- She has championed for the need for more diversity on television.
Meghan, who is biracial, was also vocal about the need for more diverse representation on film. She explained that the Suits’ producers weren’t looking for someone mixed, nor for someone white or Black for that matter,” They only wanted to find Rachel. The filmmakers contributed to a transformation in how pop culture defines beauty by making such a decision. Whether viewers are conscious of it or not, the decisions made in these rooms impact how they see the world. Some families may never have had a Black or mixed guest in their home.
