Meghan Markle, a former American actress, is trying to take on a new role this year: domestic diva.
The Duchess of Sussex’s highly anticipated Netflix series, ‘With Love, Meghan’, has been postponed to March 4 due to the Los Angeles wildfires. Ahead of the premiere, the former “Suits” star was compared to Martha Stewart and Nigella Lawson, two lifestyle gurus who have overcome bad press.
But some royal experts believe the mother of three still has a long way to go before she can be welcomed into the coveted circle.
MEGHAN MARKLE POSTPONES LIFESTYLE SERIES due to wildfires in California
Mindy Kaling stars in Markle’s new show, premiering March 4. (Netflix)
“Meghan’s team helped her put a huge amount of positive marketing and branding slant into her Netflix series,” British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital.
“Over time, she can be a success in the lifestyle space,” Chard said. “However, this will take a long time, as Meghan’s character does not fit into this sickly sweet picture.”
According to reports, Meghan Markle filmed her series in a rented Montecito place near her home. (Netflix)
“It doesn’t feel authentic,” Chard claimed. ‘Like she’s trying to fit in somehow by playing a very old-fashioned role as a housewife… very strange and powerless. She has spoken evil and cast aside the majority of her family and friends, and this certainly does not conjure up an image of love and joy. “
Some royal experts have compared Meghan Markle to Nigella Lawson (left) and Martha Stewart (right), two lifestyle gurus who successfully revamped their brands after scandal. (Getty Images)
The comparison of the three women was first made by the New York Times. It noted that Meghan’s plan for lifestyle dominance follows a “profitable” blueprint that worked for both Stewart, 83, and Lawson, 65.
Both women were once at the center of public crises, the newspaper reported.
Nigella Lawson leaves Isleworth Crown Court on December 5, 2013 in Isleworth, England. Italian sisters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, who worked as assistants to Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi, were accused of defrauding them. (Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)
In 2004, Stewart served a five-month prison sentence after being found guilty of insider trading charges, including obstruction of justice and conspiracy. After serving time, she rebuilt her brand and successfully returned as a successful entrepreneur and TV personality.
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Martha Stewart was released from federal prison on March 4, 2005. (James Devaney/WireImage/Getty Images)
Lawson’s failed marriage to millionaire art collector Charles Saatchi and their tempestuous family life was the subject of the tabloids. Things got worse when he was photographed holding her by the throat outside a London restaurant, which was quickly followed by their divorce in 2013.
While testifying that year at the fraud trial of two former assistants, the celebrity chef admitted in court that she had used cocaine but denied that she was a regular user.
Like Stewart, Lawson left the past behind and started over. She came out on top with a new cookbook and appeared in several cooking specials. Today, she is more recognized for going viral after her unique pronunciation of “microwave.”
English chef and food writer Nigella Lawson attends a book signing and lunch at Taxi Kitchen restaurant in Melbourne during her tour of Australia, January 24, 2018. (Scott McNaughton/The Age via Getty Images)
“Martha Stewart is a leader in her field,” said Chard. “She achieved enormous success, not only because of her talent, but also by being herself and because of her enormous courage and determination. She… was innovative and amazed her audiences.
“The same can be said of the beloved Nigella, a sensational chef and host. She also has the most enigmatic, authentic and fun personality.”
Martha Stewart attends the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2023 Release Party at Hard Rock Hotel New York on May 18, 2023 in New York City. She made the cover that year. (Noam Galai/Getty Images for Sports Illustrated swimsuit)
“I think Megan’s Lifestyle series is dated,” Chard said. “She needs to add more to make her show modern and interesting. It would also help if she was a trained expert in this field. People can then empathize with the brand she is building, instead of choking on the smoke and mirrors.”
Before becoming a member of the British Royal FamilyMeghan had a lifestyle blog, The Tig. It was closed after she got engaged to Harry in 2017. One of her first initiatives as a member of the royal family was to collaborate with the Hubb Community Kitchen on a fundraising cookbook.
“It feels inauthentic. Like she’s trying to fit in somehow by playing a very old-fashioned role as a housewife… very strange and powerless. She has spoken evil and sidelined the majority of her family and friends and this certainly does not conjure up an image of love and joy.”
Meghan Markle, who played Rachel Zane on “Suits,” had a lifestyle site called The Tig. It was closed after her engagement to Prince Harry. (Robert Ascroft/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
But over the years, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made headlines for airing their grievances. After moving to California in 2020, they gave a television interview to Oprah Winfrey, detailing their struggles with royal life. In late 2022, they unveiled their controversial Netflix docuseries ‘Harry & Meghan’, followed by Harry’s explosive memoir ‘Spare’. Each launch brought to light new allegations about their time as royals.
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Oprah Winfrey interviewed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for a 2021 special, where they revealed their struggles with royal life. (Harpo Productions/Joe Pugliese via Getty Images)
Filling a completely different role – one that has been filled several times before – will be a harder sell, some experts say.
“Martha Stewart was really the pioneer in this field and, some say, created the entire lifestyle industry,” Doug Eldridge, an agent, celeb branding and marketing expert and founder of Achilles PR, told Fox News Digital.
Office workers in London watch the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s controversial documentary, ‘Harry & Meghan’ on December 8, 2022. (Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images)
“In the 30 years since, the industry has become increasingly saturated,” he said. “That’s not to say Meghan can’t carve out her own niche in the lifestyle market, but that will be a lot harder than it would have been just a decade ago. It’s like swimming laps in a lane with three other people. swimmers, versus 35 people with pool noodles, flopping around. It’s hard to distinguish – let alone dominate – when it’s so busy.
Meghan Markle has a lot to learn from the professionals who came before her, several royal experts argued. “Martha Stewart was really the first mover in this space and, some say, created the entire lifestyle industry,” Doug Eldridge, an agent, celeb branding and marketing expert, told Fox News Digital. (Netflix/Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
“You’ll have to adjust your stroke or swim in a different direction entirely,” Eldridge added.
British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that she doesn’t feel like the 43-year-old has found her balance yet. The series already seems to be missing the mark when it comes to showing Meghan’s real side, she claimed.
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“Meghan should focus on her brand instead,” Fordwich explains. “She is extremely slim, so she should use that in her branding… Americans, and even many around the world, would embrace being as slim as she is… It is impossible to maintain her figure while you indulge in the sugar, cakes and such from her trailer. She should talk about how she has such a figure. It’s fake to demonstrate how she cooks food that she clearly rarely or never eats.
Meghan Markle announced her new Netflix show on her recently launched Instagram page. (Netflix)
“Also loyal to the brand, she landed a princeFordwich said. “How about being completely authentic and giving single women her tips on how to get an eligible bachelor? Many also want to perform. What about landing acting jobs?”
“In other words, she has to be authentic to who she is,” Fordwich added.
But not everyone agrees.
“This is about connecting with friends… making new friends… and just learning,” Meghan Markle said in the trailer for her Netflix series. (Netflix)
“I think it’s the other way around: What can Martha and Nigella learn from Meghan?” royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital.
“Meghan wins all the time, hands down, because her empathy with real people is immense,” he said. “When she started cooking with Muslim women and then creating fundraising opportunities, she captured the hearts of ethnic communities – that’s the real Meghan.
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Meghan Markle lives in the wealthy coastal city of Montecito. (Getty Images)
“Nigella and Martha are very good. They use their intelligence to connect. Meghan connects from the heart,” he argued. “It’s up to the Americans… whether she succeeds. I hope she prevails. She deserves it too.”
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, helps prepare food at the launch of a cookbook featuring recipes from a group of women affected by the Grenfell Tower fire on September 20, 2018. (BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)
‘With Love, Meghan’ is the title Duchess of Sussex’s first solo hosting project for Netflix. Last year, she also gave a glimpse of her upcoming lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. Several of her famous friends showed off her strawberry jam on Instagram.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
