Meghan Markle started working to make the world a more inclusive place long before she became a household name. When she was just 11 years old, the Los Angeles native successfully lobbied a major corporation to change the language in a dish soap commercial that implied housework was a woman’s job. As a teenager, Markle volunteered at soup kitchens, crediting the charitable example her mother set for her. After university, despite completing an internship in the U.S. Embassy in Argentina, Markle made the move into acting instead of politics, but she continued to make activism a priority.
During her rise to small-screen fame as Rachel Zane on the USA Network show Suits, the actress was outspoken about the need for more diversity in entertainment. She became an ambassador for U.N. Women and World Vision, championing the voices and rights of women around the world. Upon meeting Prince Harry in 2016, Markle found her biggest platform yet: As the Duchess of Sussex, she brought a modern feminist flair to the British monarchy, and called attention to issues of race and inequality. Ultimately, Markle used her own empowered voice to speak out on why royal life was not suited for her and her growing family, as she, Prince Harry, and their two children stepped back from royal life.
In her latest pursuit, a podcast called Archetypes, Markle continues to break down gender stereotypes, continuing the fearless leadership she has demonstrated throughout her life. Here are some of her most inspiring quotes on feminism, activism, compassion, and love.
With fame comes opportunity, but it also includes responsibility — to advocate and share, to focus less on glass slippers and more on pushing through glass ceilings.
Compassion is the radicalism of our time.
No matter what you look like, you should be taken seriously. I think it’s really great to be able to be a feminist and be feminine.
We just need to be kinder to ourselves. Truly. If we treated ourselves the way we treated our best friend, can you imagine how much better off we would be?
Try to find a space inside of you that reminds yourself that yes, you can have questions and self-doubt, that's going to come up, that's human. But at the end of the day, you are enough exactly as you are.
Joy. That’s really it. It’s everything that we can work toward for ourselves, our friends, our kids, those around us — that would feel so good.
Women need a seat at the table, they need an invitation to be seated there, and in some cases, where this is not available, they need to create their own table.
When we empower girls hungry for education, we cultivate women who are emboldened to effect change within their communities and globally. If that is our dream for them, then the promise of it must begin with us.
I've never wanted to be a lady who lunches; I've always wanted to be a woman who works.
Women make up more than half of the world’s population and potential, so it is neither just nor practical for their voices, for our voices, to go unheard at the highest levels of decision-making.
Keep challenging. Keep pushing. Make them a little uncomfortable, because it’s only in that discomfort that we actually create the conditions to reimagine our standards, our policies, and our leadership.
When the media has shaped the story around you, it’s really nice to be able to tell your own story.
The power of sisterhood and female support can never be underestimated.
You are complete with or without a partner. You are enough just as you are.
You have the power within you to create a life greater than any fairy tale you’ve ever read. I don’t mean that in terms of “You could marry a prince one day.” I mean you can find love. You can find happiness. You can be up against what could feel like the greatest obstacle and then you can find happiness again.
It takes a lot of courage for anyone to be able to fight against what has been customary and say, “Even if we’ve been doing this a long time, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right thing that we should be doing.”
Let us commit to asking others, “Are you OK?”
We have learned that when people ask how any of us are doing, and when they really listen to the answer, with an open heart and mind, the load of grief often becomes lighter — for all of us.
I’ve been a waitress, an actress, a princess, a duchess — I’ve always still just been Meghan, right? I’ve been clear on who I am, independent of all that stuff, and the most important title I’ll ever have is mom. I know that.
That’s me and Harry. We’re like salt and pepper. We always move together.
Photo credit: Chris Jackson via Getty Images
