Long before she became the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle was just a girl trying to find her place in the world. As a biracial child in 1980s Los Angeles, she stood out in ways that made her uncomfortable. “People would ask my mom if she was my nanny,” she recalled.
Her early years were marked by humble beginnings—microwave meals, a lucky lottery win that paid for school, and teenage jobs at donut shops. Acting became her escape, though Hollywood wasn’t always kind. One casting director’s blunt advice—”Meghan, more. Less makeup”—stuck with her as she navigated an industry that didn’t know what to do with a woman who didn’t fit neatly into one box.
Even after marrying into royalty, her challenges continued. A near-fatal postpartum complication left her terrified. A later miscarriage brought unimaginable grief. Yet through it all, she’s held onto the hard-won wisdom of her youth: true confidence comes from within, not from titles or public approval.
