Meghan Markle’s Journey: From Humble Bungalow to Hollywood Royalty

Meghan Markle, once a struggling actress hustling through auditions, opened up about her humble beginnings on her podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder. Before landing her breakout role as Rachel Zane on Suits or stepping into royalty as the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan lived in what she fondly called a "bungalow"—a modest rental where the closet door was awkwardly tucked inside the bathroom. "You had to walk past my bed, the shower, the sink, and the toilet to get to it," she laughed with her former stylist, Cassandra Morales Thurswell, now CEO of Kitsch.

Meghan reminisced about her pre-fame days, piecing together a wardrobe on a shoestring budget. A standout memory? Splurging on a $200 pair of black patent leather Louboutin wedge flats—a purchase she initially balked at but wore to her final Suits audition, the one that changed her life. "I wore those shoes until the red soles wore out," she said, a testament to her grit and resourcefulness.

Her journey from a scrappy actress to a global figure hasn’t been without surprises. Meghan shared that her vision of motherhood—imagining herself giving speeches with a baby on her hip—didn’t quite match reality, especially amid the whirlwind of royal life. After marrying Prince Harry in 2018, the couple welcomed Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, later stepping back from royal duties in 2020 to settle in Montecito, California.

Now, Meghan’s carving out a new path with her lifestyle brand, As Ever, launched in April 2025, which sold out its debut fruit spreads and honey in under an hour. She’s also hosting a Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, blending her passion for living well with her entrepreneurial spirit.