Meghan Markle, the former American actress, is trying to take on a new role this year: domestic diva.
The Duchess of Sussex's much-anticipated Netflix series, “With Love, Meghan,” has been postponed until March 4 due to the wildfires in Los Angeles. Before its premiere, the former “Suits” star was compared to Martha Stewart and Nigella Lawson, two lifestyle champions who have overcome negative press.
But some royal experts believe the mother-of-three still has a long way to go before she is welcomed into the coveted circle.
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Mindy Kaling appears on Markle's new show, which will premiere on March 4. (Netflix)
“Meghan's team helped her put a huge amount of good marketing and sales into her Netflix series,” British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital.
In time, he may succeed in this area of life,” said Chard. “However, this will take a long time as Meghan's character does not fit this sickly sweet image.”
According to reports, Meghan Markle filmed her series on a rented property in Montecito near her home. (Netflix)
“It feels unreal,” Chard said. “As she tries to fit in somehow by playing the role of a housewife… which is strange and debilitating. She spoke badly and abandoned most of her family and friends, and this certainly does not paint a picture of love and happiness.”
Some royal experts have compared Meghan Markle with Nigella Lawson (left) and Martha Stewart (right), two lifestyle experts who have successfully adjusted their brands after the scandal. (Getty Images)
The comparison of these three women was first made by the New York Times. It has been noted that Meghan's plan to dominate the lifestyle follows a “profitable” plan that works for Stewart, 83, and Lawson, 65.
Both of these women have been at the center of social problems, the newspaper reported.
Nigella Lawson leaves Isleworth Crown Court on Dec. 5, 2013, Isleworth, England. Italian sisters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, who were 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 charges related to insider trading, including obstruction of justice and conspiracy. After a long career, he rebuilt his 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 stormy home life made headlines. It came to a head when he was photographed clutching her throat outside a London restaurant, which was quickly followed by their divorce in 2013.
While testifying in the fraud trial of two former assistants that year, the celebrity chef admitted in court that he had consumed cocaine but denied that he used to use it.
Like Stewart, Lawson put the past behind him and started over. She came out with a new cookbook and appeared in several cooking features. These days, he is best known for going viral after his unique pronunciation of “microwave.”
English chef and food writer Nigella Lawson attends a book signing and lunch at Melbourne restaurant, Taxi Kitchen, during her visit to Australia, January 24, 2018. (Scott McNaughton/The Age via Getty Images)
“Martha Stewart is a leader in her field,” said Chard. “He achieved great success not only by his talent but by being himself and with great confidence and determination. … he was innovative and amazed his audience.
“The same can be said of Nigella, who is much loved, a sensational cook and host. She also has a very quirky, genuine, fun personality.”
Martha Stewart attends the 2023 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue release party at the Hard Rock Hotel in New York on May 18, 2023, in New York City. He did the cover that year. (Noam Galai/Getty Images for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit)
“I see Megan's Lifestyle series as a classic,” says Chard. “He needs to add more to make his show modern and attractive. It would also help to be a professional in this field. People might buy the brand he's building rather than smoke and mirrors.”
Before joining the British royal family, Meghan had a lifestyle blog, 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 work with Hubb Community Kitchen for a fundraising cookbook.
“It feels real. Like she's trying to fit in somehow by playing the role of a housewife… which is weird and debilitating. She's bad mouthed and rejected most of her family and friends, and this doesn't hurt her image. love and happiness.”
Meghan Markle, who starred as Rachel Zane on “Suits,” had a lifestyle site called Tig. It was closed after her marriage 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 where they explained their royal life problems. Then in late 2022, they launched their Netflix documentary “Harry & Meghan,” followed by Harry's explosive memoir “Spare.” Each launch highlighted new allegations about their time as members of the royal family.
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Oprah Winfrey interviewed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for a special in 2021 where they revealed their struggles with royal life. (Harpo Productions/Joe Pugliese via Getty Images)
Doing a completely different role – which has been done several times – will be difficult to sell, some experts argue.
“Martha Stewart was the first mover in this space and, some would argue, she created the entire lifestyle industry,” Doug Eldridge, agent, celebrity marketing expert and founder of Achilles PR, told Fox News Digital.
Office workers in London watch the Duke and Duchess of Sussex documentary, “Harry & Meghan,” on December 8, 2022. (Photos by Jonathan Brady/PA via Getty Images)
“Thirty years since… the industry has become very crowded,” he said. “That doesn't mean that Meghan can't carve out her own place in the lifestyle market, but doing so will be much more difficult than it would have been ten years ago. It's like swimming in a lane with three other swimmers, compared to 35 people with noodles in the pool, who run. It's hard to distinguish – a little too much to dominate – if it's crowded.”
Meghan Markle has a lot to learn from the plans that came before her, several royal experts argue. “Martha Stewart was the first mover in this space and, some would argue, she created the entire lifestyle industry,” Doug Eldridge, an agent, marketing expert and celebrity, told Fox News Digital. (Netflix/Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
“You're either going to have to change your stroke or you're going to swim somewhere else entirely,” Eldridge said.
British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that she doesn't think the 43-year-old has found the best. The series already seems to be hitting the mark in showing Meghan's true side, she said.
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“Meghan has to focus on her brand,” Fordwich explained. “She's very thin, so she has to use that in her branding … Americans, and many around the world, can accept being thin the way she is … It's impossible for her to have her body while eating sugar, cookies and the like from her trailer .He should share in such a way that it is fraudulent to show the food he eats clearly, if he ever eats.
Meghan Markle announced her new Netflix show on her newly launched Instagram page. (Netflix)
“And true to the brand, you've got a prince,” Fordwich said. “How about being completely honest and giving single women her tips on how to land a suitable bachelor? Many would also like to do something. How about getting acting jobs?”
In other words, he has to be true to who he is,” added Fordwich.
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 always wins, hands down, because her empathy with real people is great,” he said. “When she started cooking with Muslim women and created opportunities to earn money, she won the hearts of tribal communities – that's the real Meghan.
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Meghan Markle lives in the wealthy coastal town of Montecito. (Getty Images)
“Nigella and Martha are wonderful. They use their intelligence to connect. Meghan connects from the heart,” he argued. “It's up to the Americans… whether he succeeds. I hope he wins. He 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 Sussex's first solo project for Netflix. Last year, he also gave a glimpse of his upcoming lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. Several of her famous friends have shown off her strawberry jam on Instagram.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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