We were going to do this post yesterday, but we felt that Meghan’s 40×40 Initiative deserved more attention. So without further ado, WMW’s special birthday post for Meghan!
Happy, happy birthday to our Duchess of Sussex! Meghan turned 40 years old yesterday – a milestone birthday amidst a tumultuous year, filled with high highs and low lows.
Today, we are focusing on the incredible life Meghan has packed into her four decades and, specifically, 40 points of impact for her 40 years of life. Here are forty reasons we feel the world is better because she was born.
Thank you, Meghan, for…
1. Mental Health Advocate — Prioritizing your mental health and, although we absolutely hated to see you go, leaving a role you felt was toxic for you and doing what was best for yourself, your husband, and your family.
2. Proving that even though it may look like someone “has it all,” we all struggle. No one is immune from hardships, Royal title or not.
3. Proudly owning who you are. I think often of your 2017 Vanity Fair cover and how you
refused to let your freckles be retouched. You are beautiful, inside and out.
4. Stepping out as a loud and proud feminist, even as young as 11 years old in 1993, when you wrote to Procter & Gamble about a commercial you saw on television.
5. Bringing awareness to pregnancy loss through this moving piece in The New York Times.
6. Taking on the role as guest editor of British Vogue, highlighting individuals that might never have gotten a moment in the spotlight were it not for you.
7. Making sure that, when you collaborated with brands for The Smart Set – to benefit your patronage Smart Works – that all sizes were available; including petite and plus-size options.
8. Using your influence in fashion – the so-called “Meghan Markle Effect” – to change the lives of dozens of brands forever for the better.
Below highlights of some “Meghan Effect” brands — clockwise L-R: Invicitus Games, September 2017 / Visiting Cardiff, UK, January 2018 / Edeavour Awards, February 2018 / Commonwealth Week, April 2018 / Nelson Mandela Exhibit Opening, July 2018 / Hamilton, August 2018 / Ireland visit, July 2018 / Invictus Games Sydney, October 2018 / Sydney Australia, October 2018
Mother Denim / Misha Nonoo (Husband shirt) / Everlane / Sarah Flint / Hiut Denim / DeMellier (Mini Venice Bag) / Tuxe Bodywear / Nonie (trench dress) / Judith & Charles (tuxe dress) / With Nothing Underneath / Lavender Hill (boat neck t-shirt) / Birdies (Blackbird flats) / Black Halo (Jackie O dress) / Aquazurra shoes / Outland Denim (black jeans) / Theodore Scanlan (jacket) / Rothy’s (Point flat in black) (click here for $20 off your first pair)
9. The work you do for animals with Mayhew, and how fiercely you love your own pups.
10. Supporting female entrepreneurs through investing in startups like Clevr Blends.
11. Standing up to the relentless tabloid press, even though it probably would have been easier to just let them win and move on.
12. Being brave enough to speak your truth.
13. Demonstrating that work ethic and ambition are admirable qualities.
14. The work you’ve done with the Hubb Community Kitchen, including writing the foreword for Together: Our Community Cookbook.
15. Showing us how beautiful falling in love – and staying in love – is.
16. Supporting, pushing your husband to be the best he can be through supporting him, encouraging him, and cheering him on.
17. Embracing becoming a mother later in life, showing us all that our dreams come true right on time – even if they don’t come true on our timetable.
From our talented artist friend, Amelia – Instagram @iamnoyes
18. Sharing an intimate poem, written for your husband for his first Father’s Day, which later became a bestselling book.
19. Writing handwritten notes – in your beautiful calligraphy script, no less – to those who took the time to write to you.
20. Even before you met Harry, reminding us all that we are enough.
21. Making service a cornerstone of your life, pre-Royal Family – like touring Afghanistan and Spain with the USO (United Service Organizations), serving as a global ambassador for World Vision Canada, and writing this piece for Time about “How Periods Affect Potential,” inspired by a trip you took to India. The list could go on and on, from your work as a U.N. advocate for gender equality and the empowerment of women – all before you ever knew you’d be a Duchess someday.
Credit: World Vision Canada / USO
22. Once you met Harry, bonding through service with him, like working in Botswana with Elephants Without Borders.
23. Narrating a piece about elephants for Disney.
24. Once you became a member of the Royal Family, dedicating yourself to your patronages and, after you were no longer a working member of the Royal Family, establishing a nonprofit, Archewell, to continue your life of service.
25. Inspiring us all to be better women through your lifestyle blog The Tig.
26. How thoughtful you are – including surprising Harry with your stunning wedding veil, embroidered with flowers from all of the Commonwealth countries…
27.…and the state flower of California – you are proud of where you’re from.
28. Walking yourself partway down the aisle at your wedding – what a powerful show of strength, a representation of the tough woman you are.
29. Making it on trend to count your mother as your best friend.
(L to R) Doria and Meghan at Invictus Toronto, 2017 / Doria with Meghan and Harry, 2018 / Doria and Meghan 2018 / Doria, Harry, Prince Philip, The Queen, Meghan and Archie, 2019
30. And, as any of them would tell the world (and some of them have), being a loyal friend to those you count amongst your circle.
31. Establishing a career you were passionate about – acting – including your star turn on Suits.
32. Making big business moves — Spotify, Netflix — We can’t wait to watch Pearl.
33. Being globally curious even as a college student at Northwestern University, when you served at the American embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
34. Making sure your royal tours to locales like Australia, Morocco, and South Africa included a packed schedule filled with engagements that supported women’s empowerment and social justice.
35. Encouraging us all to register to vote – no matter the candidate – in the 2020 election.
36. Co-chairing, along with Harry, a concert that encouraged global citizens to get vaccinated and end the COVID-19 pandemic.
37. The work Archewell has already done and will continue to do.
38. The work you do to help others that we will never know about – that you do in secret, not wishing to garner praise or acclaim, but out of the goodness of your heart.
39. Realizing that with fame comes opportunity, but also deep responsibility, as you poignantly wrote about here.
40. Packing as much life as you possibly can into each day, each week, each month, each year, most of it revolving around benefiting others and making their lives easier and more equitable.
Here’s to the next 40 and beyond, Meghan.
Be sure to see our post from yesterday (with many updates!) about Meghan’s 40×40 initiative to mark her 40th birthday – here.
LINKS:
- If you would like to donate to a charity supported by the Duke and Duchess in honor of Meghan’s birthday, here are some links:
- If you have suffered a miscarriage or loss and are in need of support, or if you wish to do something to help further miscarriage awareness, there is help out there. Please visit – VeryWellFamily.com – Pregnancy Loss Support Organizations.
- If you or anyone you know need help please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741-741 for free 24-hour support via text in the US. In the UK, text Shout to 85258.
Well done! What a thoughtful review of Meghan’s past and present work. She’s the forward-looking partner Prince Harry needs ?. Keep up the great work!
What a wonderful list of 40 Fabulous things to celebrate about Meghan!
I love this site … and your beautiful and supportive stance of this incredible human being.
Happy Birthday, Meghan!
Thank you, ladies of WMW!
Awww thank you so much Leah! We are so glad you are here with us! – Susan and Rachel