Why Meghan Markle Says Her Twenties Were Brutal

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published 26 January 2019

Teenage years are pretty much universally tough, and your twenties don't get much easier. You could never, ever pay me enough money to go back to middle school, for example. As it turns out, Meghan Markle knows that as well as you do, which makes me feel better. The gorgeous former actress is a literal princess and has an iconic sense of style, so it's comforting to know we were all awkward little kids with braces at one point in our lives.

Express dug up an old blog post from Meghan's website The Tig that she wrote on her 33rd birthday. In it, she explained how much had changed in her life. "My 20s were brutal—a constant battle with myself, judging my weight, my style, my desire to be as cool/as hip/as smart/as 'whatever' as everyone else."

She continued:

Finally, a casting director gave her powerful advice that she took to heart: "Less makeup, more Meghan." And thus began her journey to understand that "I am enough." The Suits actress came into her own, embracing her style and her uniqueness as assets instead of weaknesses.

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Meghan explained how much she'd learned. "[I]t takes time. To be happy. To figure out how to be kind to yourself. To not just choose that happiness, but to feel it," she wrote.

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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.