Credits: Rajasekharan Parameswaran / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 4.0.
Meghan Markle has always wanted to stand out. After leaving the Hollywood scene, she launched a new venture with American Riviera Orchard, a lifestyle brand. Announced with great fanfare on March 14 last year, this initiative now appears to be at an impasse. Nearly six months later, the project remains as vague as it is uncertain. No product or launch in sight. Just vague promises of jams or home goods.
This delay could be explained by a trademark issue. In fact, the USPTO rejected Meghan’s application to register the name "American Riviera Orchard." The name refers to a geographic area, the county of Santa Barbara where Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, live. And the rules are strict: no geographic name for a brand. A blow for someone who presents herself as a successful entrepreneur.
An Aspiring Entrepreneur in Trouble
Since leaving the royal family, Meghan Markle seems to have struggled to turn her projects into reality. Despite an apparent desire to go into business, her initiatives have had trouble taking shape. Although she seems eager to establish herself as a businesswoman, her repeated setbacks show a real difficulty. In fact, she struggles to turn her ambitions into concrete success. Her latest attempt, with American Riviera Orchard, is no exception.
Meghan has already tried to reinvent herself after her marriage to Prince Harry, by entering the lifestyle space. Yet her entrepreneurial successes remain limited. She is often seen with celebrities like Kris Jenner or Mindy Kaling; but it is mainly her appearances that draw attention. Her projects look more like communications campaigns than real business successes.
A Hollywood Past Marked By Tension
Before meeting Harry, Meghan had already tried to break into the entertainment world. Her marriage to film producer Trevor Engelson, whom she married in 2011, likely helped open some of her first doors in Hollywood. Nevertheless, after two years of marriage, Meghan decided to end it, mailing back her wedding rings. This abrupt breakup marked the beginning of her departure from the film and television industry.
She moved on from Hollywood. However, her experience in show business continues to inform her sense of staging. Today, far from film sets, she seems to want to reinvent herself as an entrepreneur. But the fact remains that, despite a constant media presence, the results are slow to follow. Her attempts to stand out in the business world have not yet achieved the hoped-for success.
An Influence Strategy More Than Entrepreneurship
Meghan also seems to have found another way to shine: becoming an influencer. She regularly appears with products from ethical brands. She promotes them by investing in these companies before publicly praising their merits. This strategy, smart on paper, allows her to earn substantial commissions. However, it looks more like a marketing strategy than a true entrepreneurial success.
In the end, despite her public appearances, Meghan seems more comfortable with communications than with running a business. Her journey since leaving the royal family has been marked by unkept promises and delayed projects. Today, with the obstacles facing American Riviera Orchard, it seems the young mother will need to rethink her strategy if she wants to finally succeed in business. But for now, the road still seems long.