Another day, another ambitious attempt by Meghan Markle to rebrand herself as something—anything—that the public might actually buy into. This time, she’s rolling out a lifestyle brand and a Netflix series within weeks of each other, because apparently, subtlety is overrated. But before she can even pop open a bottle of overpriced, ethically sourced, artisanal rosé to celebrate, Bethenny Frankel swoops in with a scathing reality check.
Bethenny, the former *Real Housewives* star turned entrepreneur turned media personality turned hurricane relief powerhouse, knows a thing or two about marketing. She built her own empire, sold it for millions, and has spent decades mastering the art of personal branding. Meghan? Well, Meghan still seems to be throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks.
Bethenny’s main critique? *“Meghan Markle doesn’t seem to know who she is.”*
*“She started out as the American Duchess, living the Montecito dream in perfectly curated content,”* Bethenny observed. *“Then suddenly, she pivots into the ‘I just rolled out of bed, and this is my real, unfiltered self’ branding.”* Ah, yes—the classic “I’m just like you” act, brought to you by someone who has never stepped foot inside a Target without a camera crew nearby.
But Bethenny nailed it. Meghan keeps trying to reinvent herself, and every time she does, it just highlights how inauthentic she comes across. According to Bethenny, this constant rebranding is why people don’t buy what Meghan’s selling—literally and figuratively.
First, we had the glossy, Pinterest-perfect Duchess era. Then came the moody tell-all interview phase (shoutout to Oprah). Now, it’s the “effortlessly natural, look-at-me-being-relatable” persona. And let’s not forget the doomed podcast phase that Spotify acts like a bad first date. Frankly, the only consistent thing about Meghan’s branding is that it keeps changing.
Bethenny went on to summarize Meghan’s predicament with a phrase that might as well be printed on Meghan’s next line of organic linen napkins: *“Meghan Markle can’t win for losing.”* And she’s not wrong. No matter what Meghan does, it just doesn’t land right.
But here’s the thing: maybe it’s not about public perception anymore. Maybe it’s about the fact that Meghan’s own disconnect from reality is impossible to ignore. While she’s out here renaming her lifestyle brand twice, Bethenny is sitting back in her daughter’s pajamas, picking crumbs out of her hair, and casually pointing out the obvious: *“The problem isn’t the brand name. The problem is Meghan herself.”*
Love her or hate her, Bethenny Frankel has earned her status as a business powerhouse. She built Skinnygirl into a multimillion-dollar brand, she’s a best-selling author, and she spent years honing her audience’s trust. Meghan, on the other hand, has spent the last few years burning bridges and alienating the very people she wants to influence.
Bethenny also doesn’t waste time pretending to be something she’s not. She’s blunt, brash, and completely unapologetic about it. Meanwhile, Meghan’s entire public persona feels like it was workshopped by a PR team that still uses the word “girl boss” unironically.
And Bethenny’s commentary wouldn’t hit so hard if there weren’t some truth to it. Even Meghan’s most devoted defenders have to admit that her branding efforts always seem off—forced, as if she’s trying to package herself into something people *should* like rather than just being a person people *do* like.
Bethenny’s takedown wasn’t just a roast; it was a free masterclass in branding. And if Meghan was smart, she’d be taking notes. Because at the end of the day, Bethenny Frankel isn’t just some reality TV loudmouth. She’s a businesswoman who built a brand that lasted. Meghan, on the other hand, is still searching for one that works.
“Meghan Markle,” “Bethenny Frankel,” “rebranding,” and “lifestyle brand” strategically placed throughout.
