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Why Martha Stewart Questions Meghan Markle’s Lifestyle Pivot
Martha Stewart Questions Meghan Markle’s Leap into Lifestyle TV: "It Doesn’t Sort of Follow"
The Big Picture
Imagine you’re playing a game of "Connect the Dots." You start at Actress, jump to Princess, and then try to land on Homemaking Guru on TV. According to Martha Stewart—the queen of homemaking herself—that line doesn’t make a very smooth picture.
In a recent interview with People magazine, the 85-year-old lifestyle icon shared her honest thoughts on Meghan Markle’s career journey, specifically her new Netflix show "With Love, Meghan."
Important Point
Martha Stewart isn’t "hating"—she’s analyzing. She built her billion-dollar empire from the ground up (starting with a catering business and a cookbook in 1982). She knows what it takes to be trusted in this space. Her critique is about credibility and career logic, not personal dislike.
The Career Path in Question
Stewart laid out the sequence plain and simple:
- Actress — Meghan starred in the TV show Suits.
- Princess (Duchess of Sussex) — She married Prince Harry in 2018 and became a senior working royal.
- Homemaking Guru on TV — She launched a Netflix cooking/lifestyle show and a product line called As Ever.
Stewart’s verdict? "If you’re an actress, it’s hard to then transition to a princess and then from a princess into a homemaking guru on a television show. It doesn’t sort of follow."
What Is "With Love, Meghan" Anyway?
Think of it like a dinner party hosted by Meghan where the cameras are rolling.
- Premiered: March 2025 on Netflix
- Format: Two seasons + a holiday special
- Content: Cooking, gardening, hosting tips, and celebrity guests
- The Business Side: Launched alongside As Ever—a lifestyle brand selling fruit spreads, honey, tea, wine, candles, and chocolate.
A Real-Life Run-In: The California Dinner Party
It sounds like a scene from a movie: Martha Stewart and Meghan Markle at the same dinner party.
- When: Shortly after Meghan returned from a UK trip (July 2025).
- Where: California.
- The Vibe: Brief. Stewart said, "I didn’t talk to her really more than to say a couple words, but I know she was talking about it."
Context on the UK Trip: Meghan, Harry, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet visited England for the first time in four years. They even had a private family meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House.
The "Authenticity" Factor: Stewart’s Core Philosophy
This isn’t the first time Stewart has weighed in. Back in July 2025, she told Yahoo Lifestyle:
"Meghan, I don’t really know very well, and I hope she knows what she’s talking about."
She doubled down on her golden rule:
| Stewart’s Pillars of Success | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Authenticity | People can spot a fake. You have to be the lifestyle, not just act it. |
| Knowledge | You need deep, earned expertise in your subject matter. |
| Credibility | Trust is built over years, not seasons. |
Her attitude on competition? "I don’t mind. Good luck." Classic Martha—polite, but firm on the standards.
Martha Stewart: The Blueprint (For Context)
To understand why her opinion carries weight, look at her resume:
- 1982: Published first cookbook, Entertaining.
- Foundation: Built a catering business → magazines → TV shows → books → retail partnerships → home products.
- 1999: Became the first self-made female billionaire in the U.S.
- Legacy: One of the world’s most recognizable lifestyle brands.
She didn’t become the expert overnight. She built the expertise.
The Netflix Chapter Closes (March 2026)
The plot thickened recently.
- Announcement: Netflix and Meghan Markle ended their partnership on the As Ever brand.
- Netflix’s Take: "We are glad to have played a role in bringing that vision to life… Meghan will continue growing the brand independently."
- As Ever’s Statement: "We have experienced meaningful and rapid growth, and As Ever is now ready to stand on its own."
Translation: The show was a launchpad. Now the brand tries to walk on its own two feet.
Summary: The Tale of Two Lifestyle Queens
| Aspect | Martha Stewart | Meghan Markle |
|---|---|---|
| Origin Story | Caterer → Cookbook Author → Media Mogul | Actress → Duchess → Lifestyle Host |
| Credibility Source | Decades of hands-on teaching & publishing | Royal platform + Netflix production |
| Current Status | Established Empire (85, still active) | New Brand "As Ever" (Independent as of 2026) |
| Stewart’s Advice | Authenticity & Knowledge are non-negotiable | "Good luck." |
The Bottom Line: Stewart isn’t saying Meghan can’t succeed. She’s saying the path is unconventional, and in the lifestyle world, trust is earned in the kitchen, not just granted by the crown.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
1. Did Martha Stewart say Meghan Markle is a bad cook?
No. She didn’t critique Meghan’s cooking skills at all. She questioned the career narrative logic—jumping from acting to royalty to lifestyle authority—and emphasized that audience trust requires proven, long-term expertise.
2. What is "As Ever"?
As Ever is Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand. It sells home goods like jams, honey, teas, candles, and tableware. It launched alongside her Netflix show but is now operating independently after Netflix ended their partnership in March 2026.
3. Why does Martha Stewart’s opinion matter here?
Stewart is the blueprint. She invented the modern celebrity lifestyle empire. She was the first self-made female billionaire in the US (1999) by doing exactly what Meghan is attempting: turning domestic expertise into a massive business. She knows the playbook because she wrote it.
4. Are they feuding?
Doesn’t look like it. Stewart said they exchanged a few words at a dinner party and wished her "Good luck." It reads more like a master craftsman critiquing an apprentice’s unusual entry into the trade than a personal beef.
5. What happened with the Royal Family visit mentioned in the article?
In July 2025, Meghan and Harry took their kids (Archie and Lilibet) to the UK for the first time in years. They met privately with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House. This was the trip Meghan had just returned from when she saw Martha at that California dinner party.
