From Latchkey Kid to Duchess: The Quiet Strength of Meghan Markle
Before she became the Duchess of Sussex and a global figure, Meghan Markle was simply a young girl growing up in Los Angeles—navigating the complexities of identity, race, and ambition in a world that didn’t always know where to place her.
Born to a Black mother and a white father, Meghan often felt like she existed in the in-between. Classmates and strangers alike questioned her identity, while media and casting agents labeled her “ethnically ambiguous.” She rarely saw herself reflected in the world around her. As a biracial teen, she learned early how to adapt, how to listen more than speak, and how to stand her ground quietly.
Her upbringing was modest. As a latchkey kid, Meghan spent many afternoons alone after school—reheating leftovers, finishing homework, and waiting for her hardworking parents to return home. While others were praised for popularity or appearance, she was “the smart one”—a quiet overachiever more interested in books and goals than fitting in.
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