Meghan Markle found launching her lifestyle brand “incredibly lonely”. The entrepreneurial journey often brings unexpected emotional challenges that many business founders face during their early ventures.
The mother-of-two, 43, who has children Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, three, with her husband Prince Harry, 40, made the remark while speaking candidly about the emotional toll of entrepreneurship and while describing the experience of opening her As Ever business. Mental health concerns are commonly reported among entrepreneurs who must navigate business responsibilities independently.
“When you only have yourself to answer to, I think it’s two-fold,” she said on the latest episode of her ‘Confessions of a Female Founder’ podcast, released on Tuesday (27.05.25). “It can be incredibly liberating and it can be incredibly lonely.” Female entrepreneurs particularly report experiencing feelings of isolation during their business development phases.
The podcast and As Ever launch marks the latest milestone in Meghan’s efforts to establish herself as a business figure following a series of high-profile media and commercial ventures. The global lifestyle brand market represents significant opportunities for celebrity-backed businesses seeking to establish sustainable enterprises.
She launched her lifestyle brand As Ever in April, releasing a first line of products that sold out immediately. Celebrity lifestyle brands have demonstrated remarkable market appeal, with many achieving rapid success when backed by well-known personalities who can leverage their existing audience.
The brand initially went by the name American Riviera Orchard before undergoing a rebrand due to trademark complications. Meghan also discussed the name change on the new podcast, likening the process to naming a child. Trademark disputes represent a common challenge in the lifestyle brand industry, making rebranding necessary for many emerging companies.
“It’s no different than… if you have an idea of what you’re gonna name that baby, you keep it so close to your heart until that baby is here and it’s named,” she added. “Don’t ask anyone’s opinion! It becomes like Survey Monkey at the beginning of a business.” Business naming decisions often undergo multiple revisions as companies navigate legal requirements and market positioning.
Meghan said she had originally planned to launch As Ever independently, but changed direction after deciding to partner with Netflix. The streaming platform has significantly expanded its investment in original content partnerships and brand collaborations in recent years.
“I… took a complete U-turn because I really believe in what Netflix and their CPG department are doing,” she said. Netflix’s consumer products and experiences division has generated substantial revenue through strategic partnerships with high-profile personalities across various industries.
The former ‘Suits’ actress previously hosted her ‘Archetypes’ podcast through Spotify in 2022, but the show ended after one season. The podcast industry continues to grow rapidly, with celebrity-hosted shows representing one of the fastest-expanding segments of digital media content.
In March this year, she announced her new podcast partnership with Lemonada Media, coinciding with the release of her Netflix series ‘With Love, Meghan’. Lemonada Media has experienced significant growth in recent years, particularly in lifestyle and entrepreneurship content that resonates with diverse audiences.
She has also been active as a mentor and investor for female-led brands. Women-founded companies face unique challenges in securing venture capital funding, making mentorship and investment from successful female entrepreneurs particularly valuable for emerging businesses.
“I’m really conscious (about making it clear that)… I’m not in the business of trying to dilute you. I’m in the business of trying to uplift you,” referring to entrepreneurs Kadi Lee of Highbrow Hippie and Hannah Mendoza of Clevr Blends as examples of businesspeople she admires, Meghan added. Mentorship programs have proven essential for business survival and growth in competitive markets.
“You want to be the person they call when they have a quality control issue or they just feel uncertain as they all do.” Quality control challenges frequently affect lifestyle brands during their initial operations, making experienced guidance crucial for navigating common industry obstacles.
“I was figuring it out in real time,” Meghan also told People magazine. This approach reflects the reality for many first-time entrepreneurs who develop business skills through practical experience rather than traditional educational pathways.
The lifestyle brand industry has experienced explosive growth, with celebrity-backed ventures generating billions in annual revenue. Meghan‘s entrepreneurial journey illustrates broader trends where public figures transform their personal brands into commercial enterprises while managing the complex balance between public visibility and business development challenges.
