Duchess of Sussex makes strategic move to rebuild public image after ‘cancellation’
Meghan Markle caught the public’s attention last October when she stepped into the fashion spotlight at Paris Fashion Week.
The Duchess of Sussex appeared as a special guest for her friend Pierpaolo Piccioli, who had recently been appointed Creative Director at Balenciaga. As it marked Meghan’s first solo appearance in Europe, speculation immediately arose about what her next move might be.
Although some critics questioned Meghan’s visit and how she personally reached out to the designer to attend the show, she reportedly made an unexpectedly modest request in return.
Royal biographer Tom Bower’s new book reveals that Meghan “orchestrated” the moment of her arrival at the event herself.
“The coup was masterminded by Meghan herself,” Tom Bower suggested. “Balenciaga had faced backlash in 2022 for featuring children alongside fetish-themed teddy bears. After the controversy, the brand brought in Pierpaolo Piccioli, formerly of Valentino, as its new creative director.”
Bower noted that Meghan had previously worn several of Piccioli’s designs, so she reached out with an idea: in exchange for covering her own expenses, she would make a surprise appearance to generate buzz for the show.
The author described it as a “no-brainer” for the brand. “Nicole Kidman earned millions from Chanel, so $250,000 for Meghan’s expenses was relatively modest.”
However, neither Balenciaga nor the Duchess of Sussex have confirmed the reported figures.
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