Meghan Markle ‘Testing the Waters’ With Her Latest TV Appearance
Before she married Prince Harry, Meghan Markle was an actress who starred in the legal drama Suits. After she and the duke tied the knot, she became a working royal. When the Sussexes stepped down from that role, Meghan juggled a few different job titles as a podcast host, a producer, a children’s book author, a Netflix star, and a lifestyle brand founder.
Now, you can add MasterChef judge to her resume.
That’s because during her trip to Australia with her husband, Meghan visited the set of MasterChef to film an upcoming episode in which she is featured as a guest judge.
Now, a PR expert says the duchess had a specific reason for appearing on the show, and it’s for more than just a quick payday.
Kayley Cornelius is a celebrity PR specialist and brand strategist, known for her expertise in media, pop culture, and influencer culture. She specializes in crisis PR, traditional PR, celebrity branding, and brand reputation, advising on reputation management and public perception. Cornelius’ commentary and analysis on celebrity branding, reality TV stars, influencers, and high-profile relationships have been featured in the New York Post, the Daily Mail, the BBC, and more.
Speaking on behalf of OLBG, the PR expert told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “Meghan’s latest move on MasterChef feels far from random or one-off appearances. There’s a clear strategy at play here, and it very much points to a more permanent return to the world of mainstream celebrity being front of mind. Australia is a particularly savvy choice too as it’s a market that’s historically been receptive to her, but it also allows her to trial this next phase slightly outside of the intense scrutiny she faces in the U.S. and U.K.
“What’s becoming increasingly clear is that Meghan appears to be on a mission to really nail down her personal branding while she’s in Australia, building a loyal audience base ahead of what looks like a potential move to bring her As Ever brand over. There’s a sense that she’s recognized the need to establish a stronger identity beyond her royal titles alone, and that relying on that association may not have carried her previous projects in the way she’d hoped.”
Cornelius continued, “That said, this appearance could also signal something much bigger on the horizon. There’s a strong sense that she may be looking to return to the world of mainstream celebrity culture as well as TV, and this latest move on MasterChef feels very much like her ‘testing the waters’ to gauge audience appetite for a full-scale comeback. By featuring on one of Australia’s biggest TV shows, it will truly be a make-or-break moment for her Aussie career and determine whether she has something scalable across the pond.
“If this return is successful and builds that connection with viewers, it puts her in a much stronger position with casting producers. From there, a return to bigger on-screen roles isn’t out of the question, and with the right momentum, it could mark the start of a new chapter that reshapes both her public image and her career trajectory.”
