There was a time when Meghan Sussex was simply Rachel Zane to me. A sharp, ambitious paralegal on Suits, she was the kind of character who commanded attention - not just for her intelligence and wit, but for the quiet confidence she exuded. I first encountered her on the USA Network legal drama, where she played the role for seven seasons, from 2011 to 2018.

But Meghan Sussex was never just an actress. Even before she became the Duchess of Sussex, she was a woman with a mission. She had a voice, and she used it—not just for scripted lines on television, but for causes that mattered.

A Heart for Humanitarian Work

Long before she met Prince Harry, Meghan was involved in humanitarian efforts. She traveled to Rwanda to advocate for clean water initiatives and worked with the United Nations on gender equality. She was also a vocal supporter of Smart Works, a UK charity that helps unemployed women regain confidence and enter the workforce.

Her passion for advocacy wasn’t a publicity stunt - it was a thread woven into her life’s work. Even as an actress, she used her platform to speak about issues that mattered, and that didn’t change when she became a royal.

The Royal Spotlight and the Media Frenzy

When Meghan married Prince Harry in 2018, she didn’t just become a duchess - she became a global obsession. The British press, notorious for its relentless scrutiny, dissected every aspect of her life. From her fashion choices to her family drama, no detail was too small to escape the tabloids.

Her relationship with the Royal Family was fraught with tension. Reports of feuds, protocol breaches, and alleged rifts with palace insiders dominated headlines. Some of it was exaggerated, some of it was likely true, but all of it was relentless. The media’s treatment of Meghan was often harsher than that of other royals, with racial undertones that many found deeply troubling.

It’s easy to forget that behind the headlines, she was simply a woman navigating a new life, a new family, and an entirely new level of scrutiny.

A Lifestyle That’s Not for Everyone - And That’s Okay

One of the most common criticisms of Meghan is that her lifestyle is “unrelatable.” Yes, she lives in a Montecito mansion. Yes, she has celebrity friends. No, she’s not the woman next door. But why should she be?

Meghan never claimed to be an everywoman. She isn’t trying to be your neighbor, your best friend, or the mom at school pickup. She is a woman who has lived an extraordinary life, and she chooses to share parts of it with the world.

Her new Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, is a prime example. A lifestyle show that blends cooking, entertaining, and personal reflections, it has been met with mixed reviews. Some see it as an attempt at relatability that falls flat; others view it as a genuine effort to reconnect with the things she loves.

But why does she need to be relatable? Why is it a crime for a woman to embrace the life she has built?

Using Her Platform for Good

Despite stepping back from royal duties, Meghan hasn’t retreated into a life of quiet luxury. She could have disappeared from public life, focused solely on her family, and never engaged in another public initiative again. Instead, she continues to use her voice and platform to uplift others.

Her new podcast, set to launch with Lemonada Media, is another example of this. While details are still emerging, it promises to be a space where she can explore meaningful conversations and amplify underrepresented voices.

She doesn’t have to do this. She doesn’t have to keep advocating, keep producing content, keep engaging with the world. But she does - because it matters to her.

Can We Just Let Her Live?

At the end of the day, Meghan Sussex is just a person. A woman, a mother, a wife, an advocate. She has made mistakes, as we all have. She has faced criticism, some of it fair, much of it not.

But why does she continue to be a lightning rod for controversy? Why do people feel so invested in tearing her down?

There are far more pressing issues in the world than whether Meghan Sussex’s lifestyle brand is successful, whether her Netflix show is engaging, or whether she and Harry attend royal events. Climate change, economic instability, global conflicts - these are the things that should dominate our conversations.

Meghan Sussex is living her life. She is doing what she loves, supporting causes she believes in, and raising her children away from the suffocating pressures of the monarchy.

Maybe it’s time we let her.