Now that T-Boz, born Tionne Watkins, is home from the hospital following a medical emergency, she is addressing the misinformation that has spread surrounding the ordeal.

On Aug. 24, her band TLC announced she had “experienced sudden and severe nausea, vomiting and intense abdominal cramps” after a performance in Toledo, Ohio, two days prior.

Watkins was hospitalized and officially diagnosed with “abdominal blockage,” leading TLC to cancel and reschedule a few upcoming shows.

In the days since, rumors surrounding what led to the medical emergency have spiraled online. The chatter got so noisy on Aug. 28, that Watkins took to her Instagram to post a video demystifying the “ignorance.”

She kicked off the video thanking those who have been supportive for “all of the love.” Then, she quickly honed in on the rumor mill.

Despite the public being made aware, Watkins said, “I would have never put my business out there like that, but I guess because I missed shows, it had to be said, but I just don’t think it should have been so detailed ‘cause I don’t like people in my business — and I don’t like all this attention.”

The “Unpretty” singer noted that she has struggled with sickle cell anemia and typically keeps the “plenty” of times she’s dealt with complications private. She added that this recent emergency had nothing to do with the chronic blood disorder.

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She continued, “It had nothing to do with constipation. No, I’m not on Ozempic. Everybody and every celeb ain’t on Ozempic, and I just want to say the ignorance is just, like, disheartening to me.”

“People have died from what I just went through,” she explained. “This can happen to any woman that’s had a c-section or fibroid cysts or any abdominal surgery. It was scar tissue. It had nothing to do with what I ate. It had nothing to do with the inside of my intestines. It was the outside.”

She further explained that the blockage was caused when scar tissue from a 24-year-old previous surgery began to “hit each other” or become twisted around her intestines as they moved in the body.

“And it just blocked it. And that’s it,” she said, adding, “It’s very painful, and I wish this on no one.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, the majority of people who have some form of an abdominal procedure will develop scar tissue, also known as abdominal adhesions, and thus can be at risk of developing intestinal blockage. At the same time, Black women in America have higher rates of c-sections than any other racial group, making them potentially at even greater risk for what Watkins went through. 

In her video, Watkins urged the public to “Stop associating everything that has to do with my name with sickle cell … I am Tionne Watkins. I just happen to have a disease that is not who I am and all that I am.”

She declared, “Everything that happens to me does not have to do with sickle cell.”

She wrapped the video, noting she’s “blessed and working again.” 

Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.

Debacle is one of my favorite words in the English language. It sounds so expressive and descriptive. Like, you don’t need to know the definition of “debacle” to know that shenanigans were present; it sounds like shenanigans were present. But let’s look up the definition anyway. According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, a debacle is a noun that means, “a great disaster or a complete failure; a fiasco.” Fiasco is also another of my favorite words, for similar reasons. 

For discussion of what happened when Keith Lee showed up in Washington, D.C., I like the “great disaster” definition, because to call it anything other than that would be obtuse. Keith Lee is, of course, the viral food critic (“critic” does A LOT of work in that title, but Keith Lee does reviews and those reviews impact restaurants) whose positive stamp can change the fortunes of a food establishment, seemingly overnight. The “Keith Lee Effect” is a real thing. And we know it’s a real thing not only because of the videos we see of restaurant owners being super happy when he shows or the lines around corners we see on social media after he’s put his stamp on a spot but because of the videos we see of store owners pleading for him to come check them out, hoping to get that stamp of approval. 

I’m a fan of Keith Lee. I think what he does is great. He understands the power that he has and seems like a truly genuine cat for whom fame (and presumably fortune) has come, and he’s using his tremendous platform to help out others. That pendulum also swings the other way. When Keith Lee went to Atlanta, well, he basically set the city on fire with his observation and criticism of the seemingly random and nonsensical rules he encountered at several Atlanta establishments. He hit a nerve, too; all of a sudden he ignited a conversation about Atlanta’s food scene. Do you know how much influence you have when you drop a video that says, effectively, “Atlanta’s restaurants are trippin’” and it launches a flood of videos, think pieces, beefs and responses? Most influencers can only hope to ever matter that much. 

So, as you can imagine, when Keith Lee showed up in D.C., the possibilities were endless, good or bad. I’ve lived in D.C. for over 20 years at this point. I’ve eaten at a plethora of restaurants, both popular and hole-in-the-wall. I think D.C.’s food scene is … fine … but I don’t know that anybody is coming to D.C. because of the food, unlike, say, New Orleans. When I go to New Orleans, I think about eating. When I think of D.C., I think of brunch. And bottomless mimosas and stumbling down U Street on Sunday afternoons with the homies. I think of drinking. 

A lot. 

If you live and work in the city, you probably do, too. I’m sure you’re also hungry but you’re probably thinking of the drinks you will drink with the food you’re going to eat. Keith Lee seemingly noticed the same thing. He pointed out in an early video that D.C.’s restaurants seemed to be geared towards alcohol, which made it difficult for him because he doesn’t drink. Now, I think that synopsis is both right and wrong. A lot of D.C. restaurants do have amazing drink menus. But I have also never been like, “Man, there’s too much alcohol in here but nothing to eat.” Has food been underwhelming at some of those places? Absolutely. But it was available. Admittedly, I busted out laughing when he said, “I don’t drink so … I’m hungry.” He gets a 9.5 for comedic timing on that one. 

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Well, that commentary pissed off a lot of people who felt like he just didn’t know where to go or had been led astray. Maybe even run amuck. And it began the conversation about Washington, D.C.’s food scene. Now, look, I understand being defensive and protective about your city and its culture, but he was making an observation based on his experience, and I can’t fault him for that. Maybe he went to the wrong spots, but ALL of the wrong spots? Eh, unlikely. Well, some people think he’s right. Others think he’s trippin’ and needs to keep D.C.’s name out of his mouth. 

People are hilarious. Especially because while most people I know don’t complain much about the food scene here, everybody I know drinks like a fish at the places they’re eating and only on rare occasions trumpet the food as the kind of eating that must happen on repeat occasions. Point is, though, people were critical, and Keith heard and responded to the criticisms, pointing out that he’d been to about 12 restaurants but could only post a few of them because of the quality of the food and/or service at most of them. 

He said he wouldn’t name names but he shared pictures, which is basically the same thing in the internet age, and a few restaurants caught strays — Oohs and Aahs and Soul Wingz, in particular — and had to respond, which was funny because I don’t think I’ve ever heard a single soul say a positive thing about Oohs and Aahs; most of us have stories that involve varmints. But I ain’t one to gossip so you ain’t heard that from me. 

There were some success stories, for the record. Jerk-At-Nite and Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant got understandably stellar reviews (I can vouch for both, but y’all don’t care) from Keith Lee and his family, and well, there are videos of lines at Jerk-At-Nite that are absolutely insane. And he did post several other spots he went to. 

So, was Keith Lee’s visit a debacle for the city’s food scene? Probably not. At least not in the way that it seemed to have turned Atlanta upside down. I think his observation about the food scene of the city, while critical, was fair. Especially for the kinds of spots he’s going to. Keith Lee isn’t hitting up the Michelin star-rated restaurants; he’s going to places that maybe need exposure or where he’s been told the wings and comfort foods are exemplary. He’s going to the kinds of places that, let’s be real, also could use a boost from an actual influencer who puts his stamp on the spot, not the kind of place where his review won’t be respected. He’s culturally attuned with his impact and where it can do the most good. I do wish he hadn’t posted pictures of a restaurant he didn’t actually visit to make a point about the quality of food in the city. 

I also think, though, that most of us in D.C. are just fine with our food scene. There are plenty of restaurants we can go to to get really good, well-seasoned food. Keith Lee hit up a few of them. And considering how expensive this city is and how draining it can be working in a city that runs on political Kool-Aid, we all kind of need to drink. A lot. The city’s restaurants, maybe, cater to the city’s residents. Also, you can eat just fine if you DON’T drink; everybody isn’t a drinker — you can still find good eats in the city. And there are others where the food underwhelms but who cares when you’re tossing back French 75s with the squad? 

I’m glad Keith Lee came to D.C. and incited all of these group chat and Facebook conversations about our food culture. I will always love it when D.C. gets shine in a national capacity of any type. If restaurants feel a need to make changes, fine. If not, that’s fine, too. 

Folks eat every day, b. And in D.C., apparently, we also drink. I don’t see that changing anytime soon. So come on and get this bottomless mimosa. 

Panama Jackson is a columnist at theGrio and host of the award-winning podcast, “Dear Culture” on theGrio Black Podcast Network. He writes very Black things, drinks very brown liquors, and is pretty fly for a light guy. His biggest accomplishment to date coincides with his Blackest accomplishment to date in that he received a phone call from Oprah Winfrey after she read one of his pieces (biggest) but he didn’t answer the phone because the caller ID said “Unknown” (Blackest).

Brandy is all about facing her fears in her newest role. 

The music legend, 45, stars as Belinda, a professor and wife who is expecting her second child after a previous stillbirth, in the psychological horror film “The Front Room.” When Belinda’s mother-in-law, Solange (Kathryn Hunter) moves in with Belinda and her husband (Andrew Burnap), strange occurrences begin happening at home — forcing the couple to make unexpected decisions. 

Brandy has appeared in scary movies before (“I Still Know What You Did Last Summer”) but “The Front Room” represents a new challenge for the singer-actress. The “Almost Doesn’t Count” singer tells theGrio in an exclusive interview that she took on the role in part because it “scared the hell out of me.” 

“That’s one of the things that attracted me to Belinda,” Brandy says. “The role was so different than anything that I had ever done and I wanted to see if I could pull it off. I wanted to see if I could expand my range, my depth as an actress, and see what can happen working with Kathryn Hunter, Andrew Burnap and [directors] Sam and Max Eggers.” 

“It was a great environment, great atmosphere for me to just be safe and free enough to try,” she adds.  

Brandy does more than “try” in the film; she excels in every scene she’s in, portraying fear, anger, confusion, hope and more wide-ranging emotions with authenticity. The “Full Moon” singer’s character is pregnant for the majority of the film, an experience that Brandy says is new, but also familiar. The actress’ real-life daughter, Sy’rai Iman Smith, is 22, but Brandy remembers what it was like to carry her all those years ago. 

“That belly [in the movie] made me think about me being pregnant when I was 23 having my first baby,” Brandy shares. “It was beautiful. I loved being pregnant. It was a beautiful experience. But it just seemed like I just was pregnant the entire movie, didn’t it?” 

“My belly didn’t even go down when I wasn’t pregnant,” Brandy adds with a laugh. 

The actress worked closely with co-star Hunter in the film as Hunter’s Solange takes a special interest in Belinda’s pregnancy. Brandy tells theGrio that their connection on set developed naturally due to the script. 

“Well, it’s all in the writing. I think the writing was brilliant. It helped to guide us in what to do and how to do it,” Brandy says. “We were very much close to Sam and Max, who kept an eye on us and helped us through everything.”

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Brandy adds that she and Hunter “had a special bond when the cameras were off.” 

“I was able to get to know her on a different level, and I was able to try things and react to things that she would do naturally, because I just felt safe to do that with her,” the singer says. 

“The Front Room” hits theaters on September 6. 

10

Disney Channel announced today the highly anticipated return of the Emmy® Award-winning series Wizards of Waverly Place in a new continuation, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. The series will premiere with two episodes on Tuesday, October 29th, at 8:00 PM EDT.

The first eight episodes will be available to stream on Disney+ and Disney Channel On Demand the following day, Wednesday, October 30th.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place follows Justin Russo, now an adult, as he navigates a normal, mortal life with his family. When his sister Alex brings a young wizard-in-training named Billie to his home, Justin is forced to dust off his magical skills to mentor her while also balancing his everyday responsibilities.

The series stars David Henrie as Justin Russo, Janice LeAnn Brown as Billie, Alkaio Thiele as Roman Russo, Max Matenko as Milo Russo, Taylor Cora as Winter, and Mimi Gianopulos as Giada Russo. Selena Gomez will guest star in the first episode.

Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas serve as writers and executive producers, along with executive producers Gary Marsh, Jonas Agin, Gomez, and Henrie. Andy Fickman directed and executive-produced the pilot and will direct multiple episodes. Wizards of Waverly Place was created by Todd Greenwald.

Following the Disney Channel premiere, two new episodes, including a Halloween-themed episode, will premiere on Wednesday, October 30th. Beginning November 8th, episode premieres will move to Fridays at 8:00 PM EDT with two episodes weekly.

In addition to the series premiere, Disney Channel has also announced that Raven-Symoné (“Raven’s Home”) and Danielle Fishel (“Girl Meets World”) will direct episodes in season one. This marks the first time either actress has directed an episode of a television series.

Raven-Symoné, known for her roles in The Cosby Show and That’s So Raven, brings a wealth of experience to the series. Her comedic timing and ability to connect with young audiences make her a perfect fit for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Danielle Fishel, best known for her role as Topanga Lawrence in Boy Meets World, has also proven herself as a talented actress and director. Her ability to create heartwarming and relatable stories will undoubtedly add a unique perspective to the series.

The addition of Raven-Symoné and Danielle Fishel to the directorial team further enhances the excitement surrounding Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Fans of the original series can expect to see a fresh and innovative take on the beloved franchise.

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The City of Atlanta has the chance to make things rights after a tragic double murder resulted in the false imprisonment of a grieving son. Keith Sylvester’s world was turned upside down when he learned his mother, Deborah, 65, and her husband, Harry Hubbard, 67, had been murdered in their Georgia home back in July 2018, according to 11 Alive.

According to police, the Hubbards’ home was set ablaze after they were both strangled. But what was even more shocking is who would take the fall for the tragedy.

In the months following his parents’ deaths, Sylvester quickly became the family’s spokesperson, even assisting police and hanging up arson posters in the neighborhood, according to Fox 5.

As the investigation into the murders deepened, however, Sylvester not only found himself in deep grief, but also in deep trouble when police arrested and charged him with two counts of murder and arson six months after the incident, per WGRZ. The then 47-year-old maintained his innocence, even telling Fox 5, “I am innocent and had nothing to do with my mother and stepfather’s death,” at the time.

Sylvester’s pleas sadly went unheard as he spent 14 months in Fulton County Jail for a crime he did not commit, according to Fox News. It wasn’t until 2020 when investigators finally caught the man who was actually responsible for the Hubbards’ murders.

“The case against Keith Sylvester was dismissed after the matter was independently investigated by the Major Felonies Unit of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office,” said former Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard.

He continued, “The result of this investigation shows that an assailant, who was unnamed in the original police investigation, was, in fact, in the house of Deborah and Harry Hubbard 20 minutes before a 911 call was placed regarding the fire that caused their deaths.”

The man responsible, Cornelius Muckle, has since been charged with the murders and currently awaits trail, according to 11 Alive.

Five years after the death of his parents, Sylvester is seeking justice for his wrongfully imprisonment. Atlanta city council members are currently considering a settlement in which the now 53-year-old woul be awarded $1.5 million dollars in compensation.

Republicans are facing trouble in North Carolina amid recent polling that shows the party’s gubernatorial nominee, Mark Robinson, is trailing his Democratic opponent. What’s more, Democrats believe Robinson’s extreme candidacy could cause Donald Trump to lose the battleground state to the Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, in November.

Robinson, North Carolina’s first Black lieutenant governor, has been the subject of many headlines as a result of incendiary comments he’s made about race, women and the LGBTQ community, among other things. The gubernatorial hopeful has compared abortion to slavery, downplayed the issue of slavery itself and said, “Some folks need killing” during a church service in June. 

“Mark Robinson is dangerous. I think he’s one of the most extreme MAGA men ever,” Nervahna Crew, a Democrat and Harris-Walz delegate in North Carolina, told theGrio. 

Critics like Crew have been particularly incensed by Robinson’s comments about race, even denouncing the term “African-American” to describe his racial identity. Robinson also dismissed the “so-called” 1960s Civil Rights Movement as a time when “so many freedoms were lost” and called Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a “communist.” Ironically, when Trump endorsed Robinson for governor, he called Robinson “Martin Luther King on steroids.”

In an ad from Progress NC Action, King’s son, Martin Luther King III, slammed Robinson for “repeatedly” mocking his father.

“It’s not the petty insults that bother me. It’s his outright rejection of the Civil Rights Movement my father and so many others lived and died for,” said King. “As my father said, nothing is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

Crew also participated in a Progress NC ad lambasting Robinson, expressing her outrage for online comments he made about women, including calling women “whores and heifers” and suggesting they “shouldn’t be leaders.”

Robinson has also made controversial statements about abortion, calling it murder and suggesting that it should be a crime punishable by death in North Carolina, where the medical procedure is legal for up to 12 weeks. Josh Stein slammed his Republican opponent for previously saying the issue of abortion was a result of women not being “responsible enough to keep [their] skirt down.” 

Robinson has attempted to soften on the topic and, in August, released a campaign ad where he tearfully admits that he and his wife, Yolanda Hill Robinson, decided to get an abortion 30 years ago. He described it as a “very difficult decision” and said he supports North Carolina’s current law, which includes “common-sense exceptions” for rape, incest and the life of a mother.

Crew dismissed Robinson’s “fake crying” and attempt to pivot on abortion, telling theGrio she believes he’s trying to “downplay” and “cover up” his position. She added, “[He’s] not helping any woman at all because [he] doesn’t care for women, especially Black women.”

Robinson’s extreme language appears to be costing him the election. According to an August poll conducted by High Point University, Robinson is 14 points behind Josh Stein, the Democratic nominee for governor. Even more alarming for Republicans nationally, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report recently moved North Carolina from “lean Republican” to a “toss-up” in the presidential contest between Trump and Harris.

Trump won the state in the last two presidential elections; however, Harris and President Joe Biden nearly lost North Carolina four years ago by only 1.34 points, narrowing Hillary Clinton’s 3.6% loss in 2016. 

Democrats hope Robinson’s extremism and declining favorability with North Carolina voters can benefit Harris on her path to 270 electoral votes, the needed number to win the White House on Nov. 5.

“Democrats feel pretty bullish about North Carolina,” said Joel Payne, a Democratic strategist and former Hillary Clinton campaign operative. He told theGrio Democrats shouldn’t “overplay” their hand but said they should “absolutely” make Republicans “fight for it.”

Payne argued that Republicans having to “pour money, resources and energy” to defend their historical advantage in North Carolina means they will have less money and resources in battleground states like Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. 

“This is kind of Republican hubris and Republican governance, coming home to roost for them,” said Payne. 

Marcus Bass, executive director of the advocacy group Advance Carolina, described Robinson’s candidacy as “blackface” and “pandering” in an attempt to “champion the same old Trumpian, Republican policies.”

“Though we do have a strong Bible Belt contingency of Black folks, we do have a very highly educated pool of voters,” Bass told theGrio. 

He compared Robinson’s campaign for governor to the 2022 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Georgia, Herschel Walker, who similarly made headlines for controversial statements deemed extreme, even for the Trump-era Republican Party.

“He kind of poses to be someone that cares about the right to bear arms [and] cares about religion, but in reality, he does not care about any of those things,” said Bass.

Bass believes Republicans put Robinson at the top of the ticket in an attempt to court Black voters with some “Obama Magic” without “understanding the intentionality of the Black politic.” 

While he admits there is some distrust of government and frustration with both parties among Black North Carolinians, Bass said, “Mark Robinson’s policies really don’t align with the … conservative base of Black voters that he claims to come from.”

Bass also called out the “political hypocrisy” of Republicans for “attacking the first Black woman running for president” while also running a Black man like Robinson for governor on the Republican ticket — something he doesn’t believe will sway Black voters. 

He remains doubtful that Harris will win the general election in North Carolina against Trump, given the state’s history of splitting the ticket between a Democratic gubernatorial candidate and a Republican presidential candidate. 

“Even Donald Trump has wavered in his support of Mark Robinson. Mark Robinson is really grasping onto Donald Trump, and not the other way around,” Bass pointed out.

Citing Cheri Beasley’s close Senate race in 2022, Bass said Democrats have to reexamine what went wrong and focus on issues important to voters, like affordability, public education, police reform and the impact of natural disasters in the state.

While Bass said he applauds the Harris campaign for its recent economic agenda rollout, he would also like to see Harris address more of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which he described as the “donkey in the room” at the Democratic National Convention. 

He added, “It weighs solely on the big-tent party to sew up some of those misgivings among their base so everybody can hang in this thing through November.”

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Twenty years after their graduation, the Howard University Class of 2004 is marking its 20th reunion with an ambitious goal: raising $100,000 by year-end to establish a permanent endowment for current and future students.

With over 1,000 graduates, the Class of 2004 has already raised $58,000 since the campaign’s launch in February 2024. The funds aim to bolster Howard’s legacy of excellence and provide essential resources for academic and personal growth.

“This endowment will provide lasting opportunities for students to excel academically and personally,” said Latanya Foster, Chair of the Reunion Committee and Head of People at BÉIS. “We want to ensure Howard University’s legacy continues to thrive for generations to come.”

The campaign is being led by a passionate group of alumni on the 20th Anniversary Reunion Committee. Some members, who also organized the class’s 10th-year reunion, have emphasized the importance of alumni giving in sustaining Howard’s future.

The committee is employing several creative strategies to reach their fundraising target:

• Engaging Events: Recent activities such as the HBCU 3rd Ward Bike Tour and the ATL Seersuckers & Sundresses Weekend have attracted participants and generated donations.
• Unique Merchandise: Collaborations with artists Andre Taylor and Rachel Crouch have resulted in custom “Class of 2004” merchandise, with part of the proceeds supporting the endowment.
• Strategic Alliances: Partnering with organizations like Collective PAC, the committee plans to host an on-campus voter registration drive to encourage civic engagement.
• Homecoming Finale: The campaign will culminate with a weekend of events during Howard University’s 100th Homecoming celebration, bringing alumni back to campus to celebrate and support their alma mater.

Beyond fundraising, the Class of 2004 is focused on inspiring current and future Howard students. The class includes prominent alumni such as actor Lance Gross, fashion and beauty editor Kahlana Barfield Brown, Olympian David Oliver, and Layne Eskridge, Executive Director and President of POV Entertainment.

“We want to inspire future generations of Howard students,” said Ezinne Kwubiri Okoro, the Reunion Committee’s Treasurer and Chief Client & Culture Strategy Officer at VML. “By giving back, we show them the power of their Howard education and the impact they can make.”

The Class of 2004 is calling on fellow alumni, supporters, and friends to join their mission. More information about how to donate or participate in upcoming events can be found at 04theloveofhoward.com/giving or by following them on Instagram at @HUclassof2004.

“Every dollar counts, and with many companies offering matching gift programs, your impact can be doubled or even tripled,” said Layne Eskridge, Reunion Committee Fundraising Chair. “Let’s come together to create a brighter future for Howard University students. Your support, no matter the size, is a powerful investment in our community.”

As the Class of 2004 continues its efforts, the campaign reflects the ongoing dedication of Howard alumni to strengthen their alma mater and ensure its legacy endures for future generations.

Meghan Markle knows her impact. The Duchess of Sussex recently spoke to The New York Times, breaking down her process of finding little-known brands to support, whether by wearing them and or by contributing financially.

Since Markle first became a royal, her influence on fashion and lifestyle has been huge. Often called “the Meghan Effect,” much of the clothing, accessories, and items Markle sports will sell out online almost instantly. In a new interview for The New York Times’ “Fashion Chatter” column, Markle shares details behind her decision-making.

“I spend a lot of time just Googling, looking for brands,” she told the outlet. “When people are online looking for things or reading things, I’m trying to find great new designers, especially in different territories.”

As the publication points out, Markle started investing in smaller, female-run companies in 2020. The latest company on her list is Cesta Collective, which produces basket bags hand-woven by a collective of women in Rwanda.

Cesta founder Erin Ryder opened up about Markle’s impact, recalling how they saw an immediate uptick in traffic after the Duchess wore one of the bags out to dinner in 2023. “We had more sales in one day than we’ve ever had,” Ryder revealed when recalling the day after Markle rocked the bag. This led Ryder and co-founder Courtney Weinblatt Fasciano to write a handwritten thank you to Markle, eventually leading to Markle’s investment in the company.

“Times where I know there is a global spotlight, and attention will be given to each detail of what I may or may not be wearing, then I support designers that I have really great friendships with, and smaller, up-and-coming brands that haven’t gotten the attention that they should be getting,” Markle explained. She knows the impact that comes from having so many eyes on her. “That’s one of the most powerful things that I’m able to do, and that’s simply wearing, like, an earring.”

Markle is currently gearing up for a launch of her own: the recently announced lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. With influence like hers, there are huge possibilities for what products may come from her own company, and what styles and trends may kick off because of it.