When Meghan Markle announced her lifestyle brand, which was recently renamed to As Ever, fans were quick to make comparisons. After all, with health and wellness at the forefront, and the idyllic views of Montecito, California, as the inspiration, fans couldn’t help but link it to Gwyneth Paltrow’s fan-loved Goop.
But, now that Markle is showing more of her brand, including with her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, even Paltrow is making it clear that they’re not in competition.
In a new interview with Paltrow for Vanity Fair, the Oscar winner defended Markle’s lifestyle inspirations. “[When] there’s noise about certain women in the culture, I do have, always, a strong instinct to stand up for them,” Paltrow said.
“I was raised to see other women as friends, not foes,” Paltrow continued. “I think there’s always more than enough to go around. Everybody deserves an attempt at everything that they want to try.”
But while Paltrow didn’t hesitate to defend Markle, she admitted that they haven’t really connected yet, despite living in the same neighborhood. “I don’t know Meghan and [Prince] Harry,” Paltrow said of the Sussexes. “I mean, I’ve met Meghan, who seems really lovely, but I don’t know her at all. Maybe I’ll try to get through their security detail and bring them a pie.”
Paltrow then completed her thought saying that it was her mom, Blythe Danner, who taught her not to see other women as rivals. “Another woman is never your competition,” Danner told her daughter, “what is right for you will find you.” Years later, it seems Danner’s teachings live on. May Markle’s haters listen too.
Most recently, in addition to announcing the season 2 renewal of With Love, Meghan, Markle announced her new podcast name and direction. After one season of Archetypes on Spotify, Markle’s podcast will change to Confessions of a Female Founder.
In it, she’ll have some heart-to-heart conversations with female entrepreneurs like herself. “I’ve been having candid conversations with amazing women who have turned dreams into realities, and scaled small ideas into massively successful businesses,” Markle said of the show on Instagram. “They’re opening up, sharing their tips, tricks (and tumbles), and letting me pick their brains as I build out my own business, As ever.”
The podcast’s first episode comes out soon on April 8. And who knows, maybe Paltrow could be a guest sometime soon?
Click here to see Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s complete relationship timeline.
