Skip to main contentSkip to footer
Meghan Markle says she was an ‘ugly duckling’ growing up: 'I was the smart one'
  • España
  • Americas
  • México
  • Celebrities
    • Celebrity Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Celebrity Kids
    • Celebrity Parents
    • Celebrity Homes
  • Entertainment
    • Music
    • Movies
    • TV
    • What to Watch
  • Royals
    • Kate Middleton
    • Meghan Markle
    • Prince Harry
    • Queen Letizia
    • Queen Maxima
    • Charlotte Casiraghi
    • Spanish Royals
    • British Royals
    • Monaco Royals
  • Beauty
    • Skincare
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
    • Celebrity Beauty
  • Fashion
    • Celebrity Style
    • Royal Style
    • Fashion Trends
    • Street Style
    • Red Carpet
    • Runway
  • Lifestyle
    • Health and Wellness
    • Fitness and Workout
    • Leisure and Travel
    • Parenting
  • Food
    • Recipes
    • Healthy Food
    • Latin Cooking
    • Drinks and Cocktails
  • Americas
    • Celebridades
    • Entretenimiento
    • Realeza
    • Belleza
    • Moda
    • Lifestyle
    • Fotos
    • Latina Powerhouse
  • Latina Powerhouse
  • Photos
  • HOLA+
  • Celebrities
  • Entertainment
  • Royals
  • Beauty
  • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Americas
  • Latina Powerhouse
  • Photos
  • Hola+
  • Home
  • Royals

Meghan Markle says she was an ‘ugly duckling’ growing up


The Duchess of Sussex admitted she was “always a little bit of a loner” at school


Meghan Markle says she grew up an 'ugly duckling'© Getty Images
HOLA! USA
SEPTEMBER 7, 2022 11:29 AM EDTSEP 7, 2022, 11:29 AM EDT

 Meghan Markle  grew up feeling she was “not the pretty one.” The Duchess of Sussex admitted to  Mindy Kaling  on the third episode of   Archetypes  that growing up she was an “ugly duckling.”

RELATED:
  • Mindy Kaling shares photo of herself with Meghan Markle: ‘Loved sitting down with Meghan’

“Look, maybe not conventional beauty as it- now, maybe that would be seen as beautiful, but massive frizzy curly hair and a huge gap in my teeth,” Meghan shared. “I was the smart one. Forever and ever and ever and ever. And then just sort of grew up.”

The Duchess of Sussex said on her podcast that she was an ‘ugly duckling’ growing up© Spotify
The Duchess of Sussex said on her podcast that she was an ‘ugly duckling’ growing up

Meghan admitted that it was “really hard.” The royal mom of two grew up in Los Angeles and attended Hollywood Schoolhouse and later the all-girls Catholic school Immaculate Heart. Meghan revealed that at lunch she “never had anyone to sit with.” “I was always a little bit of a loner and really shy and didn’t know where I fit in,” she confessed.

View post on Instagram
 

To avoid worrying about who to sit with, the Duchess kept herself busy at school. “I was like, okay, well then I’ll become the president of the Multicultural Club and the president of sophomore class and the president of this and French club. And by doing that, I had meetings at lunchtime,” Meghan said. “So I didn’t have to worry about who I would sit with or what I would do because I was always so busy.”

Mindy Kaling was a guest on the third episode of Meghan Markle’s Spotify podcast© Getty Images
Mindy Kaling was a guest on the third episode of Meghan Markle’s Spotify podcast

The image of the girl Meghan described admittedly made Mindy “very emotional.” “I’m happy that people know that because I think people see you and they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, like the wedding, the couture fittings for that and this and that.’ And I think that I certainly didn’t know that about you. And it’s nice to know,”  The Mindy Project  star said. 

Mindy also told Meghan, “I came in here, you know, and we don’t know each other, we have some people in common. But you do seem so intimidating. Your life is together, like you’re so beautiful. And like, even in the Oprah thing is like, oh, my God, she has chickens. Like, who has their shit together enough to have, like raise chickens and kids, like, come on. Like, and it’s nice to know that [you] were a lonely kid who didn’t like necessarily being that way.”

© ¡HOLA! Reproduction of this article and its photographs in whole or in part is prohibited, even when citing their source.

Other Topics
  • British Royals
  • Meghan Markle
READ MORE
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announce new identity; the couple will now have a family enterprise
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announce new identity; the couple will now have a family enterpriseBy Shirley Gomez
Flora Vesterberg, granddaughter of Princess Alexandra, expecting first baby with husband Timothy Vesterberg
Flora Vesterberg, granddaughter of Princess Alexandra, expecting first baby with husband Timothy VesterbergBy Daniel Neira
Ex-Prince Andrew and Marius Borg: Inside Europe's Royal black sheep scandals of 2025
Ex-Prince Andrew and Marius Borg: Inside Europe's Royal black sheep scandals of 2025
Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones’s best Christmas style moments at Sandringham
Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones’s best Christmas style moments at Sandringham
LATEST NEWS
Queen Máxima switches things up, trading her brooches for a trendy ‘Teddy’ bag
Millie Bobby Brown debuts chic hair transformation
Sasha Calle and Catalina Sandino Moreno bring a piece of Colombia to 'The Rip'
Ana de Armas finds joy in a winter wonderland, sharing snowy moments with her dogs and close friends
Bella Hadid turns up the heat in stunning bikini looks during dreamy tropical vacation
5 Gemini red flags and the zodiac signs they’re most compatible with
Jessica Alba's vegetable-filled pozole recipe divides the internet
Joe Jonas reveals which Latin American cuisine he prefers to eat while in Miami
© 2000-2026, HOLA S.L.
  • ¡HOLA! Spain
  • ¡HOLA! Americas
  • HELLO! UK
  • HELLO! US
  • HELLO! Canada
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal Notice
  • Cookies Policy
  • Compliant channel
  • Contact