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
King Charles breaks silence with rare televised update on his cancer journey
King Charles breaks silence with rare televised update on his cancer journeyBy Maria Loreto
How to send a Christmas card to the British Royal Family (and get one back)
How to send a Christmas card to the British Royal Family (and get one back)By Shirley Gomez
Prince Harry pops in for a sweet (and spicy) moment on Meghan Markle’s Holiday Netflix Special
Prince Harry pops in for a sweet (and spicy) moment on Meghan Markle’s Holiday Netflix Special
LATEST NEWS
Bella Hadid shares a glimpse of her holiday moments, including leather and denim looks and time with her boyfriend
Queen Máxima’s 2025 style highlights: Historic tiaras, chic safari looks and military moments
Natalia Boneta
New Music Friday: Hamilton, Peso Pluma, Sabrina Carpenter, and more
New Year’s Eve party drinks: the best bottles to bring for every budget in 2026
9 Flattering haircuts for wavy hair, according to stylists
Party in the New Year with these celebrity inspired outfits
Halle Berry shares makeup-free selfie from bed and reveals the book that inspired her Oscar win
© 2000-2025, HOLA S.L.
  • ¡HOLA! Spain
  • ¡HOLA! Americas
  • HELLO! UK
  • HELLO! US
  • HELLO! Canada
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal Notice
  • Cookies Policy
  • Compliant channel
  • Contact