Meghan Markle has been criticized for a 'silly' move after appearing as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia, with a PR expert claiming she failed to win over the audience.
Expert weighs in on appearance
Australian-born Renae Smith, founder of PR and branding agency The Atticism, told the Daily Express: "My overall take? It was a silly move on a silly show, but it did no real harm."
Ms Smith, who previously took part in the competition herself, said MasterChef is a credentials show built "entirely around measurable skill" and that Meghan's only contribution was "being famous and liking food".
Ratings jump not enough
She also claimed the duchess failed to captivate the Australian audience despite the ratings. "Has she captivated the Australian audience? No, and I think we need to be careful not to confuse curiosity with conversion," she said.
"Yes, the ratings jumped, and it was reportedly the show's best Sunday audience in weeks, but people tuning in to see what a duchess does on MasterChef is not the same as people warming to her."
"That is not captivation, that is rubbernecking. She hasn't won anyone over, but she hasn't lost anyone either, because the people watching had already made up their minds long ago."
Background of appearance
The Duchess of Sussex appeared on the show last month for an immunity challenge ahead of the semi-final. Contestants were challenged to transform a staple ingredient into a dish "fit for a duchess".
Ingredients available included carrots, Jerusalem artichokes, Brussels sprouts, celeriac, Australian honey, macadamia nuts, quince, lemons, apples, mandarins and strawberries. Meghan appeared alongside judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli.
