The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has found herself at the centre of a fresh online debate following her appearance at the Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah. The 44-year-old former actress attended the premiere of Cookie Queens, a documentary film she and her husband, Prince Harry, produced under their Archewell Productions banner.
Premiere Focus Shifts from Film to Fashion
While the documentary, directed by Alysa Nahmias, follows four young women striving to become top sellers of Girl Scout Cookies, social media commentary quickly pivoted from the film's content to the Duchess's personal style. Critics on platforms like X took aim at Meghan's hair and makeup, suggesting a perceived mismatch in her cosmetic application.
Social Media Scrutiny Intensifies
One user questioned, "What am I looking at here? The makeup is too dark and does not match her neck and what is up with the back of her head?" Another offered a more detailed critique, stating, "That’s the hair she has woven in. As for the makeup application… she must be putting it on in a room with just a mirror. If she went to a window and applied makeup in natural light, she would see how dark it is."
This wave of negative commentary prompted a swift defence from the Duchess's supporters. Fans rallied online, praising her involvement in meaningful projects and urging the couple to ignore the detractors.
Fans Rally in Defence of the Duchess
One supporter wrote, "Comments are vicious. Meghan looks lovely, I'm happy to see them involved in numerous projects." Another highlighted the positive values of their production work, posting, "I love Harry and Meghan. Their production company is backing films that have good decent values rather than all the violence found in so many movies today."
Further support emerged on Facebook, with a fan sharing, "Blessings to Prince Harry and Meghan. Ignore the noise and do the things that make you the happiest, since only you can live your life."
Duchess Praises 'Powerful' Documentary at Festival
During her appearance at the festival, Meghan Markle spoke warmly about the documentary, which she has been developing for several years. Addressing the audience, she described Cookie Queens as "probably the cutest film" at Sundance but was quick to emphasise its deeper significance.
"But I'm also going to go out on a limb and say it is one of the most powerful and meaningful depictions of something that is an American tradition and rooted in nostalgia," she stated. "It's now put through this lens from the incredible creative vision of Alyssa to show something modernised about the girlhood experience and all the layers of complexity that come with that."
The event underscores the continued public fascination with the Sussexes' post-royal ventures, where their creative outputs often compete for attention with persistent scrutiny of their personal lives and appearances.
