The Duchess of Sussex has made a striking return to magazine covers with a bare-faced photoshoot for Harper's Bazaar, but her pursuit of authenticity has unexpectedly reignited claims she's following in Pamela Anderson's footsteps.
The Authenticity Movement
In her first magazine feature in seven years, Meghan Markle speaks candidly about her desire for a more authentic life and career. The 44-year-old Duchess appears on the December/January 'art' issue cover wearing little to no makeup in a dramatic black-and-white portrait.
Writer Kaitlyn Greenidge notes in the cover story that Meghan is actively 'pursuing a life and career that feel authentic to her'. The Duchess herself told her interviewer that 'there's no such thing as perfect' and expressed her distaste for things that 'feel overly realised'.
Most significantly, Meghan revealed she's shunning 'external judgement' in favour of authenticity, explaining: 'I think the moment that you start making all of your personal decisions based on external judgment, then you lose your authenticity.'
The Pamela Anderson Parallels
However, this literal interpretation of authenticity has drawn immediate comparisons to Pamela Anderson's recent natural beauty movement. Social media users were quick to question whether Meghan's appearance represented her own 'Pamela Anderson era'.
One person wrote on X/Twitter: 'Is this supposed to be like the Pamela Anderson going makeup-free iconic moment? This is not going to go well for Meghan, I'm afraid.'
The comparisons reference Anderson's makeup-free appearance at Paris Fashion Week over two years ago, when actress Jamie Lee Curtis declared 'the natural beauty revolution has officially begun'. The 58-year-old actress has since become an icon for the natural beauty movement, speaking frequently about self-acceptance and embracing her authentic self without Hollywood's beauty standards.
This isn't the first time Meghan has faced accusations of mirroring Anderson's style choices. When the Duchess made her Paris Fashion Week debut at Balenciaga's Spring/Summer '26 showcase last month, observers noted her 'barely-there makeup look' resembled Anderson's 2023 appearance.
A Pattern of Similarities
The controversy extends beyond beauty choices to their professional projects. In March, when Meghan unveiled the first trailer for her Netflix cooking show With Love, eagle-eyed viewers noticed striking similarities to Anderson's lifestyle programme Cooking with Love, which had been released six months earlier.
Both trailers showed their hosts walking in gardens while admiring produce before inviting guests and chefs into their kitchens to enjoy meals. Even the language used to describe their shows showed remarkable parallels.
Frustrated fans pointed out the similar aesthetics, wardrobes, and titles, with some calling Meghan's teaser a 'straight copy'. However, defenders argued that production schedules made any similarities coincidental rather than deliberate, and Pamela Anderson herself brushed away suggestions of copying.
The connections deepen when examining their public statements about authenticity. While Pamela has spoken extensively about 'self-acceptance', Meghan's Harper's Bazaar interview echoes similar themes of rejecting external pressures and embracing imperfection.
Meghan reflected on learning from mistakes during the interview, sharing: 'You learn not to do it again. If it all goes swimmingly, you don't learn from it. If you don't learn anything, you're not going to grow.'
Personal Revelations and Royal Formality
Beyond the controversy, the Harper's Bazaar profile offered intimate glimpses into Meghan's personal life. She spoke warmly about her marriage to Prince Harry, gushing: 'No one in the world loves me more than him. He loves me so boldly, fully, and he also has a different perspective because he sees media that I wouldn't.'
The mother-of-two also discussed balancing her business ventures, including her lifestyle brand As Ever, with raising Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. She revealed she gives herself 'the same grace as a founder' that she extends to her children when they face challenges.
In a moment of particular candour, Meghan broke down in tears while reading a letter from her children during the interview, commenting: 'This is why it's so nice to have no makeup on, thank you.'
The profile also revealed that Meghan is still announced like royalty to guests, with writer Greenidge noting her bemusement when a house manager announced 'Meghan, Duchess of Sussex' despite them being the only people present.
As the conversation around Meghan's authenticity continues, the public remains divided between those who see genuine self-expression and those who perceive calculated image-making inspired by Pamela Anderson's successful natural beauty campaign.
