For those who are not familiar, Meghan Markle is an American former actress who joined the British royal family after marrying Prince Harry in 2018.
Standing at 5'6", Meghan is reportedly sensitive about her height, as she is several inches shorter than her husband, Prince Harry, who is 6'1". Observers and critics have noted that Meghan often goes to great lengths to appear taller, frequently wearing very high heels even in situations where they may not be appropriate or practical.
A recent example of this was when Meghan and Harry attended the NCAA Women's Final Four basketball game between Stanford and South Carolina in April. Photos from the event show Meghan wearing stiletto heels around 4 to 5 inches high. Typically, high heels at a sporting event would not be particularly noteworthy. However, given that this was a basketball game, where players move quickly and demonstrate acrobatic skills, heels seemed an unusual choice of footwear.
Most fans at basketball games opt for sneakers or flat shoes to stand, cheer, and move around freely, so Meghan's choice of high heels raised some eyebrows. She towered over Prince Harry, who wore simple dress shoes without a heel. This choice gave the impression that she wanted to maximize her height, even at the cost of comfort and practicality. It reinforced the narrative that Meghan is self-conscious about not being as tall as her husband and other royals like Prince William and Kate Middleton.
This wasn't the first time Meghan opted for very tall heels. In June of last year, when she and Harry attended the Trooping the Colour parade, an annual public celebration of the Queen's birthday, Meghan chose strappy red stilettos that added at least 4 inches to her height. Again, very high heels for an outdoor event involving lots of standing and walking were impractical, and she struggled at times to keep her balance as she stepped from the carriage onto the parade route.
Similarly, in September 2020, when Harry and Meghan visited a market in Los Angeles, Meghan wore sky-high nude suede platforms that elongated her legs. While the outfit was trendy and flattering, the shoes seemed ill-suited for lots of walking between market stalls. One can't help but wonder if she consciously chooses the maximum height boost even if it's impractical. Some argue that there’s nothing wrong with a woman wanting to feel and look tall, and wearing heels makes her confident. However, with Meghan, it seems to border on an obsession, choosing height over comfort on many occasions. It makes her appear as though she is trying too hard rather than letting her natural beauty and poise shine through.
Royal duties often involve extensive travel and public engagements, which require comfortable footwear. Thus, her preference for high heels can seem counterproductive. Moreover, as a woman who is nearly 6 feet tall with heels, it’s unnecessary to boost her height so drastically. This can negatively impact her stance and ability to participate fully in various situations. Opting for heels that are 2 to 3 inches high could still make her legs look amazing without compromising balance or mobility.
There is an underlying message that she may feel insecure or insufficient if not towering over others, which is an unfortunate complex for a confident, accomplished woman to have. Some believe this ties into deeper issues of Meghan trying to fit into privileged royal circles while asserting her independence and ethnicity as a biracial American woman. The heels may symbolize armor she wears to stand out proudly, refusing to diminish any part of herself, not just physically but also culturally. While this spirit is admirable, it can sometimes come across as overcompensation.
Overall, Meghan is undeniably beautiful and fashionable. However, when her heel choices seem inappropriate for the context or prioritize height over practical reasons like comfort, mobility, or safety, it can diminish her poised presence. It fuels the perception that she has hang-ups about being tall enough, feeding the tabloid narrative of Meghan being vain or obsessed with her looks. If she chose more sensibly scaled heels that complement her natural stature instead of drastically altering it, she would be praised even more for her poise and elegance, regardless of height. Ultimately, as long as she feels confident, that is what matters most.
