Meghan Markle has made a striking return to Instagram, but her long-awaited comeback is leaving many with raised eyebrows.
After seven years of silence, having shut down her original lifestyle blog, The Tig, Meghan re-entered the platform on January 1st under her old handle, @meghan. In her debut post for the new year, she shared a reel of herself running barefoot on a gloomy beach, dressed in a loose-fitting white button-up shirt and white capri pants. The video features Meghan sprinting toward the water's edge, pausing dramatically, and writing "2025" in the sand.
It's an attempt at capturing a whimsical, carefree vibe, but it seems more like a clumsy homage to the type of content often seen in the early days of Instagram. Her look, with tousled hair, minimalist style, and carefree aesthetic, strongly echoes the 1990s vibe that was popularized by Kate Moss. However, instead of embodying the effortless chic of the iconic supermodel, Meghan's interpretation comes across as more of a low-budget imitation from a Pinterest board circa 2011.
Royal watchers and fashion aficionados quickly pointed out the glaring similarities between Meghan’s beachside adventure and the unmistakable style of Kate Moss, a hallmark of the '90s. The all-black and white imagery, tousled hair, minimalism, and vintage feel – it’s all there, but it’s stripped of the mystique and chicness that Moss perfected. While Kate Moss’s iconic "heroin chic" aesthetic exuded an edgy, rebellious energy, Meghan’s version feels more forced and outdated. The choice of a barren beach, paired with the overly casual white shirt and pants, seems to lack the same sense of intention and polish that made Moss’s photos so striking. The attempt at a "spontaneous" vibe seems more calculated, like an awkward attempt to channel an aesthetic from a bygone era.
Let’s break down the elements of Meghan’s Instagram debut: A cold and dreary beach, check. A loose, unremarkable white shirt and pants, check. Bare feet, loose hair, and a wide grin, check. Authenticity? Well, that’s a little harder to find. If you squint, you might almost hear Kate Moss’s trademark laughter from wherever she is, possibly lounging with a martini in hand and wondering why Meghan’s attempt to channel the '90s feels like a time machine gone wrong. It’s almost as if Meghan believes we haven’t moved on from 1997, but in reality, 1997 has long since moved past her.
The question that arises, however, is why Meghan seems so fixated on cosplaying iconic white women. From Princess Diana to Kate Middleton, and now Kate Moss, it seems as though Meghan is spinning a wheel of famous white women to emulate. Some have wondered why she doesn’t draw inspiration from more relatable figures, such as biracial American icons like Halle Berry, with whom she may have more in common. Instead, we get yet another homage to someone whose legacy seems increasingly detached from Meghan’s own life and experiences.
Furthermore, Meghan’s portrayal of "effortless chic" has raised some concerns about her current look. While Moss's skin in her '90s images radiated youth and vitality, Meghan’s skin, in this post, seemed to have a weathered appearance, leaving some to comment that she appeared more "effortlessly weathered" than chic. One critic summed it up by saying, "Her skin tells the story." It’s not so much a celebration of timeless beauty as it is a reminder that even those who attempt to replicate the past can’t quite escape the passage of time.
In an era where Instagram is dominated by influencers carefully curating their brands, Meghan’s return to the platform feels like a misstep, as though she’s stuck in a time warp. It’s as if she’s trying to convince her audience that she’s relatable and cool, but the execution falls flat. The whole thing gives off an air of desperation, as if Meghan is desperately scrambling to reclaim a connection with a younger, more carefree version of herself, but in doing so, she inadvertently alienates her audience by reminding them of an outdated era.
Additionally, the production quality of Meghan’s Instagram post does little to elevate her message. Kate Moss's iconic '90s shots were professional, carefully crafted, and full of intention. Meghan’s post, on the other hand, feels like a poorly executed DIY project—awkwardly filmed, lacking flair, and reminiscent of something quickly thrown together in between yoga sessions and Googling how to be iconic.
Ultimately, Meghan Markle’s Instagram comeback feels more like a parody of influencer culture rather than an authentic return to the limelight. Her attempt to channel Kate Moss’s minimalist style falls flat, making it evident that Meghan isn’t exactly a fashion student or a creative visionary. If anything, this debut proves one thing: Meghan may want to consider hiring a stylist, a social media manager, and perhaps even a time machine to bring her content into the present day. Until then, we’ll continue to appreciate Kate Moss’s legacy while side-eyeing this strange attempt at homage from a Duchess who seems somewhat trapped in the past.
