Meghan Markle appears to be attempting yet another comeback into the public’s good graces, this time through a 14-year-old girl.
Avery Culver, the young founder of Altadena Girls, has suddenly surfaced with an over-the-top display of admiration for Meghan—conveniently timed to counter the criticism labeling the Sussexes as disaster tourists. How fortuitous. Marie Claire, the Sussexes' usual PR haven, recently published an article featuring Culver praising Meghan’s remarkable kindness and the supposed miraculous way Archewell transformed a grassroots relief effort into a fully operational nonprofit. Because nothing screams authenticity like a minor being positioned as Meghan’s spokesperson.
The article claims Meghan demonstrated selflessness by donating bags of clothing from her own closet and even receiving stylist training to help girls select flattering outfits. The idea of Meghan Markle, who still struggles to match her own bronzer correctly, suddenly becoming a fairy godmother of fashion is almost too much to take seriously.
The most theatrical claim, however, is that some girls were so overwhelmed by Meghan’s presence that they broke down in tears. Were they crying over their losses in the wildfires, or were they simply in awe of Meghan’s divine presence? Knowing her, she’d probably prefer to believe the latter. Her stepfather, Matt Chate, also chimed in, stating that Archewell helped secure a building for Altadena Girls. A noble effort, yet somehow, in this entire PR spectacle, the actual wildfire victims have been reduced to a mere footnote in Meghan’s latest attempt at self-glorification.
At least this move is slightly more subtle than her previous disaster-tour stunts, such as when she showed up in Uvalde dressed in a perfectly curated camera-ready outfit with an air of self-importance. The timing of this article is also highly suspect, conveniently appearing just days after Princess Catherine made headlines for her touching interaction with a young girl on World Cancer Day. It’s almost as if Meghan saw Catherine’s positive press and immediately scrambled into damage-control mode. The Sussex PR machine simply cannot stand the idea of the Princess of Wales receiving widespread admiration.
The inauthentic tone of the article is another red flag. A 14-year-old girl publicly declaring that Meghan is “so incredibly kind” feels entirely scripted. No average American teenager speaks that way, making it abundantly clear that this has Meghan’s fingerprints all over it—a textbook example of a heavy-handed PR strategy. The move to have an innocent young girl sing Meghan’s praises in an effort to deflect from criticism is as predictable as it is transparent.
The Sussexes have a well-documented pattern of using children as props for PR stunts. It happened with their own kids when Meghan turned Archie’s birthday into a spectacle during King Charles’s coronation. It happened when she made a conveniently timed “compassion visit” to Uvalde. And now, history repeats itself with a teenage founder being positioned as a shield against backlash. Realistically, 99% of actual Altadena teenagers wouldn’t even recognize Meghan Markle if she walked past them in Target, but this narrative would have people believe she’s some beloved Los Angeles icon.
What’s even more amusing is that video evidence contradicts the carefully crafted image. A clip exists of Meghan attempting one of her signature compassionate hugs with the same teenager—only for the girl to instinctively step back. Meghan, sensing the cameras rolling, swooped in for the moment, only to be met with an awkward retreat. Naturally, this footage won’t be making its way into Marie Claire’s glowing coverage.
At the end of the day, genuine philanthropists don’t seek press coverage. The most selfless people quietly do the work without cameras, staged stories, or desperate attempts at relevance. The Sussexes, however, seem incapable of drawing a breath without ensuring there’s a lens capturing their every move.
