09 March 2024 , 08:05
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Meghan Markle has flown to Texas to attend the SXSW Festival where on Friday she gave a passionate speech addressing how "dangerous" social media can be for young girls.
The Duchess of Sussex chose a simple but stylish outfit for the event, including a $2,000 (£1,560) silk ensemble from Giuliva Heritage, including a maxi-skirt priced at $1,050 (£810) and a silky oversized shirt costing $970 (£750). She also flaunted her $180,000 (£140,000) engagement rings, which she had been seen without for a few months while it was being repaired to fix a loose stone.
Her choice of jewellery also included a pair of gold earrings from Bottega Veneta, costing around $717 (£558). She completed her look with a pair of flat mules which could be from Valentino and have a similar price tag to the earrings.
READ MORE: Meghan Markle's feminist SXSW speech in full from 'cruel' cyberbullying to Prince Harry shoutout
She donned a Giuliva Heritage silk ensemble (FilmMagic)
Meghan speaks on stage during the keynote event (FilmMagic)Meghan, 42, wore her hair down, in loose waves pushed to one side and tumbling down her back. Her choice of make-up was a simple, natural one, pairing a matte base with bronzer, pink blush and a natural lipstick.
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She was accompanied by her husband Prince Harry, 39, who sitting in the front row and was seen clapping while watching his wife during her speech. On Thursday night, the Sussexes were reportedly spotted at exclusive members-only club Soho House Austin.
Meghan appeared on stage alongside journalist Katie Couric, actress Brooke Shields and diversity equity and inclusion consultant at Peoplism, Nancy Wang Yuen. Errin Haines, host of The Amendment podcast, moderated the session, which was the event's opening day keynote, titled 'Breaking Barriers, Shaping Narratives: How Women Lead On and Off the Screen'.
Speaking on International Women's Day, Meghan talked about how social media is creating an "often dangerous environment" which has led to serious mental health issues for teenage girls in particular. The keynote session also touched on how women's representation in media and entertainment "has come a long way, but there's still much to be done, especially for women of colour and mothers."
Meghan during the SXSW 2024 Conference and Festivals at Austin Convention Center in Texas (FilmMagic)During her speech, Meghan shared how she took action over a commercial she felt was sexist when she was just 11 years old. She said: "I was about 11 years old and I had seen a commercial on TV for a dishwashing liquid that said 'women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans.
"The boys in my class at the time said 'yeah, that's where women belong, in the kitchen' - and at 11 I just found that infuriating. I wrote lots of letters and put pen to paper and they ended up changing the commercial to 'people all over America'.
"It's funny to look back at it now because that was before social media where you had a reach that was so much greater. It was just an 11-year-old with pen and paper. But it just goes to show that if you know that there is something wrong and you are using your voice to advocate in the direction of what is right that can really land and resonate and make a huge change for a lot of people."
She had her £140k engagement ring on after it was repaired due to a loose stone (Getty Images)The Duchess also hit out at cyberbullies, addressing the "catty" and "cruel" comments she received during both of her pregnancies. "Yes, social media is an environment that I think has a lot of that. You know I think, it’s really interesting as I can reflect on it, keep my distance from it right now, just for my own wellbeing, but the bulk of the bullying and abuse that I was experiencing in social media and online was when I was pregnant, with Archie and with Lili, and with a newborn with each of them," she said.
"And you just think about that and really wrap your head around why people would be so hateful. It’s not catty, it’s cruel." She then shared how she overcame the judgment on social media. "You could either succumb to it, nearly succumb to how painful that it is, and maybe in some regards, because I was pregnant, that mammalian instinct just kicked in, you do everything you can to protect your child, and as a result, protect yourself too," she said.
Announcing the Duchess of Sussex as a participant, SXSW noted how she is a "feminist and champion of human rights and gender equity", as well as a New York Times best-selling author. Meghan has a long history of supporting women's rights. On her website, Meghan is described as a "feminist and champion of human rights and gender equity".
The statement continued: "Her lifelong advocacy for women and girls remains a constant thread in her humanitarian and business ventures. She has been named one of the most influential women in the world in rankings including TIME Magazine's Most Influential People, The Financial Times' 25 Most Influential Women, Variety Power of Women, and British Vogue's Vogue 25."
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