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Meghan Markle stars in UN Women Feminist ad To Encourage Women To Become Leaders

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Updated on July 16, 2021

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Meghan Markle’s humanitarian efforts and support for women’s rights began long before she was named Duchess of Sussex, and a heartwarming video of the royal participating in a campaign to promote female leaders from a few years ago has recently emerged.

The 2015 commercial includes brief vignettes showcasing many strong, hardworking women from across the globe. Markle is shown making notes and then going up to a platform to make a speech in the last scene.

The 37-year-old former actress and UN Women ambassador appears in the UN Women short video, which is soundtracked to Florence and the Machine’s “Say My Name.”

She discussed her feminist awakening when she was 11 years old, when she fought against a sexist Proctor & Gamble commercial and ultimately persuaded the company to alter it. “They changed it from ‘Women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans’ to ‘People all over America,’” she said. “It was at that moment that I realized the magnitude of my actions. At the age of 11 I had created my small level of impact by standing up for equality.”

The screen says, “We see potential leaders everywhere.” “It’s time for more women to see it in themselves. Nominate a woman in your life #iNominateHer.” According to Elle UK, the ad was part of a three-year-old UN Women social media campaign.

“Women make up more than half of the world’s population and potential, so it is neither just nor practical for their voices, for our voices, to go unheard at the highest levels of decision-making…. Women need a seat at the table, they need an invitation to be seated there, and in some cases, where this is not available, well then, you know what, they need to create their own table.”

Following the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, the California native also said that she wants to ‘shine a light’ on women’s empowerment.

‘I think right now in the climate we are seeing so many campaigns, I mean Me Too and Time’s Up, there is no better time than to really continue to shine a light on women feeling empowered and people really helping to support them, men included in that,’ she said.

“He’s a feminist too, so there’s that,” she earlier told a Harry fan.

‘It makes such a tremendous difference.’

Markle published an op-ed for Time in 2017 after visiting Delhi and Mumbai, titled “How Periods Affect Potential.” The article emphasizes the significance of women’s health support and works to eliminate menstruation health stigma.

“When we empower girls hungry for education, we cultivate women who are emboldened to effect change within their communities and globally. If that is our dream for them, then the promise of it must begin with us. Period,” she wrote.

The Duchess spoke out about her enthusiasm and participation in women’s issues at the Royal Foundation Forum (Meghan’s first event alongside Prince Harry, Prince William, and Kate Middleton). “You’ll often hear people say ‘well, you’re helping women find their voices.’ And I fundamentally disagree with that. Women don’t need to find a voice, they have a voice. They need to be empowered to use it, and people need to be encouraged to listen.”

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