Latest news with #AspirePodcast
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Entrepreneur who interviewed Meghan says the Duchess is 'not rushing to meet outside expectations' and gushes she has 'clarity, conviction and honestly genuine wisdom'
Meghan Markle was praised for her 'clarity, conviction and honestly genuine wisdom' today by entrepreneur Emma Grede after they sat down for a 90-minute podcast. Grede hailed the Duchess of Sussex for 'building something with purpose, precision and with a lot of heart' as she lauded her in a follow-up video on Instagram last night. The British businesswoman, a founding partner of Kim Kardashian 's shapewear brand Skims, spoke to Meghan for her Aspire podcast which came out on Tuesday. Their chat saw Meghan say she would 'ask people to tell the truth' if she was able to rewrite her public narrative from scratch and refer to a 'lie' told eight years ago. The Duchess also used the podcast to deny that her personal Instagram account, where she shares behind the scenes footage of family life, is a tool to promote her business – adding that she uses it for 'authentic' sharing such as her twerking video. The interview was released three days before Meghan's As Ever brand is due to restock and launch new products later today at 8am Pacific Time (4pm UK time). Reflecting on the podcast, Grede said: 'When I sat down with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, I expected a great conversation, but what I didn't expect was how much clarity, conviction and honestly genuine wisdom that she brought to the table. Grede, who co-founded denim company Good American, added: 'Meghan doesn't just talk about building a brand - she's building something with purpose, precision and with a lot of heart. And there were a few moments that really stayed with me.' She cited the first one as being 'trust your timeline', praising Meghan for saying 'someone else's urgency is not my urgency'. Grede said 'She's not rushing to meet outside expectations. She's building with care on her own terms, and that discipline shows in every move that she makes.' The second one was labelled 'own the vision, share the work', with Grede telling how Meghan talks about 'creating something where you feel her fingerprints all over it'. Grede added: 'She believes in collaboration but not at the expense of intention. You can delegate, but you still have to show up.' The third point was to 'protect what matters the most'. Grede said Meghan 'spoke about being present for her kids and having to ask herself if she could do it well enough or if she should just do a few things exceptionally well'. She continued: 'And that idea really resonates with me, because it's not about balance, it never is, it's about priorities.' Having to 'make your message unmistakable' was cited as the fourth point. Grede said: 'For Meghan, influence just isn't about visibility, it's about intentionality. And even in silence, she used her platform to elevate others. Meghan said she would 'ask people to tell the truth' if she could rewrite her public narrative 'Every choice was a signal, redirecting attention, value and visibility towards people and principles that matter. Her reminder was that influence is power, but how you use it, that's purpose.' The final point she mentioned was Meghan saying 'success starts small'. Grede added: 'As Ever started with homemade jam. Not a splashy rollout, just a personal gesture, and it grew because it was real. And that's the reminder that you too can start small. Just start with what you love.' She concluded: 'So let me know which moment stuck out to you, and if you haven't listened to the full episode, Aspire with Emma Grede is available now on Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts.' During the podcast which has already had 140,000 views on YouTube, Meghan spoke about asking 'people to tell the truth and referred to a 'lie' told eight years ago, adding: 'A lie can't live forever. Eight years is a long time, but not forever.' Eight years ago, in 2017, former actress Meghan was dating and became engaged to the now-Duke of Sussex, and began preparing for life as a member of the royal family. The year also included Meghan's first meeting with the now-Princess of Wales and the beginnings of the Prince of Wales's fall out with Harry after William urged his brother not to rush into the relationship. Grede asked Meghan: 'I want to say this to you in the best way, because I wonder if you could rewrite your public narrative from scratch, is there anything that you would do differently?' Meghan replied calmly: 'Yes, I would ask people to tell the truth.' The Duchess gave no specifics about to whom who she was referring, but later referred to a 'lie' told eight years ago - in another apparent dig about her life in the public eye as a member of the Royal Family since she began a relationship with Harry. Grede said: 'You're very measured about it. I would just get so angry if I felt like everyone was lying about me all the time …' Meghan said: 'Peaks and valleys… Of course, I've gone through those chapters and you do a lot of work, you do a lot of self work and go, what's the why? It's happening for a reason.' She added that her 'dear friend' tennis champion Serena Williams told her 'a lie can't live forever'. The Duchess said: 'She told me years ago, a lie can't live forever. Eight years is a long time, but not forever.' In her 2021 Oprah interview, Meghan said she could not be expected to stay silent if 'the Firm' 'is playing a part in perpetuating falsehoods' about her and Harry. She also publicly singled out Kate as having made her cry in the run-up to her wedding and said it was important for people to 'understand the truth'. It was a disagreement over flower girl dresses, but according to Harry's memoir this happened in 2018 in four days before the wedding, with Meghan saying the Palace failed to correct reports which said she left Kate in tears. In the YouTube footage of the podcast, which was peppered with numerous ad breaks fronted by Grede, Meghan acknowleded her life now was 'very different' from when she was an actress. She also addressed her recent twerking video, which showed her dancing to the Baby Mama song in a bid to bring on labour with Princess Lilibet, describing it as a reminder of a 'real authentic fun life.' The Duchess said it felt liberating to back on social media where she can share things on her own terms. 'That wasn't yesterday. That was four years ago so it's also a really great reminder that with all the noise or whatever people do, there's still whole life, a real, authentic, fun life that's happening behind the scenes,' Meghan said. 'I'm just grateful that now, being back on social as well, I have a place where I can share it on my own terms.' She added: 'It feels liberating.' Grede asked Meghan: 'Would you ever do something just for the money?' Meghan replied: 'I have turned down a lot of opportunities that do not feel value-aligned. 'It's very easy to say no, no matter the price, if you aren't gonna be able to sleep well at night.' The Duchess was also asked whether she any sense of imposter syndrome, but she said she had no fear of failure. 'I don't feel imposter syndrome. I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be right now,' Meghan said. She added: 'I don't see the possibility of failure, not when you can learn from everything you've done.' Meghan also said she wanted to speak to Grede about diversifying her own brand into fashion at some stage. The Duchess said: 'I think there'll certainly be a time for fashion. You and I can talk about that later.' She also claimed in the podcast that she struggled to get acting roles early in her career because she is mixed race. Meghan told how she would get plenty of auditions but was regularly rejected by directors - which was a 'lot to chip away at your self-esteem'. The former actress, who eventually rose to fame in US legal drama Suits from 2011, said she was often put forward for 'girl next door' roles because she was 'half white'. But she said these characters were 'typically blond-haired, blue-eyed and a certain look' – and if they 'had any sort of ethnicity, there was always a bit of an edge'.
The Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Meghan reveals early setback in acting career that was ‘really hard'
The Duchess of Sussex has revealed she faced repeated setbacks in the early stages of her career that made life 'really hard'. Meghan appeared on the Aspire Podcast on Tuesday (17 June), where she said prior to her breakout role in Suits, there were 'certainly not a lot of mixed race parts'. She revealed that she would go for white and Latina roles in order to better her chances at landing a part, explaining that auditioning was a 'numbers game'. 'If I'm only up for 10 parts, that could be 10 nos, but if I'm up for 30 parts because I can fit into so many different rooms, that could be 30 nos. That is a lot to chip away at, that is a lot to chip away at your self-esteem - that is really hard.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Meghan Markle beams for selfies with Emma Grede in behind-the-scenes snaps from her podcast interview - where she appeared to take subtle swipe at royals over 'truth'
Meghan Markle looked radiant as she beamed for selfies with Emma Grede in behind-the-scenes snaps from their podcast interview together. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, joined Emma on her Aspire podcast this week for a 90-minute interview covering a range of topics from her As Ever lifestyle brand to family life at home in Montecito with Prince Harry and their children Archie and Lilibet. And on Wednesday night, CEO Emma shared some sweet behind-the-scenes snaps from the venture, as the pair beamed in selfies together. Posting the snaps to Instagram, Emma praised Meghan for her 'honest and thoughtful' discussion. She wrote: 'Building a brand under a global spotlight isn't for the faint of heart, and @meghan is doing it with purpose, patience, and power. 'We sat down for a real conversation about what it takes to start something new when the world already thinks they know your story. 'From choosing jam as her first product to building a company with intention, Meghan opened up in a way that's honest, thoughtful, and completely her own.' 'This isn't just about business. It's about identity, ambition, and owning your voice, even when the noise gets loud. Aspire with Meghan: Why Ambition Is Her Jam (and How She Bottles It) is out now.' During their interview, Meghan appeared to take a series of new pops at the Royal Family after she pointedly said that she wanted people to 'tell the truth' about her. The Duchess of Sussex also shared advice from her friend Serena Williams about 'lies' in another apparent dig about her life in the public eye since she fell in love with Prince Harry. She was speaking to her friend and fellow podcaster Emma Grede, British-born CEO of fashion brand Good American and a founding partner of Kim Kardashian 's Skims line. Emma asked the Duchess: 'If you could rewrite your public narrative from scratch, is there anything you would do differently?'. Meghan wore a determined look and replied: 'Yes, I would ask people to tell the truth'. Ms Grede said Meghan must feel 'angry' to have people 'lying about [her] all the time'. Meghan said that she dealt with this by remembering advice from her friend, tennis champion Serena Williams. 'My dear friend Serena, she told me years ago: 'A lie can't live forever'.' Meghan then laughed and said pointedly: 'Eight years is a long time, but not forever' - a clear nod to the period when she first began dating Prince Harry. She then described fame as having 'peaks and valleys' and claims she has survived with 'a lot of self work' as well as de-stressing by spending time with her children, hiking and 'date nights' with Harry. There was also a subtle dig at royal life where she described times in her life where she 'wasn't as empowered with my voice', but said of her return to Instagram, which she left when she became a royal: 'It was a great way to get my voice back.' Emma thanked the Duchess of Sussex for giving an 'honest and thoughtful' interview Royal watchers also noticed that she was wearing $15,000 Birks 2.15ct Snowflake Snowstorm Diamond earrings that she wore no less than nine times to royal events before she and Harry quit as frontline royals. They first appeared on the eve of the royal wedding in 2018. The Duchess of Sussex made the remarks in an episode of the Aspire With Emma Grede podcast, which was released this morning. In the new 90-minute bombshell interview, Meghan said: Meghan claimed the idea for As Ever came after friends told her her homemade jams made them 'so happy' - but she insisted that she would have been overjoyed just selling it at the local farmers' market; She said she is taking a break from her 'Confessions of a Female Founder' podcast to focus on her new business. But gave the impression it would return; There was an awkward moment when Meghan denied that she had planned to sell out of all her products in under and hour to build excitement around the brand, calling it a 'beautiful surprise'; Meghan claims she has no fear of failure. 'I don't feel imposter syndrome. I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be right now,' she said. She claims that Lilibet and Archie sell fruit and veg grown at home at a local market to learn the value of money; The Duchess of Sussex said she is very flattered to be compared to Martha Stewart and Gwyneth Paltrow; Returning to Instagram has been 'liberating' and allows her to share 'what's going on' on her 'own terms' and 'get my voice back'; She deals with stress by spending time with her family, hiking and also date nights with Prince Harry; Meghan also claimed that she struggled to find acting parts when she started out because she is mixed race. It gave her a 'thick skin', which she says helped her in life and now business; She says her appetite for business began when she began selling homemade scrunchies for $1 at school; The Duchess of Sussex's 'truth' comments will raise eyebrows in royal circles. Meghan was accused of bullying by two Buckingham Palace aides. 'There are plenty of people who worked with Harry and Meghan in those difficult years who would love to tell the truth about what happened to them', one royal insider claimed to MailOnline today. A second anonymous royal insider said: 'It takes two to tango so I think many people in the family and the Royal Household might have done things differently and regret how things have turned out. But the fact is Harry and Meghan upset both sides of their family and many of the people who worked for them. 'They aren't speaking to most of them. Can it really be everyone's fault but theirs? 'If there is a chance of building bridges and moving on, then the Sussexes need to acknowledge their errors as part of that process. I'm not sure Meghan would really want all of the truth to come out though'. One former staffer, who had to sign a confidentiality agreement, previously urged the palace to lift non-disclosure agreements so they could respond to 'attacks' on the royal household from the Sussexes after they emigrated to the US. The appearance marks Meghan's second long-form podcast interview in recent months and follows the season finale of her own show, Confessions of a Female Founder, which wrapped up two weeks ago. The moment Meghan said that Serena Williams told her 'a lie can't live forever' - in another apparent dig Meghan Markle appears to have taken another subtle jab at the royal family, saying she wishes people would 'tell the truth' about her There was an awkward moment where Meghan denied having less As Ever stock to ensure a quick sell out, calling it a 'beautiful surprise', which appeared to briefly shock the podcast host and entrepreneur Emma Grede In their conversation, Meghan discusses the launch of her lifestyle brand, As Ever, and reveals how its signature raspberry jam, which she calls fruit spread, sold out almost immediately after launch, and was inspired by her personal garden. She also touches on the difficulties of building a business in the spotlight, where even the smallest change can garner public attention. Reflecting on her entrepreneurial spirit, Meghan recalls her earliest foray into business as a young girl, when she made and sold homemade scrunchies to her classmates. And describing how she dealt with pressure, including the launch of her As Ever brand she said: 'I don't see the possibility of failure - not when you can learn from everything that you've done'. When asked about what she would tell a younger Meghan she replied: 'Life is full of surprises and life is short. I really believe that no matter what anyone is going through that if you are able to say that, yes, this is going to pass or this is amazing and let's really embrace it'. She added she thought her '15-year-old self' would be 'really proud of me today and that makes me happy'. She said that she tried to keep her children grounded by getting them gardening and taking them to the local farmers' market to sell fruit and vegetables so they know the value of money. She said: 'There's a cost and a price for things, and I think that's key for children to understand, especially children who are very lucky to have a home, that has privilege, you need to know that just like manners, and taking care of the things around you, there is a value on things. She went on: 'This is such a key age. I don't want to miss a moment for my children and I love that I can do drop off and pick up at school and do meetings in between and go to Disneyland for two days, as we just did. And, you know, volunteer to serve hot lunch at school or be the chaperone for the kindergarten field trip', she said. Meghan said she makes their pack lunches after they go to and suggested she sometimes sprinkles the famous edible flowers sold by her As Ever brand inside. 'I love it at the end of a long day. The kids are down to bed at like 7ish. I can go downstairs have a glass of wine [and] I'm doing their little lunch. I find joy in it for whatever reason and it can be therapeutic. That for me is one of my simple pleasures'. Royal watchers also noticed that she was wearing $15,000 Birks 2.15ct Snowflake Snowstorm Diamond earrings that she wore no less than nine times to royal events before she and Harry quit as frontline royals And the interview also touches on Meghan's now-viral 'Baby Mama' dance clip, which she shared earlier this month on Instagram to mark daughter Princess Lilibet's fourth birthday. The short video, taken during her labour with Lilibet, shows Meghan dancing along to Starrkeisha's viral TikTok anthem while heavily pregnant, with Prince Harry making a cameo in the background. It sparked a flurry of reactions online, but Meghan now says it was all about reclaiming joy and being real with her audience. 'You have to be authentic,' she tells Grede. 'Did you see my 'Baby Momma' dance? That was four years ago. So it's also a really great reminder that with all the noise or whatever people do, there's still a whole life - a real, authentic, fun life - that's happening behind the scenes.' She adds that she's 'grateful' to be back on social media, saying it finally gives her a platform to share 'on her own terms.' 'It was a great way for me to get my voice back. It's my space and my channel for joy', she said. Meghan's return to podcasting comes as part of a broader media push, following the official launch of As Ever. The Duchess's pointed remarks about image and authenticity will no doubt spark conversation - particularly as she continues to carve out a brand separate from the House of Windsor. The candid interview comes just after Meghan shared her most intimate glimpse at family life in Montecito, California, yet. Meghan's now-viral 'Baby Mama' dance clip was shared earlier this month on the royal's Instagram to mark daughter Princess Lilibet's fourth birthday In light of Father's Day in the UK yesterday, Meghan hared a tribute post for her husband, Prince Harry, who is the father to their two young children, Archie, six, and Lilibet with clear views of the children's faces throughout the video. Though the couple have previously chosen to shield their children's faces from social media, their guards appear to be dropping as Meghan shared a string of revealing clips of her family to her nearly four million followers. The insights didn't stop there, and the mother of two displayed some of Harry's most special moments with his children to mark the occasion. She captioned the clip, which was accompanied by Jason Mraz's Have It All playing in the background, 'The best. Happy Father's Day to our favourite guy.' The clip started with 40-year-old Harry lying down with his newborn child on his chest as he gently stroked their fingers before moving on to a snippet of him playing ball on the front drive with Archie. Moments later came another newborn clip showing a sweet memory of Harry holding his child up to the camera as they smiled at one another. Meghan followed the clip with a photograph of Harry and Lilibet walking barefoot through sun-drenched sand as they held each other's hands. Yesterday evening, Meghan revealed the release date for her new set of As Ever products. Taking to Instagram she teased the 'delicious surprises' that will be in store during the second launch of her lifestyle brand. And she revealed that the products - which will also include previous 'favourites' - will be back even sooner than previously thought, with the restock going live on Friday, June 30 at 8am. She wrote on her As Ever Instagram account: 'Oh yes, honey…sweet things await. Mark your calendars for June 20 at 8 a.m. PT - we're bringing back your favorites, plus some delicious surprises you won't want to miss!' She added a picture of a stock of pancakes, topped with sweet raspberries and a generous drizzle of honey. As implied by the caption, Meghan's honey will be set to make a return - and it's likely her famous jam will also be up for grabs. In a newsletter to fans, she added: 'First off, a sincere thank you for making the debut of As ever absolutely extraordinary. We had a feeling there would be excitement, but to see everything sell out in less than an hour was an amazing surprise. 'We are pleased to share that on June 20th, we're going live with the products you love – plus, some new delicious surprises.' And posting on her personal Instagram account, she said 'so much love has gone into this'. After reports she had decided to 'pause' restocking the line, Meghan earlier this month revealed that As Ever would indeed be making a return. Alongside a snapshot of bowls of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries resting on a kitchen countertop, she wrote: 'To all who've been wondering and waiting, thank you! 'Your favorites are returning, plus a few NEW things we can't wait to show you. Coming this month... get excited!' The original As Ever range went on sale in March and products sold out within half an hour of going live. Meghan's first line of products included raspberry spread, honey, herbal tea and ready made crepe mix - all of which received a less than stellar review by Daily Mail's FEMAIL team. Meghan also reportedly plans to add hotels and restaurants to her As Ever lifestyle brand. The Duchess of Sussex is trademarking her brand As Ever for 'hospitality services', The Sun first reported. This will reportedly include places to stay, as well as temporary lodgings and 'provision of food and drink', the newspaper revealed last week. Meghan could dish up a selection of her own edible creations, incorporating recipes she featured on her recent Netflix eight-part cooking show With Love, Meghan. Brand experts have claimed hotels and restaurants fit in nicely with the Duchess' business brand. Her lifestyle brand's website states: 'As Ever is more than a brand - it's a love language. 'Created by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, As Ever welcomes you to a collection of products, each inspired by her long-lasting love of cooking, entertaining and hostessing.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Who is Emma Grede? Podcast host who interviewed Meghan Markle is a high school dropout turned Kardashians business partner
Her recent podcast sit-down with Meghan Markle is making global headlines after the Duchess of Sussex appeared to take aim at the Royal Family. And now Emma Grede, a British-born entrepreneur/designer and host of the popular Aspire podcast, has found herself in the spotlight. The glamorous brunette is a high school dropout who has amassed a reported net worth of nearly $400million at just 42-years-old. She's the CEO of Khloe Kardashian 's clothing brand Good American and a founding partner of Kim Kardashian 's Skims line, which is valued at $4billion. Grede also boasts an A-list circle of friends that includes the Kardashian family, Markle, Jessica Alba and Gwyneth Paltrow. She was named as one of Forbes' Richest Self-Made Women in America in 2023. But along with the accolades, Grede has faced scrutiny for her 'toxic' perspective on 'work-life balance.' With Grede back on the pop culture radar, is taking a look at the mother-of-four's incredible journey to success — and her recent brush with scandal. Her recent podcast sit-down with Meghan Markle is making global headlines after the Duchess of Sussex appeared to take aim at the Royal Family. And now Emma Grede, a British-born entrepreneur/designer and host of the popular Aspire podcast, has found herself in the spotlight Inside Emma's humble upbringing in London while being raised by a single mom Emma was born and raised in London, England, and her parents are immigrants from Jamaica and Trinidad. Her mom, who raised her and her siblings by herself after divorcing her dad, worked at Morgan Stanley. 'I was under no illusion that it wasn't hard bringing us up,' Emma told while discussing her mother. 'She was gone a lot, but I always understood that she went to work to put a roof over our heads. That set the way I think; you get up each day and you graft. 'I credit so much of who I am to my upbringing. I was raised with three sisters in Plaistow by a single mom. We knew our neighbors and there was a real sense of community. You could trust people, you were as good as your word and I've taken that mentality with me.' She had many odd jobs as a teen, including delivering newspapers, working at a deli, and running the cash register at a clothing shop - to name a few. 'I always think about myself as someone who was kind of born leaning in. I was always working — I was just finding lots of things that either I wasn't that good at or I didn't want to do. And so it was more about taking control and being like, "Okay, I've got to just find something that I want to do,"' she told PEOPLE last year. She recalled saving up all her money to buy magazines like Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire, and she always knew she wanted to work in fashion. 'I was drawn to that world and those people, [but] it was more a means of escapism,' she previously admitted to Bustle. 'That glamour was very far from how I was being raised.' She studied business at the London College of Fashion, but dropped out in 2001, after she landed an internship with Gucci. 'It was the right decision for me. I learnt that I got more out of a couple of months work than I could from a college,' she explained to In her 2024 interview with PEOPLE, Emma spoke about struggling with 'learning difficulties' and how she never let her shortcomings hold her back from achieving her goals. 'I have had pretty severe learning difficulties and I didn't go to college or university. I was a high school dropout. But if you're not good at something, you can get good. I now know that it's called a growth mindset,' she told the outlet. 'I didn't know that when I was younger, but I knew that I could learn things. I never think about intelligence or aptitude or ability as being fixed things — I would say for anyone out there, you can get better at almost anything.' Inside Emma's career and how she became a Kardashian family go-to Emma then landed a job at Inca Productions, producing various fashion shows and events for the company. 'At Inca, Emma was part of pioneering the business of 'designer collaborations,' engagements between consumer brands and high fashion, working with the leading design talent of today, such as Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane, Vivienne Westwood and Zac Posen, as well as brands including Chivas, Mercedes-Benz and Sky,' her bio reads. In 2008, she launched her own London-based talent management and marketing agency called ITB Worldwide - which she owned until 2018 when it was acquired by Rogers & Cowen. 'I had been around a lot of people, seeing clients and deals. I just imagined, 'Well, if they can do it, why can't I?'' she recalled to CNBC, about starting ITB Worldwide. Through ITB, she landed a partnership with Natalie Portman and Dior. ITB also helped her link up with the Kardashians - she worked on Kendall Jenner's #MyCalvins ad campaign and met Kris Jenner, 69, during a Paris Fashion Week event. After growing close with Kris, she pitched the idea of Good American to the momager, who thought it would be a perfect fit for Khloe Kardashian, 40. Emma recalled to 'She thought Khloé might like my idea, and so I went to LA to meet her the following week.' The youngest-Kardashian sister said 'yes' right away, and the brand was quickly born. Good American launched in October 2016, and it racked up $1 million in sales on its first day - reportedly the biggest denim launch in apparel history. 'We're a great partnership. We really understand how to create an incredible product,' gushed Emma. 'Khloé and I come from different places and have had vastly different upbringings, but what we have in common is confidence. We asked ourselves where it comes from. How can you give other women that same feeling? 'I grew up with a white mom, a black dad and friends who were from everywhere, in all shapes and sizes. It goes without saying that diversity is important to me.' According to Bustle, Emma is involved in almost every aspect of the business - overseeing everything from design to e-commerce. 'On the weekends, she'll read customers' product reviews to get ideas for product innovations,' it reported; and Khloé called her one of the 'hardest working people' she knew. 'She embraces every component of the business, and consistently pushes the envelope for what a modern and inclusive fashion brand can be,' Khloé said to the outlet. Emma insisted that she reads 'every single review' left by Good American customers, which has given her a lot of insight into making the products even better. 'Our businesses are incredibly data led. We're looking at everything,' she shared with Ramped Up. 'What is the experience of somebody who comes on to our site in one part of the country versus another part of the country? 'What are the habits between people who shop in this country versus internationally? What are the patterns in returns teaching us? Oftentimes, the data leads us to innovation.' Emma launched SKIMS with Kim, 44, in 2018, and in 2021, the New York Times valued the company at $1.6 billion. In May 2021, she also teamed up with Kris and Chrissy Teigen to create a vegan home care line called Safely, which recently made its way to Walmart. Emma is also the chairwoman of 15 Percent Pledge, an initiative dedicated to getting retailers to reserve 15 per cent of their shelf space for Black-owned businesses, as well as an ambassador for Women for Women International. She was also a guest during season 13 of Shark Tank - becoming the first-ever black woman investor to appear on the ABC show. 'I think I'm a good Shark because first of all, I'm relatively young and the business climate now is really unique and really different than it's ever been before,' she told People Magazine at the time. 'And I've prioritized my career in building a diverse, inclusive route and team.' One thing that Emma takes pride in is inclusivity across all of her brands - making sure they cater to people of all sizes, shapes, and skin tones. 'I think it's really important to drive change,' she told the outlet in February. 'We're in a really unique time in the world where a business like Good American or a business like SKIMS can ultimately drive huge change in the industry. 'Because when we do things and we say we are creating all clothes in double XL through to 5X. I think I'm in an amazing position to actually change the way things are done, and that's what makes me most excited.' Emma explained that she is passionate about building 'incredible teams' and 'creating opportunities for people' through her brands. 'I think 20 years ago, entrepreneurs had much more of a kind of me-first mentality,' she added. 'I do think the opposite way. I'm about building incredible teams and creating opportunities for people, building loyalty. 'That way you'll find a lot of people that have started with me 10 or even 12 years ago are still working with me now in totally different positions, but people stick with me and I think that's really important.' As for what she's learned from working with the Kardashians, she revealed, 'I think what they've helped me with is - I just think the idea of never resting, no matter how successful you've become. 'The idea of always working as hard as anybody else in the room is so incredibly important. And that's what I see from them every single day. And that's what I emulate.' While chatting with Elle, Emma said the reason she thinks she works so well with the Kardashians is because she's so different from them. Although she has modeled for her brands from time to time, and has attended red carpet events with the famous family, she doesn't enjoy being in the spotlight - but rather, prefers to stay behind-the-scenes. 'I'm just not that girl,' she explained. 'I can't do that stuff. And I think that's probably one of the reasons my partnerships with the girls work out so well 'Because they do that. I never think about myself as a face of the brands - I'm the brain of the brands.' But when it comes to criticism, she is unbothered. She added: 'I'm very proud to work with Kim and Khloé and Kris; they are incredible business partners. 'I see and hear the criticism every day, but do I sleep well? Do I have peace with what I do? Absolutely.' Inside Emma's family life as she balances being a mother-of-four with a business empire Emma is married to Jens Grede, 47, and together, they share four children - Grey, Lola, and twins Lake and Rafferty. Jens, for his part, co-founded the multi-media fashion marketing agency Wednesday Agency Group with Erik Torstensson, and he now oversees 12 companies, including Frame Denim. They met while they both worked on ITB, and he serves as a board director for Skims. 'It's funny, because we had a business relationship before we had a personal relationship, and we're actually not that good at collaborating,' joked Emma, while chatting with Bustle. 'He does what he does, and I do what I do, and we're very respectful of one another's respective areas of expertise, but we don't cross over that much.' But when it comes to balancing her impressive career and family, she previously admitted that it's not easy for her. 'I don't do everything brilliantly and I don't profess to. I have an enormous amount of help, I have nannies for my kids, I don't clean my house,' she admitted to 'Something has to give. 'I have a limited number of friends, I'm not out having cocktails. There have been stages of my life which were more about being social, now I'm focused on the businesses. 'I don't try to find a great balance. If I have a sick kid, I have a sick kid. If I have a deal to close, I have a deal to close. 'I don't believe I'm here to just fulfill the needs of my children. I'm trying to show them self-fulfillment. I want them to see me doing what makes me happy, so that they learn the importance of finding that thing that you love.' Emma spoke more about her life as a working mom with PEOPLE in 2024. 'I don't do pick up and drop off every single day. But if my kid's in a play, I'm going to see my kid in the play. It's not cookie-cutter, it's different for every person. I think what we have to do is normalize the idea that you're not going to have everything. Perfection is only something that exists on Instagram,' she told the outlet. She continued: 'I think that we can take our cues from our own childhoods and remember that we were all alright. Our kids don't need us that much. They need us to love them and guide them but we shouldn't be carrying them through every moment and every hardship. That's not helpful.' 'If we try to do that, it leaves women with very little time to do anything else. And I feel like I just watched so many of my friends turn themselves inside out once they became moms.' The couple officially relocated from London, England, to Los Angeles, California, in 2017, and they put their London home on the market for $7 million three years later. While appearing on the Diary of a CEO podcast with Steven Bartlett in May 2025, Emma was asked to share what her 'red flags' are when interviewing someone. She immediately said that she would walk out on anyone who asks her about a 'work-life balance.' 'Work-life balance is your problem,' Grede said. 'That's yours to figure out.' She went on to explain that at her companies, no one is tied to their desk - people go to haircuts, appointments, things for their kids when they need to - and no one questions why someone might not be at their desk. 'So when someone talks to me about their work-life balance in an interview process, I'm like 'something is wrong with you,'' she said. Interviewer Bartlett then told Grede that one-third of people he surveyed mentioned that a work-life balance was a priority wherever they worked. When Bartlett said it wasn't something he'd personally choose for himself, Grede said that it was because he was ambitious, implying that someone without drive or passion would be thinking about a work-life balance. She explained that it's not expected that the average employee would be working seven days a week - but someone who has 'ambition' and wanted to be successful would have to work a little bit more. While the entire interview was over two hours long, the clip of Emma speaking specifically about work-life balance went viral on social media. Many compared Emma's remarks to Kim's notorious sentiment about. 'nobody [wanting] to work these days,' which she faced flack for in 2022. 'She's a red flag. Run,' one Instagram user commented on a Business Insider post about Grede's comments. 'That's capitalism for you, businesses that prioritize profits over humanity,' another one wrote. 'Good luck recruiting top talent after these comments,' another Instagram user commented.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Meghan's 'complex' reaction to the success of her 'good friend' Serena Williams: Body language expert claims Duchess expresses 'concealed emotions' when talking about her pal
Meghan Markle had a 'complex' reaction to a comment about her 'good friend' Serena Williams ' entrepreneurial success, a body language expert has revealed. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, 'made an attempt to conceal' her true emotions when her friend and fellow podcaster Emma Grede praised the 23-time Grand Slam winner during a recent interview. British-born businesswoman Emma - who is the co-founder of Kim Kardashian 's billion-dollar Skims brand - spoke to Meghan about launching her lifestyle firm As Ever during the most recent episode of her Aspire podcast. At one point, Emma asked the Duchess if there was 'anything you would do differently' when it came to shaping public opinion, Meghan made what appeared to be a dig at the Royal Family and said she would 'ask people to tell the truth'. She then proceeded to 'name-drop' Serena, 43, body language expert Judi James told MailOnline, but appeared to 'struggle a little' when Emma brought up the former tennis star's business acumen that has led to her amassing a $350 million fortune. According to Judi, Meghan begins her response to Emma's question about the public narrative by 'referring to "My dear friend Serena..."' while signalling a segment of 'verbal stroking' for one of her most famous pals. The body language expert suggested Meghan wears a 'coyly smug smile' before she 'works the name-drop by using a throwaway hand gesture' before averting her eyes to with an 'even coyer smile '. It is not unlike the ritual Meghan performs when talking about her husband, Prince Harry, as she uses these 'micro-gestures' to reiterate she's talking about 'very famous people who are close to her'. However, her usual style was disturbed when Emma interrupted Meghan to gush about her 'girl crush' Serena - and comparing her to Meghan in the process - triggering her to respond with a forced 'holding pose' to convey 'you don't normally interrupt a guest'. Judi added: 'Her comment of agreement with Emma's "successful entrepereneur" praise for Serena comes with some incongruent-looking facial movements.' She noted how Meghan's eyes 'close fully here' and 'her lower jaw performs a micro-jut' before explaining these are indicators of 'complex emotional responses' that could be in response either to being cut short by Emma or 'the subject matter' - that is, Serena's success. 'When Meghan looks downward and her jaw juts slightly, we can see a deliberate or subconscious hiding of her thoughts, with the jaw-jut suggesting a sense of determination,' Judi continued. When world leaders like US president Donald Trump perform it, Judi added, this is often a 'signal of powering-up and showing denial'. Her eyelid flutter 'can also be an eye stutter', Judi concluded. 'It can suggest inner conflict when someone wants to look open, but feels impelled to conceal their eyes.' The awkward moment occurred as Meghan appeared to take a thinly veiled swipe at the Royal Family when she pointedly said she wanted people to 'tell the truth' about her. It came after Emma asked the Duchess what she would do 'if you could rewrite your public narrative from scratch'. Meghan wore a determined look and replied: 'Yes, I would ask people to tell the truth'. Ms Gerde said Meghan must feel 'angry' to have people 'lying about [her] all the time'. Meghan said that she dealt with this by remembering advice from her friend, tennis champion Serena Williams. 'My dear friend Serena, she told me years ago, "A lie can't live forever".' Meghan then laughed and said pointedly 'Eight years is a long time, but not forever' - in a presumed nod to the period when she first began dating Harry, now 40. She then described fame as having 'peaks and valleys' and claims she has survived with 'a lot of self work' as well as de-stressing by spending time with her children, hiking and 'date nights' with Harry. There was also a subtle dig at royal life where she described times in her life where she 'wasn't as empowered with my voice', but said of her return to Instagram, which she left when she became a royal: 'It was a great way to get my voice back.' Meghan and Serena have enjoyed a close relationship for many years, with the tennis legend attending the royal wedding in 2018. They first crossed paths at the 2010 Super Bowl, when the New Orleans Saints took on the Indianapolis Colts, before reuniting for a Celebrity Beach Bowl tournament - where they 'immediately' hit it off. Writing on her now-defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig, Meghan shared: 'We hit if off immediately. 'Taking pictures, laughing theough the flag flootball game we were both playing in, and chatting... 'Not about tennis or acting, but about all the good, old-fashioned girly stuff.' They have remained close over the years, with Meghan and Serena publicly supporting each other through their successes and setbacks alike. Serena was the first guest on Meghan's Spotify podcast Archetypes, which was eventually cancelled by the audio streaming giant after just one season. Recalling their first meeting, Meghan said: 'I show up and I see you walking toward someone. I remember thinking, "Oh my gosh, who is Serena Williams going to talk to? 'I looked behind me and when I turned around, you were there right in front of me... We became such fast friends.' Serena, who has now retired from tennis, explained during the first episode of the series that she is 'super loyal, to a fault' after being 'friends for so long' with the Duchess. According to Mark Hodgkinson in Serena: A Graphic Biography of the Greatest Tennis Champion, the women's friendship quickly evolved through frequent phone calls and texts. Serena was one of the first people to defend Meghan following a backlash after her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey. In a statement on Twitter after the interview aired, Williams described her as a 'selfless friend' who 'teaches me every day what it means to be truly noble'. 'Her words illustrate the pain and cruelty she's experienced,' Williams wrote. In March, Meghan documented an afternoon of playing board games with her daughter Princess Lilibet, three, and 'Auntie' Serena - ahead of the release of her Netflix special. Meghan posted a clip on her Instagram of the trio to the backdrop of Bill Withers' Lovely Day as she wrote: 'When the aunties come to celebrate... and to play! Love you @serenawilliams.' Last April, Serena was spotted enjoying a glass of champagne as she supported Meghan at Prince Harry's Netflix polo match. The Grand Slam champion was seen giggling and gossiping with the Duchess on the sidelines of the Sentebale Polo Cup in Miami, Florida. Meghan's appearance on Emma's podcast came one day before she revealed the date for her new set of As Ever products. The Duchess Of Sussex, 43, took to Instagram on Monday evening to tease the 'delicious surprises' that will be in store during the second launch of her lifestyle brand. And she revealed that the products - which will also include previous 'favourites' - will be back even sooner than previously thought, with the restock going live on Friday, June 20 at 8am. The first batch of products - comprising teas and jam - sold out within an hour of the website going live in March. Just a few weeks prior, the mother-of two had hinted that she might never restock her jam in an interview with a US business magazine which said she was planning to 'step back to assess' her brand. In the interview - given to coincide with the final episode of Confessions of a Female Founder - the Fast Company said Meghan wanted to 'step back, gather data from the launch, and figure out exactly what As Ever could be.' Meghan also revealed the surprising turn As Ever could take - hinting at a future step into the fashion industry - but said for now she is planning to launch a new range of merchandise in early 2026.
