You remember the photo. It was everywhere. Meghan Markle, dressed in a crisp white shirt and matching trousers, standing front and center while Prince Harry leaned against her shoulder, clad in all black. It was the Meghan Markle Time 100 moment that launched a thousand memes and just as many think pieces.
Honestly, looking back at it now from 2026, that single image from the 2021 "Icons" cover feels like the exact moment the Sussexes’ post-royal brand solidified. It wasn’t just a magazine cover. It was a manifesto.
The Cover That "Broke" the Royal Internet
When Time magazine dropped its annual list of the 100 most influential people in September 2021, the world collectively lost its mind. Some people saw a powerful, modern couple taking charge of their narrative. Others? They saw a "heavily Photoshopped" mess where Harry looked like he was hiding behind his wife or, as one particularly viral tweet put it, "acting as her hairdresser."
People are still arguing about it.
The photographer, Pari Dukovic, shot them in their Montecito backyard. The vibe was supposed to be "effortless power," but the internet is never that kind. Critics fixated on the "unnatural" look of their hair and the seemingly strategic positioning. It felt stiff to some, revolutionary to others.
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But here’s the thing: influence isn't about being liked. It’s about being impossible to ignore. And boy, were they impossible to ignore.
Why the "Icons" Category Mattered
Time didn't just put them on the list; they put them in the "Icons" category. That’s heavy lifting. They shared space with legends like Dolly Parton and Naomi Osaka.
Chef José Andrés, a long-time friend and founder of World Central Kitchen, wrote their tribute. He didn't focus on the drama. He focused on their "urgency."
"In a world where everyone has an opinion about people they don't know, the Duke and Duchess have compassion for the people they don't know. They don't just opine. They run toward the struggle." — José Andrés
That line aged well, actually. Whether you love them or find them exhausting, you can't deny they've kept their "boots on the ground" through the Archewell Foundation. They weren't just "influential" because of their titles; they were influential because they had effectively catalyzed a global conversation about mental health and the ethics of the British media.
The Evolution of the Meghan Markle Time 100 Connection
It’s easy to forget that 2021 wasn't Meghan’s first time at the Time rodeo. She actually made the list back in 2018, right around the time of the Royal Wedding. Back then, she was the "New Royal" who was going to modernize the monarchy. Priyanka Chopra Jonas wrote her tribute that time, calling her a "relatable" princess.
Fast forward to 2025 and early 2026. Meghan returned to the Time 100 stage, but this time as a keynote speaker at the summit in New York.
She wasn't on the cover this time—that honor went to her BFF Serena Williams—but she was the one everyone was waiting to hear. During her "Confessions of a Female Founder" talk, she told the crowd she’s the "happiest she’s ever been."
It’s a far cry from the "is she okay?" era of 2019.
The Key Takeaways from the 2025 Summit
Meghan used the 2025 appearance to lean into her role as a tech-adjacent mogul. She’s the founder of As Ever, her lifestyle brand that’s been taking up a lot of oxygen lately.
- Brand over Title: She’s leaning way more into "Meghan, Founder" than "Meghan, Duchess."
- The "Happy" Narrative: She’s making a conscious effort to show she’s moved past the royal trauma.
- The Power Suit is Back: She traded the 2021 white-on-white for tan Ralph Lauren silk. It looked expensive. Because it was.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Influence
People think the Meghan Markle Time 100 recognition is just about fame. It’s not. It’s about the shift in how we view "influence" itself. In the past, royals were influential because of their bloodline. Meghan and Harry are influential because they’ve weaponized their exit from that bloodline.
They turned a private family feud into a global discussion on race, privilege, and mental health. That’s power. You might hate how they used it, but you can't say it didn't work.
The 2021 cover remains a Rorschach test. If you like them, you see a couple standing together against the world. If you don't, you see a staged, overly polished PR stunt.
Practical Next Steps for the Curious
If you're trying to understand the "Sussex Effect" on modern media or just want to see how she’s changed her image over the years, here’s how to track it:
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- Compare the Tributes: Read the 2018 tribute by Priyanka Chopra vs. the 2021 one by José Andrés. The shift from "actress/royal" to "humanitarian/icon" is wild.
- Watch the 2025 Summit Clips: If you want to see her current "vibe," her 2025 New York appearance is the most honest look we’ve had at her brand-building strategy.
- Follow the Archewell Reports: They usually drop their impact reports around the same time as these big media moments. It gives you the "receipts" for the influence Time keeps talking about.
The reality? Whether she’s on the cover or just on the stage, the Meghan Markle Time 100 legacy is about the transition from being a "member of the firm" to being a global brand in her own right. She’s not asking for permission anymore.
Basically, she’s doing it her way. And honestly, isn't that what an icon is supposed to do?