Meghan Markle has revealed she changed her lifestyle brand name from "American Riviera Orchard" to "As Ever" because the original became "word salad".
The Duchess of Sussex made the admission on the latest episode of her podcast "Confessions of a Female Founder", released on Tuesday.
Speaking to her close friend and hair colourist Kadi Lee, Meghan explained why she abandoned the original name for her recently relaunched lifestyle brand.
The term "word salad" is particularly notable given its history.
Meghan Markle owns up to ‘word salad’ blunder in candid confession
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Tabloids repeatedly used the phrase "word salad" to criticise Meghan's public statements during her time as a working royal.
Her willingness to use the term herself marks a significant shift in approach. It suggests either growing confidence in her brand or perhaps an acceptance of some past criticisms.
During the podcast, Meghan explained she had secured "As Ever" as a name back in 2022.
"I had secured As Ever as a name in 2022, and then as everything started to evolve last year, and bringing in a partner the size that it was, and it was just so interesting," she said.
Meghan Markle relaunched her lifestyle brand with a new nameInstagram / @meghanShe initially wanted "American Riviera" as an umbrella brand with "Orchard" in smaller text beneath it.
"But when that's not feasible... suddenly it became this word salad. I didn't love that so much," Meghan admitted.
She decided to return to her original preference instead. Meghan's use of the term could be interpreted in multiple ways.
On one hand, it may signal she now feels secure enough in her brand identity to acknowledge past criticisms.
Meghan Markle's new podcast - Confessions of a Female Founder - was released on April 8LemonadaAlternatively, it might indicate she has taken some feedback on board. The shift represents a notable evolution in her public persona.
Where once she might have contested such characterisations, she now appears comfortable enough to reference them herself.
This self-awareness suggests a maturing approach to her public image and business ventures.
"I was like, 'OK, well let's go back to the thing that I've always loved. Let's use the name that I protected for a reason that had been sort of under wraps,'" Meghan continued.
The prices on Meghan Markle's As Ever website were finally revealed earlier this yearAs EverThe duchess expressed appreciation for the privacy during the development phase.
"And then we were able to focus in the quiet and put our heads down and build on something that no one was sniffing around to even see about," she said.
"It was just really, really helpful to have that quiet period."
