Meghan Markle: I Grew Up “Clever,” Not “Beautiful,” So I Envied Paris Hilton

Meghan Markle had to explain that she was anxious before speaking with Paris Hilton because she had prejudged against Hilton.

“I’ve formed an opinion on her based on what I’ve observed, and I try to avoid doing so. I also didn’t have a nice childhood, “the Duchess of Sussex remarked in an interview with Variety that was released on Wednesday.

She said, “I was always the clever one growing up. When I thought about Paris, I found that envy and judgment—two of the most deadly emotions—took up a large portion of my thoughts.”

In a conversation with Hilton, stand-up comedian Iliza Shlesinger, and New Yorker journalist Clare Malone on her podcast, Markle ended up dissecting the “stupid blonde” and “bimbo” stereotypes. The most current “Archetypes” episode, released on Spotify on Tuesday, centers on the conversation.

The duchess brought up her 2006 experience working as a beauty-focused “Deal or No Deal” briefcase-opener on the podcast: She claimed that the position left her feeling “not smart.”

Consequently, how did Markle arrange to meet Hilton for the interview? She expressed her regrets to the heiress and famous DJ, who was formerly famous for both her O.G. reality show and her O.G. s*ex tape.

According to the duchess, “[Y]ou hear about her tragedy, her past, and her buying into this role.” “I ended up saying to her, “I’m very sorry that I judged you.” I wanted her to be secure and at ease. She heard me say that I wasn’t aiming for a “gotcha” moment.I want a “got you” moment in which we understand you.”

With her YouTube documentary “This Is Paris,” which explored the alleged abuse she and others claim they experienced at Provo Canyon School, a residential treatment center for adolescents in Utah, Hilton started her own reputation-repair campaign a couple of years ago.

Markle claimed she made the decision to humanize Hilton rather than defend her in the interview. She wished for her audience to realize that there was a real person hidden behind the caricature of Paris Hilton.

“Since I’m from California, it must be in the water,” Markle said. “I’ve done a lot of internal work,” she continued. “And whether you’re exercising or meditating, you’re occasionally asked to image a person who gets you upset. You consider things in detail, let it all out, and are then instructed to consider them through the eyes of a 6-year-old child. Do you have mercy on them?”

“I approach that in that way.”