Meghan Markle's TV Comeback Has Officially Begun — And Experts Say Australia Is Just the Warm-Up
While some see Meghan Markle's 'MasterChef' cameo as a one-off, PR expert Kayley Cornelius believes it signals a shift toward a long-term TV career.
Meghan Markle blended her philanthropic and business trip to Australia with a touch of entertainment, making a special appearance on Season 18 of MasterChef Australia. The episode, set to premiere on April 19, will feature the food connoisseur as a guest judge. While some royal watchers see the cameo as a one-off, PR expert Kayley Cornelius begs to differ, believing it signals a potential shift toward a television career and a strategic effort to reshape her public image.
Speaking to the Daily Express, Cornelius opined that Markle's cameo indicated an attempt to reshape her image after her Australia tour 'blunder.' She said, "Meghan's latest move on MasterChef feels far from random or one-off appearances; there's a clear strategy at play here, and it very much points to a more permanent return to the world of mainstream celebrity being front of mind." According to the expert, Australia serves as a 'savvy choice' for Markle's alleged TV comeback, as it's a market that has been historically receptive to her. "It also allows her [Markle] to trial this next phase slightly outside of the intense scrutiny she faces in the US and UK."
To argue her case, Cornelius revealed that the Duchess was reportedly focused on establishing a more distinctive personal brand as she continues to expand her business. She stressed that Markle wishes to build an identity beyond her royal titles and that relying on that association may not have carried her previous projects very far. Suggesting that the MasterChef Australia appearance might be a trial run for a more long-term plan, she continued, "There's a strong sense that she [Markle] may be looking to return to the world of mainstream celebrity culture as well as TV, and this latest move on MasterChef feels very much like her 'testing the waters' to gauge audience appetite for a full-scale comeback."
If her return to TV is successful, Cornelius argued that it would place the Duchess in a much 'stronger position' with casting producers. From there, a return to bigger on-screen roles would not be out of the question and could mark the start of a new chapter that reshapes her career trajectory. She added, "By featuring on one of Australia's biggest TV shows, it will truly be a make-or-break moment for her [Markle] Aussie career and determine whether she has something scalable across the pond."
As for Markle's special appearance, in a teaser shared on MasterChef Australia's Instagram, the show and Network 10 hinted at a 'SUPER special' person arriving as a guest judge in the kitchen, alongside a photo of her with judges Jean-Christophe Novelli, Poh Ling Yeow, and Sofia Levin. In the video, Poh teased her cameo, saying, "We've had royalty in the MasterChef kitchen before, but no one like this! All the way from sunny California, please welcome to MasterChef Australia, the Duchess of Sussex!" The Duchess has also appeared as a guest judge on the cooking show Chopped Junior in 2016.
