By Katherine Tinsley
3:36pm PST, Jan 15, 2026
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PR expert
Renae Smith warned Meghan Markle about her next steps for As Ever.
"If we were advising her, the first thing we'd say is: stop thinking in moments," Smith told
Daily Express. "You don't need to say yes to everything. Start building a narrative. Create brand rhythm and strategy. Pick a lane and commit to it."
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Renae Smith said Meghan Markle has "all the ingredients for a long-lasting brand within her existing fanbase," but begged the duchess to stop making business moves that feel "reactive."
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The first product launch of Meghan Markle's As Ever sold out within minutes, and she is expected to expand her business in the new year.
"To turn the tide in 2026, she needs to lead with clarity, show consistency in her messaging and decide whether this next chapter is about commerce, culture or personal reinvention — because trying to do all three at once simply isn't working," Renae Smith said.
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"Will a cookbook pay the bills? No. But it could be part of a broader narrative, one that leans into homemaking, food, comfort and simplicity. If she dropped the controversy, stepped into a softer 'Martha Stewart meets Eat Pray Love' zone, and streamlined the brand properly, she might actually find long-term traction," Renae Smith continued.
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Meghan Markle has been pushing her home products and her cooking show, With Love, Meghan, but the Duchess of Sussex might need to refine her vision.
"Food, homey products, recipes, the heart of the home: it's all there waiting to be owned. Just stop doing everything else," Renae Smith said. "But this is Meghan. Stay tuned… because I highly doubt it's going to go that way."
