Meghan Markle is known for being one of the friendlier members of the royal family. With a background as an actress, she’s already had some experience in dealing with fans prior to becoming a duchess. She’s said to be personable, kind, and down-to-earth in her fan interactions.
According to Express, something that happened to Markle when she was 13 completely changed how the actress-turned-duchess would interact with fans.
What Meghan Markle learned working at Humphrey Yogart as a young teenager
When she was a young teenager, Meghan Markle worked at frozen yogurt shop in Los Angeles called Humphrey Yogart. According to the publication, she made only $4/hour at the time.
The owner of Humphrey Yogart, Paula Sheftel, told the Daily Mirror in 2017 that Markle, from the moment she was hired, was a hard worker.
“Meghan was still in school – maybe a little older than 13 as the rules are strict in California. She earned minimum wage and was very popular with the customers. She had to prove she had an outgoing personality and would work well with staff,” she told the Daily Mirror.
The owner was particularly impressed at how Markle remained calm in high-pressure situations, like when the yogurt shop would get busy.
“A lot of the kids can’t handle the pressure,” she said. “It takes a special personality for someone that young to deal with it. Meghan had that early on.
She added that “the high schoolers work 10 to 12 hours a week, after school each day and on weekends”–a rigorous work schedule for a full-time student.
Meghan Markle’s old boss takes some credit for her former employee’s personable personality.
“We trained her to be personable and be very genuine – skills she’s going to need traveling the world with Harry.”
The moment that would change how Meghan Markle interacts with fans
One day, while Markle was working at Humphrey Yogart, she saw Baywatch star Yasmine Bleeth in the parking lot of the shop. She gathered the courage to speak to the actress: “Oh my God, I loved you in that Soft & Dri commercial,” Express reports her saying.
She said the actress looked at her and said: “Oh, thank you!” with a big smile. She asked Markle her name and shook her hand.
Years later, Markle has said “that moment with Yasmine is exactly what I based every interaction with fans on.”
After years of struggle and hustling, Markle became a famous actress herself (her most notable role on Suits). When she’d run into fans of hers on the street, she always made sure to be gracious and polite, just like Yasmine Bleeth.
Today, of course, Meghan Markle has an entirely different set of fans from all over the world, being married to Prince Harry. The royals are known for their regular interactions with the public (or as Express calls them: ‘walkabouts’). She’s had to put her personable personality to good use.
Read more:Before Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Was Worried He’d Be A Bachelor Forever
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