Former first lady Michelle Obama hopes Meghan Markle slowly eases into her new role as the duchess of Sussex.
“Like me, Meghan probably never dreamt that she’d have a life like this, and the pressure you feel — from yourself and from others — can sometimes feel like a lot,” Obama told Good Housekeeping.
“So my biggest piece of advice would be to take some time and don’t be in a hurry to do anything. I spent the first few months in the White House mainly worrying about my daughters, making sure they were off to a good start at school and making new friends before I launched into any more ambitious work. I think it’s okay — it’s good, even — to do that,” she said.
Obama encouraged the duchess to pursue issues she’s passionate about in her new, high-profile role. The duchess, who was previously an actress, recently released a best-selling cookbook to support those affected by the Grenfell Tower fires last year, and was praised for a speech she delivered in New Zealand last month on feminism and women’s suffrage.
“What I’d say is that there’s so much opportunity to do good with a platform like that — and I think Meghan can maximize her impact for others, as well her own happiness, if she’s doing something that resonates with her personally,” Obama said.
[Also read: Michelle Obama: Not enough to just ‘lean in’ because that shit ‘doesn’t work’]
