Meghan Markle’s OG friends: As they attend high-powered business summit in the Hamptons together, how designer Misha Nonoo and cosmetics owner Bobbi Brow have supported the Duchess since the early days of her romance with Prince Harry

Meghan Markle was snapped looking smart as she attended a business summit in the Hamptons on Friday.

According to sources, the 42-year-old wife of Prince Harry went to the event to  pick up tips on her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard.

During the G9 Ventures Summer Summit, which was hosted by power broker Amy Griffin, the Duchess of Sussex was photographed with two longtime friends.

An image shared from the high-powered summit showed the mother-of-two smiling as she posed with make-up artist and entrepreneur Bobbi Brown, and designer Misha Nonoo.

Meghan was snapped with both of the women during the early days of her relationship with Prince Harry, and it is believed Meghan shared some details with them as she navigated the unusual experience of dating a member of the British Royal Family.

Meghan Markle (pictured, left) with her OG friends Misha Nonoo (pictured, left) and Bobbi Brown (pictured, centre) at the Ventures Summer Summit, hosted by power broker Amy Griffin in the Hamptons

In 2016, Bobbi Brown (pictured, left) and Meghan Markle (pictured, right) made a video together about applying make-up in a moving car. Bobbi later shared the images on Instagram in a 2018 post wishing the Duchess a happy birthday

Bobbi Brown founded her eponymous cosmetics brand in 1991, before selling to Estee Lauder in 1995. 

She worked for the line until 2016, when she left, setting up her range Jones Road (designed to bridge the gap between make-up and skincare) in 2020.

As one of the world’s most famous make-up artists, Bobbi has worked with numerous celebrities – among them, Meghan.

In 2016, the make-up artist and Meghan collaborated on a photoshoot for The Coveteur. They made a video in a car, during which Bobbi showed the then-cable TV actress how to apply makeup in the back of the moving Uber.

During the clip, which was filmed while Meghan was on a hiatus from Suits, the actress told Bobbi all about an upcoming movie project that she was hoping to land, a role that she never actually took because, not long after the feature was published, the Duchess quit her acting career to move to the UK and marry Harry.

However, at the time, news of Meghan and Harry’s relationship was still limited to rumors and speculation – and was not confirmed until the royal issued a public statement about the romance in November of that same year.

In 2018, Bobbi took to Instagram to share a post in honour of Meghan’s 39th birthday – and in the process, she shared an anecdote about the first time she heard the then-actress talking about her relationship with Prince Harry – revealing the Duchess referred to him as ‘a fellow she was dating from the UK’.

Alongside a photo of herself with Meghan, which was taken during photoshoot for The Coveteur in 2018, Bobbi wrote: ‘Happy Birthday to Meghan Markle who was such a joy to work with. At the time of the shoot she was telling me about a fellow she had just started to date from the UK.’  

Meghan (pictured, left) and her friend Misha Nonoo (pictured, right) are seen attending the 12th annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards in New York in 2015

During the early days of her relationship with Harry, Meghan teamed up with Bobbi Brown for the Bobbi Brown x Uber Retouch campaign.

In a video shared on Bobbi Brown’s Facebook account, Meghan joined the beauty brand boss in the back of an Uber in New York City. 

Meghan donned  a blush-coloured blouse and high-waisted skirt in the clip, wearing with her brown hair down around her shoulders.

‘We’re on hiatus from Suits so I am meeting some producers about a film, fingers crossed!’ she told Bobbi during the segment.

Of course, that film never happened for Meghan, though it’s not known whether that’s because she didn’t get the part or because things were getting serious with Prince Harry.

Bobbi told her that she wanted to show her some things from her new Retouching product line during the footage.

‘I don’t know if you know this, but I do my make-up in the back of a car,’ Bobbi said, before handing over a Retouching Wand and a compact to Meghan. 

The Suits actress went to to dot some of the product on her chin and forehead, rubbing it in as she raved about how well it blends.

Bobbi next handed her a Retouching Pencil in the medium-to-dark shade, which Meghan usesdto cover a spot on her forehead. She also used a lighter pencil under her eyes, applying it like a pro until Bobbi’s phone went off, interrupting the moment.

Meghan opened her mouth in surprise as she hears the Notorious B.I.G.’s song ‘Big Poppa’ play out of the speakers, dancing to it for a moment until Bobbi turned it off.

The pair also briefly pretended to meditate before applying more make-up.

All set with touch-ups, Meghan gave Bobbi a hug as the make-up guru said to ‘text me later,’ and Meghan climbed out of the car, studded Valentino heels first.

Not long after the shoot took place, Bobbi got the chance to meet Meghan and Harry as a couple, when she attended the launch party for Soho House’s new location in Amsterdam, a three-day event, which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended together.

‘Saw them again at a very special @sohohouseamsterdam birthday day. Sweet as always,’ she concluded the post.

The shoot is reported as taking place just two months after the Suits actress met Prince Harry for the first time after being set up by a mutual friend. While reports now suggest it was Harry’s childhood friend Violet von Westenholz who introduced him to Meghan, it was then believed that designer Misha Nonoo introduced the pair.

Misha worked with the Duchess on her Smart Works charity line,  calling Meghan ‘wonderful, thoughtful and considerate’

After all, Meghan and Misha’s relationship reportedly goes back years, according to biography Finding Freedom.

The book – co-authored by journalists Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand –  documented the friendship between the two women.

It alleges that Markus Anderson, Soho House’s global membership director, provided Meghan with introductions to many business and cultural elites – both in Canada and further afield. 

The authors wrote, ‘At a Soho House lunch in Miami, he was the one who sat the actress next to Misha, a budding fashion designer with a vivacious personality and impeccable pedigree.

‘The occasion for the December 2014 Miami trip was Art Basel, a decadent art fair that brings the internationally rich and famous for a week of parties and events of all sorts and sizes.

‘Markus invited Meghan, an art lover, to stay at the epicenter of the action, Soho Beach House, to set some sun, see some art, and have some fun.

‘A perfect place to make new friends and connections, the Soho house event saw Misha and Meghan hit it off immediately.’

The Duchess has continued to support her friend by wearing Misha Nonoo styles over the years and donned the famous ‘Boyfriend shirt’ for her first appearance alongside Prince Harry, and also wore another of Misha’s designs for her final day of meetings in the UK before stepping back from royal duties in 2020. 

Meghan Markle famously wore a shirt designed by Misha Nonoo when she attended the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto with Prince Harry

It is believed that Meghan and Harry were guests at Misha’s 2019 wedding to oil tycoon Mikey Hess.

And in 2020, Misha Nonoo revealed how she was receiving lots of help from ‘supportive’ loved-ones to ‘adjust to becoming a working mother’ following the birth of her and Meke’s son Leo in late March that year. 

Misha hinted that, like any friend, the Duchess of Sussex supported her through the first few weeks of motherhood.

She told People magazine: ‘I am so lucky to have such supportive family and friends who are helping me adjust to my new role as a “Working Mother”.’ 

During her pregnancy, Misha had told the outlet that Meghan had been sharing her advice about becoming a first-time mother.

The designer revealed: ‘As with all friendships, you share lots of tips and everything.’

Misha is believed to have been close to Meghan for many years, with the Duchess continuing to support her friend by wearing Misha Nonoo designs over the years. 

Meghan donned the famous ‘Boyfriend shirt’ for her first appearance alongside Prince Harry, and also wore another of Misha’s designs for her final day of meetings in the UK before she jetted off to Canada in November.

Misha, who worked with the Duchess on her Smart Works charity line, opened up to FEMAIL in 2020 about her friendship with the royal.

Reflecting on the experience of working together, Misha described Meghan as ‘the ultimate professional’ and very ‘considerate’ of the women the collection was helping.

‘It was such an ideal, incredibly easy collaboration,’ she said. ‘It was, from start to finish, wonderful, thoughtful, considerate, as is she.’

And it appears the pair are still on good terms, posing for the snap alongside Bobbi Brown as they attended the G9 Ventures Summer Summit last week.

According to Page Six, Markle had flown into the millionaires enclave from Santa Barbara, California, by private jet with entrepreneur Jamie Kern Lima. 

Page Six reported that the annual event is held at the $13 million home of Griffin who shares the property with her husband, billionaire hedge fund manager John Griffin.

Other stars in attendance included Gwyneth Paltrow alongside Reese Witherspoon and actress Laura Dern. 

Meghan’s brand soft launched earlier this year with an official Instagram page and website being set up. 

She will no doubt be using the event to help her brand by soaking up tips for her new brand.

Surrounded by people like Griffin will aid her in doing just that, who according to Wall Street Journal is known for her use of ‘soft power.’

This includes making introductions, chasing down founders and offering mentorship. 

She started angel investing in 2014 and launched G9 three years afterward, telling the WSJ: ‘There was a moment where I was sitting at a fundraiser thinking, ‘Wait, I can put money into something, see it grow, and use my skill set and help a founder?’.

‘And people had said to me, “Why aren’t you doing this full time? You already help people by buying their products and then sending it to everyone.”‘

Surrounded by people like Griffin will aid her in doing just that, who according to Wall Street Journal is known for her use of ‘soft power.’

This includes making introductions, chasing down founders and offering mentorship. 

She started angel investing in 2014 and launched G9 three years afterward, telling the WSJ: ‘There was a moment where I was sitting at a fundraiser thinking, ‘Wait, I can put money into something, see it grow, and use my skill set and help a founder?’.

‘And people had said to me, “Why aren’t you doing this full time? You already help people by buying their products and then sending it to everyone.”‘ 

G9 does not lead huge investment but does contribute smaller amounts, from tens of thousands of dollars to several million, according to the WSJ. 

Meghan shared the logo for her company in a 10-second story video while dressed in a black ball gown. 

Meghan’s brand soft launched earlier this year with an official Instagram page and website being set up 

The clip then showed her wearing a simple white outfit while arranging flowers and cooking in the kitchen of her $14.7 million estate.

In April, Meghan sent 50 jars of her strawberry jam to influencers and celebrity friends across the United States.

Award-winning actress and comedy writer Mindy Kaling and actress Tracee Ellis Ross, daughter of Diana Ross, revealed on social media they had been gifted jars.

Each jar was labelled with the Californian American Riviera Orchard branding, and numbered out of 50. The jars are secured with a lid and muslin cloth.

Meghan’s brand will reportedly feature ‘edible oils and fats’, jellies, jams and spreads made of legumes, garlic, and sesame, as well as nut and fruit butters.