Who are the ‘strong women’ in Meghan Markle’s life? The power players in the Duchess’s Montecito inner circle as she shouts out her pals in Colombia

As Meghan Markle concluded her Colombian tour on Sunday night with an impassioned speech from a theatre in Cali, she paid tribute to the ‘strong women’ in her life who have inspired her to campaign for change. 

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, said life is ‘full of surprises’ and can be ‘complex’ as she shouted out her mother in particular, Doria Ragland, for giving her inspiration and being by her side.

Meghan, who is a mother-of-two, was speaking at the Afro-Descendant Women and Power: Voice of Equity event.

As she gave a nod to the powerful women in her life, Meghan hinted at what is a very tight inner circle, which has only become stronger since she and Prince Harry made the move to California in 2020.

She said that, thanks to these women, she now encourages her own daughter, Lilibet, to speak up for herself like she was encouraged to do as a child. 

The Duchess said: ‘[I] encourage our daughter […] at three she has found her voice and we are so proud of that.

‘For me I find inspiration in so many of the strong women around me. My mother being one of them. Life is full of surprises and can be quite complex.

‘You see something wrong and you go and fix it. As women we are multi-taskers and fixers. We all know how much representation matters.’

As the Duchess shouts out her protective ring of strong and powerful women, we reveal the high-profile and loyal pals she keeps in her Montecito sanctuary… 

Doria Ragland 

Doria Ragland, 67, is the American mother of Meghan, 43, and the ex-wife of Thomas Markle. 

She married Thomas in 1979 but they divorced in 1987 and Doria raised their daughter Meghan as a single parent.

During her speech in Colombia, Meghan said her mother is one of the women who inspires her the most, before adding that life can be ‘full of surprises’ and ‘quite complex’. 

The mother-daughter pair are close, with Doria still calling her daughter ‘Flower’. She attended Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry in 2018 and also reportedly moved in with the couple and their son Archie in California in 2020.

She worked as social worker and a yoga instructor who has worked with the geriatric community. 

She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to a nurse mother and an antique dealer father and moved to Los Angeles with her family when she was a baby.

In 2022 she became an unexpected star after she took a leading role in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix series.

Speaking straight to camera, the mother was quizzed by producers about the first time her daughter told her about her new royal romance back in 2016.

Recalling their phone conversation, Doria says Meghan – who was starring as Rachel Zane in Suits at the time – whispered: ‘Mommy, I’m going out with Prince Harry.

Doria said: ‘I started whispering [and said] ‘oh my god!’ 

The mother and daughter also recount their experiences of the duchess’ childhood, with Meghan saying people assumed Doria was her nanny.

Doria says she felt like her daughter was ‘very mature’ and ’empathic’ – and shares how Meghan once told her she viewed her as a ‘controlling older sister’ rather than a mother.

Doria and Meghan are very close, and Doria made another cameo on daughter’s podcast in 2022, when she FaceTimed her while she was recording.

The Duchess of Sussex said the spontaneous moment made her reflect on the way in which Doria, who lives close by in Los Angeles, has supported her throughout her life.

Serena Williams 

Meghan and tennis legend Serena have been close friends since 2014 after having their first ‘real hangout’ at the DirecTV Beach Bowl, although they briefly crossed paths in 2010 at the SuperBowl. 

Meghan, who was starring on Suits at the time, wrote on her now defunct blog The Tig: ‘We hit it off immediately, taking pictures, laughing through the flag football game we were both playing in, and chatting not about tennis or acting, but about all the good old fashioned girlie stuff. So began our friendship’.

Following this, Meghan started watching Williams in tennis tournaments, including the US Open in 2014 and the Australian Open in 2015.

Williams recalled to Vanity Fair in 2017 that after Meghan started dating Harry, she told her: ‘You’ve got to be who you are, Meghan. You can’t hide.’

The tennis star and her husband Alexis Ohanian attended Harry and Meghan’s wedding in May 2018 – and then Meghan watched Williams at Wimbledon in June that year, alongside Kate in the Royal Box. They did so again in July 2019.

Williams then defended Meghan after the Oprah interview in 2021, writing on social media: ‘Meghan Markle, my selfless friend, lives her life – and leads by example – with empathy and compassion.

‘She teaches me every day what is means to be truly noble. Her words illustrate the pain and cruelty she’s experienced.’

In August 2023, Williams then appeared on Meghan’s Spotify podcast Archetypes and the Duchess recalled their first meeting.

She said: ‘I show up and I see you walking toward someone.

‘I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, who is Serena Williams going to talk to?’ I looked behind me and when I turned around, you were there right in front of me… We became such fast friends’

The pals recently linked up again at the ESPY Awards in Hollywood last month, where Prince Harry controversially accepted the Pat Tillman Award.

Serena and Meghan were snapped holding hands and catching up donning all their finery on the red carpet. 

Chrissy Teigen 

It is thought that Chrissy and Meghan’s friendship has grown since she and Prince Harry relocated to California.

Back in 2014, Chrissy and Meghan were snapped alongside Nina Agdal and Shay Mitchell in New York City as they participated in the DirecTV Beach Bowl at Pier 40.

The event gathers A-list celebrities, models and athletes for a competitive game of American football. Meghan and Chrissy can be seen posing and holding a trophy together.

The two also previously worked together as models on the TV game show Deal or No Deal at the start of their careers, showing off briefcases containing prizes for contestants.

Speaking to You Magazine back in 2018, Chrissy said: ‘I am especially a fan of Meghan. I was on Deal or No Deal with her and she was lovely. Now everyone asks me what she was like and I say, “Sorry, no dirt. She’s gorgeous”.’

Chrissy was asked what Meghan was like on Deal or No Deal by Andy Cohen, to which she responded: ‘Everyone wants a good story, and I’m like, I just remember very quiet and sweet. I got nothing…Really kind, and I don’t say that about anybody.’

Chrissy has praised the former senior royal for being ‘wonderful and so kind’ by reaching out to her with a touching letter when she was going through a tough time. 

Their closeness was echoed on social media when Chrissy and her husband John Legend, who live in Beverly Hills just a two-hour drive from Montecito, shared their joy at joining the Duchess of Sussex’s select circle of ‘jamfluencers’. 

Only 50 of Meghan’s closest friends were sent a jar of her strawberry jam during the ‘soft launch’ of her brand, American Riviera Orchard.

Chrissy and her husband tried the jam in a recipe on Instagram, claiming that the meal was ‘one of the best bites we’ve had all year’ and made them ‘happy’ for the entire weekend’.

At the time, she was also asked about her explosive tell-all chat with Oprah Winfrey in 2021.

Meghan and Harry’s bombshell interview sent shock waves around the world as the couple laid bare the extent of their rift with the Queen and other senior royals.

Chrissy revealed that she had spoken to Meghan after the interview aired but wouldn’t disclose what she said.

The model, who waited before watching the Oprah chat, admitted that it was ‘very eye-opening’.

Chrissy said: ‘I think when I ended up watching it, it was like, ‘Holy s***, this is big.’

‘But I also waited a long time to watch it, so I had already heard so much about it by the time that I got to it. But yeah, it is – I mean, very eye-opening. Very eye-opening.’

Asked whether she had any ‘extra tea’ surrounding Meghan’s interview, Chrissy insisted: ‘Extra tea? Um, no. Honestly, no.

‘She’s been very open about what she’s been open with, and I think honestly her truth has been her truth since the very beginning. So, no, I didn’t get any extra extra.’

Kris Jenner 

Meghan is seemingly close with the Kardashain clan, after Kris was gifted one of the Duchess’ exclusive jam jars.

Kris simply wrote ‘thank you American Riviera Orchard’ with a yellow love heart emoji.

Jenner’s jar was labelled number 13. The pair were previously pictured together, alongside Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, attending This Is About Huamnity’s 5th Anniversary Soiree in Los Angeles.  

As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex mix with the Montecito elite, it seems their paths frequently cross with the Kardashians among mutual friends. 

Last year, Meghan was spotted with her husband enthusiastically cheering and applauding as they attended a surprise vow renewal ceremony between Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia De Rossi.

The ceremony was held at their $70 million Montecito mansion – and officiated by none other than Kris Jenner.

Harry and Meghan were at opposite ends of the group, which included Brandi Carlile, and other friends and family of the celebrity couple.

Kimberly Williams Paisley

Meghan’s latest lunch pal, and seemingly a new addition to her Moms squad, is Kimberly Williams Paisley. 

The two were spotted this week at A-list favourite Italian bistro, Tre Lune, in Montecito at the end of last month – where Meghan also spent her 42nd birthday in August. 

The rustic food spot – which costs around $30 for a main course – is open around the clock for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Actress Kimberly, 52, is married to country singer Brad Paisley and the pair share two children, with the family often based in Nashville, Tennessee when not in Montecito. 

She is perhaps best known for her 1991 role in Father of the Bride, alongside Steve Martin, Diane Keaton and a young Kieran Culkin. 

From 2001 she became the co-star of According to Jim for a whopping eight years, even directing three episodes herself.

She then added appearances on show Nashville, Boston Legal and Two and a Half Men after According to Jim wrapped in 2009.

In addition to her acting work, Kimberly published her memoir in 2016 in which she opened up about learning to cope with her mother’s dementia.

Meanwhile in her personal life, Kimberly has been married to country singer Brad Paisley for more than 20 years and the couple share two children.

The duo are also known for their charity work. The pair have recently founded an initiative called ‘The Store’ to tackle food insecurity.

They met in 2001, and and he asked her to star in a music video of his. Before long, sparks were flying, and the couple now have two son together – William, 17, and Jasper, 15.

In 2021, Kimberly told the outlet that and and Brad ‘focus on the laughter and keeping a sense of play’.

Though her children may be older than Meghan’s, it appears the two mothers still have much in common as they were spotted deep in conversation even while leaving their lunch date.  

Kelly McKee Zajfen 

Kelly McKee Zajfan is one of Meghan’s closest friends in her ‘Montecito Moms’ squad.  

Kelly is the co-founder of Alliance of Moms, which supports pregnant and parenting teens in the foster care system.

The former model, who once described the Duchess of Sussex as an ‘incredible friend and mother’, was notably given jar number three of Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard jam, showing their close relationship. 

Their friendship goes back many years, even before Meghan first became a member of the Royal Family.  

They first became close through the Duchess’ ex-husband Trevor Engelson, who is pals with the former model’s entertainment lawyer husband Julian. 

Julian and Kelly are based in California, where the mother dedicates much of her time to her Alliance of Moms and Alliance for Children’s rights campaigns.

The Alliance for Children’s Rights is a non-profit providing free legal services and support for caregivers, adoptive parents and children in the care system in LA. The Alliance of Moms, which she co-founded, focuses on young people in foster care who are parents themselves.

Its work includes providing mental and physical healthcare, stable housing and therapy for these youths.

Much of the 44-year-old’s charity work is driven by her late son George, who suddenly passed away in 2022.

Since his death, Kelly has launched campaigns in his memory, such as the #sunsetsforGeorgie trend on Instagram where people took the time to watch sunsets, something her son loved to do.   

Meghan has supported Kelly through the grief of losing her son and she and Harry donated $5,000 to a GoFundMe fundraiser in the names of their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. 

Kelly – who is also mother to George’s twin sister Lily – herself has been open about her grief on Instagram, writing in October of last year that she was ‘not really okay’, while telling her followers: ‘The light everyday is dim. I try my best. We are all trying our best. I’m so broken.

‘I’m searching everyday to find some new way to mold the pieces back together and I’m completely aware that it may not all fit again.’

Last year, she posted a heartfelt tribute to Meghan on her account, praising the Duchess of Sussex for her support and for being such an ‘incredible friend and mother’.

‘You are always the first to say yes and support those you love. You are a fierce advocate for those who are in need,’ Kelly continued, while sharing an image of herself and the Duchess of Sussex both wearing ‘Community Motherhood’ T-shirts in support of an Alliance of Moms campaign. 

Kelly was one of those honoured with a preview of Meghan’s new lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, sharing a video of her enjoying the jam on a slice of toast. 

She previously shared a photograph of the product on social media, saying she was ‘so proud’ of her friend for the upcoming launch.

The jam was presented in a bowl of lemon’s surrounded by flowers, and Kelly wrote: ‘Ohhhhh Just a taste of what’s to come!!! So proud of you M.’

The Duchess of Sussex sent friends the limited-edition jar ahead of the formal launch of her brand later this spring with a range of items.

In March Meghan enjoyed a trip with her ‘skiing posse’, including Kelly and another close friend Heather Dorak.

The Duchess was pictured smiling with pilates business owner Dorak and Zajfen on the slopes of Powder Mountain near Salt Lake City in Utah, in an Instagram post shared by the founder of Pilates Platinum.

Princess Eugenie

Princess Eugenie was one of the first people Harry introduced Meghan to before they revealed their relationship back in 2016 – and he said in his memoir Spare that the women instantly became friends and were soon hugging ‘like sisters’. 

Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank were the first royals Meghan spent time with when she began dating Harry.

Prince Harry has been very close with his cousin Princess Eugenie since they were children, and that bond has strengthened.

The Princess has since visited the couple in California. Footage of her trip to see them featured in the Sussexes’ Netflix documentary – and they were also seen attending the Super Bowl together in 2022.

Meghan and Harry’s Netflix documentary revealed the close bond the Duchess has with Princess Eugenie.

A source told Us Weekly in December last year that Eugenie and the Sussexes are in ‘regular communication and FaceTime at least once every couple of months with the children’.

Harry and Meghan also went on a night out to a Halloween party in Toronto with Eugenie and Mr Brooksbank in 2016 – before the Sussexes had gone public with their relationship.

Misha Nonoo

Misha Nonoo is a friend of both Meghan and Prince Harry, and was a guest at their Windsor wedding in 2018.

She is a fashion designer and the former wife of Harry’s friend Alexander Gilkes. She is one of a few people rumoured to have set up the couple.

Meghan first met Misha when she was filming the TV drama Suits in Toronto, and they became good friends – even going away on holiday together.

Ms Nonoo was a guest at Harry and Meghan’s wedding, and they have worked together on a clothing line for the charity Smart Works.

Meghan has also backed her friend’s brand – wearing her ‘Husband’ shirt at her first public appearance with Harry at the Invictus Games in Toronto in 2017.

Misha and her husband Mike Hess are also known to be friendly with Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, having been pictured going for dinner together in London’s Mayfair in July last year.

Jamie Mizrahi

Meghan’s new stylist Jamie Mizrahi of course has her six-bedroom home in Montecito, where Harry and Meghan reside. 

It was revealed earlier this year that the Duchess had hired the ex-Juicy Couture creative director to ensure her wardrobe lined up with American Riviera Orchard.

The stylist has sons Yale and Cy, also has a long-term working relationship with Meghan’s neighbour Katy Perry.

The Duchess was seen having dinner with Jamie ahead of Katy Perry’s Las Vegas concert in November 2023, which was also attended by Prince Harry.

A source at the time told The Mirror: ‘They were deep in conversation. It looked like Meghan is going for a restyle and Jamie is the go-to stylist for every Hollywood A-Lister, including Katy Perry and Britney Spears.’

Jamie is married to Nico Mizrahi and, like Meghan, has two children. 

In 2017, Jamie was appointed Creative Director of Juicy Couture at the age of 29, and the next year it made its runway debut at New York Fashion Week. 

Jamie has in the past discussed how she helps her clients reinvent themselves – which may have attracted Meghan in the wake of her new career move with American Riviera Orchard.  

Tracy Robbins

Fashion designer Tracy Robbins was the first of Meghan’s friends to share a glimpse of her highly anticipated jam from American Riviera Orchard.  

Tracy’s website says she now resides in Montecito, giving her the proximity to Meghan she needs to join her inner-circle. 

Tracy owns the ‘Tracy James Collection’, which she launched in 2022 and she says is influenced by her extensive travels as a child. 

Tracy and her husband Paramount boss Brian Robbins are friends with the Sussexes and invited them to the Bob Marley film premiere in Jamaica in January.

Tracy and Brian share thee children: Miles, 26, Justin, 24, and Stella, 10. They also have three dogs: Brooklyn, Porkchop and Sprinkles. 

Tracy also shared a picture of Meghan’s jam on her Instagram story, writing: ‘American Riviera Orchard Breakfast, lunch and dinner just got a little sweeter.’

Showing it in a basket with lemons, Ms Robbins added: ‘Thank you for the delicious basket! I absolutely love this jam so not sure I’m sharing with anyone. @American RivieraOrchard Thank you, M! #MontecitoGoodness #AmericanRivieraOrchard.’

Tracy and her Paramount exec husband even joined Harry and Meghan on a double date in May for the former royals‘ sixth anniversary at Lucky’s Steakhouse in Montecito. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were spotted at one of their favourite restaurants in their hometown of Montecito, Lucky’s, an upmarket steakhouse where a 28oz porterhouse steak costs $175 and a side of hash browns will set you back $15.

Harry and Meghan were snapped enjoying their meal with a bottle of red wine on the table as they conversed with Brian and Tracy.

Victoria Jackson 

Meghan is said to be ‘extremely close’ to cosmetics tycoon Victoria Jackson, 68, who also happens to be her neighbour. 

Her husband Bill Guthy spearheaded lucrative make-up brands launched by actress Jennifer Lopez and supermodel Cindy Crawford.

A source in Montecito said previously: ‘Victoria is a dynamic force. She’s someone who built a business but has also overcome adversity in her private life. She and Meghan bond on many levels. They are extremely close, they adore each other.’ 

The 80s make-up entrepreneur was introduced to Meghan by Gloria Steinem, also a close friend of the Sussexes. 

Meghan even celebrated her 41st birthday at Jackson’s ranch close to Santa Barbara, where Harry plays polo for Los Padres, while Meghan used her home for her photoshoot with The Cut magazine. 

Archie and Lilibet have also spent time petting her mini pigs on her sprawling farm. 

Jackson appeared on an episode of Meghan’s podcast Archetypes and told The Cut that the couple are ‘good people’, saying she wants to help them ‘get out of the house because it’s complicated for them to go anywhere’. 

Jackson has raised millions through her Guthy-Jackson Foundation to help victims of autoimmune disorder Neuromyelitis Optica, from which her daughter suffers. 

‘Victoria knows all about building a brand but also about giving back,’ the Montecito source said previously. ‘She’s advising Meghan on many levels.’ 

Most recently Victoria and her brand ‘No Makeup Makeup’ were recruited to help Meghan with her make-up for the ESPY awards with Prince Harry earlier this month. 

Meghan donned a custom-made white Oscar de la Renta gown – which looked nearly identical to her wedding dress – and wore subtle but glowing makeup. 

Victoria wrote on her brand’s Instagram account: ‘You look stunning, Meghan! Thank you @danielmartin so much for your support with No Makeup Makeup’s red carpet debut! Xo Victoria.’

Abigail Spencer 

Abigail Spencer, 42, is one of Meghan’s Suits co-stars the Duchess appears to have kept close contact with after ditching her acting career for royal life. Other actors from the series have been notably cut from the Duchess’ life.

The actress was gifted the sixth jar in Meghan’s batch revealing in an over-the-top photoshoot that showcased her reclining in the grass with the precious preserve.

The jar of preserve was presented in a bowl of lemons surrounded by flowers, smiling in a sunny garden alongside her dog.

‘This jam is my jam,’ she told her followers. ‘A delicious taste of what’s to come indeed… love you so M.’

Meghan’s long-term co-star was one of those who starred in the Sussexes’ Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan.

In it Abigail said ‘she wasn’t allowed to say anything’ and did not know how to help Meghan’s struggles.

Their friendship was made incredibly apparent in the docu-series, with Abigail revealing that she was one of the first people to learn about Meghan’s then-secret relationship with Harry.

In April, Abigail joined Meghan and Kelly Zajfen to pose in ‘love like a mother’ T-shirts in the latter’s new Mother’s Day campaign for her charity ‘Alliance of Moms.’

In her Instagram post alongside Meghan, Zajfen thanked the actresses for ‘supporting this campaign and our youth.’

‘When we speak about the people in our lives who lift us up when you need it with undeniable force of pure love I think of these two,’ she wrote. 

Though she doesn’t live in Montecito, Abigail has a home round the corner in LA.  

Heather Dorak 

Pilates guru Heather Dorak originates from Texas but is also now based around the corner from the Duchess in LA. 

She and Kelly were the two close pals chosen to join Meghan on a ski trip in March – and she has been Meghan’s devoted friend for many years. 

The Duchess was pictured smiling with pilates business owner Dorak and Zajfen on the slopes of Powder Mountain near Salt Lake City in Utah, in an Instagram post shared by the founder of Pilates Platinum.

Dorak was also Markle’s tenth ‘Jamfluencer’, posting a picture on Instagram of her two sons Noah and Cody having it on toast. 

Dorak wrote in the accompanying caption: ‘Kid tested, mother approved! Thank you for the tasty homemade jam @AmericanRivieraOrchard. Love you, M!’ 

Dorak became Meghan’s coach when she worked on Suits and attended the royal wedding in May 2018 with her husband Matt Cohen.

She has been a key part of her North American inner circle since Megxit, visiting Prince Harry, 37, and Meghan in Canada in January 2020 shortly after they left the UK after stepping back as senior royals.

In 2022, she even celebrated the 4th of July with Meghan and Harry in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, showing the closeness of their friendship by joining together for the special holiday. 

Heather runs the Pilates Platinum brand, which the Duchess started attending in Los Angeles when she starred in Suits. It is believed to be how the pair met.

The Pilates Platinum classes are billed as an ‘inventive and aggressive’ approach to full-body fat burning and conditioning.

Meghan frequently shared snaps of herself and Heather on her now defunct Instagram account before it was closed ahead of the royal wedding.

In interviews published before her relationship with Prince Harry became public, Meghan gushed about her ‘amazing’ and ‘inspiring’ friend Heather.

Meghan once told Women’s Health Magazine: ‘There are so many workouts that you try out once and never go back to; Heather’s studio is the complete opposite.

‘You keep coming back for several reasons: first off, your body changes immediately… give it two classes and you will see a difference; second, Heather is amazing – as an instructor, as a friend, she is inspiring in every way.

‘Lastly, the people in class are cool, unpretentious, and motivating… and that is a testament to Heather’s energy.’

Heather has remained a member of the Duchess’ close-knit girl squad, and is understood to have masterminded Meghan’s secret hen do ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry.

Heather was spotted hiking with Meghan near the Sussex’s Montecito mansion after they celebrated Archie’s fourth birthday. 

The friends were also both pregnant at the same time in late 2018, with Heather being one of the first friends to visit the Duke and Duchess when they briefly lived in Vancouver after leaving the UK in 2020.