Gwyneth Paltrow, the founder of the lifestyle brand Goop, has publicly expressed her support for Meghan Markle as she navigates her own venture into the lifestyle industry with her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Paltrow reached out to Markle amidst the ongoing comparisons between their respective brands, stating, "There's always more than enough to go around. Everybody deserves an attempt at everything that they want to try." Addressing the competitive atmosphere surrounding women in business, Paltrow emphasized, "I was raised to see other women as friends, not foes. Another woman is never your competition."
Paltrow, 52, disclosed that despite living just down the road in Montecito, California, she doesn't know Markle well but admires her work. "I don't know Meghan and Harry. I mean, I've met Meghan, who seems really lovely, but I don't know her at all," she remarked humorously sharing, "Maybe I'll try to get through their security detail and bring them a pie."
Markle's lifestyle brand has quickly garnered attention and scrutiny since its recent launch. The series premiered on Netflix on March 4, and it showcases Markle hosting various guests while sharing tips on cooking, gardening, and more. However, the show has received mixed reviews, with critics often maligned its content, describing it as lacking substance yet engaging.
Paltrow added that she hasn’t seen Markle's show yet and admitted to the challenges of public scrutiny that accompanies such ventures, saying, "When there's noise about certain women in the culture, I do have, always, a strong instinct to stand up for them." This inclination to support fellow women in the limelight reflects a broader ethos in Paltrow’s life and career.
Ensuring that there's space for everyone to succeed, Paltrow conveys a strong message: "What is right for you will find you," another lesson she learned from her mother, actress Blythe Danner. This narrative serves as the foundation for the approach each of these women takes in their careers.
The Goop brand, launched by Paltrow in 2008, has been a considerable success, reportedly worth around $250 million as of March 2025 according to Forbes. It offers a wide range of wellness products including skincare, fashion, and home goods, alongside more controversial items that have attracted media attention over the years.
Despite the challenges that Goop has faced, such as restructuring and layoffs in 2024, Paltrow remarked, "We’re still here. We just had our best year." This highlights her resilience and her ability to navigate difficulties while maintaining a positive outlook on her brand's future.
The emergence of Markle's As Ever brand, which followed her rebranding from American Riviera Orchard, has drawn parallels to Goop. Markle aims not just to sell products featured in her Netflix series, but also to cultivate a lifestyle identity that resonates with her audience. As the Duchess of Sussex shifts into this new phase of her career, her efforts to break into this space will undoubtedly invite speculation and comparison with established figures like Paltrow.
In an interview, Paltrow underscored her willingness to support Markle and further noted, "It might just be that my role is to pave the way. By some instinct or curiosity or desire, I go somewhere and I hack through the path and I get the scratches of hacking through, but I make space for other people then to do it." This philosophy reflects not just on her achievements but also on how she views the ecosystem of female entrepreneurship.
Meghan Markle’s Netflix endeavor is part of a significant deal with the platform, and news reports have mentioned the venture could garner more visibility as they prepare for a second season, already filmed back-to-back with the first.
As viewers continue to dissect both the popularity and the criticisms of With Love, Meghan, Paltrow remains supportive of Markle's aspirations. In a culture often fraught with adversarial views on women’s success, Paltrow’s encouragement is a breath of fresh air stating, "Everybody deserves an attempt at everything that they want to try."
Critics of Markle's show have been quick to label it as lacking depth, with some claiming content such as arranging fruit into colorful displays comes off as disorganized theatrics rather than practical advice. However, Markle’s team maintains that her culinary skills shine throughout the series, which is designed to promote her brand rather than compete with existing lifestyle influencers.
As both women continue to navigate their careers in the spotlight, it remains to be seen how their paths will intersect in the ever-evolving landscape of lifestyle branding. With Paltrow’s long-standing experience in this field and Markle's recent entry, the conversation around their brands and the future of female entrepreneurship will continue to be a focal point in media discussions. As Paltrow succinctly put it, “Everybody deserves an attempt at everything that they want to try,” reflecting the spirit of collaboration and support that many hope to see thrive among women entrepreneurs.
