Latest news with #CassandraMoralesThurswell
Daily Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Telegraph
Meghan Markle opens up about years as struggling actress living in ‘little house'
Meghan Markle has opened up about living as a struggling actress in a 'little house' before landing her role on the hit legal drama 'Suits.' During the latest episode of her podcast, 'Confessions of a Female Founder,' the Duchess of Sussex spoke about what her life was like before finding fame. At the time, Markle had secured only a few minor roles in TV and film, Fox News reports. 'You come into my little house that I was renting, and I remember my closet — do you remember that closet door was within the bathroom?' she asked her former stylist, the CEO of hair and beauty brand Kitsch, Cassandra Morales Thurswell. Thurswell laughed and replied: 'Meghan, we'll call it a bungalow, we'll be chic.' 'It was a bungalow, and you had to walk through my bedroom, past my bed, past the shower and the sink, which were right there and the toilet and then right across from that was the door that opened into my very small closet.' RELATED:Insane amount Meghan, Harry pay staff Staggering fortune Harry, Meghan lost exposed 'Lonely': Insiders lift lid on Harry's sad life The former 'Suits' star continued to describe her early days as a struggling actress. 'This is pre-'Suits' for me,' she remarked. 'This is really early days when I was auditioning. And I just remember literally going through things, and you think, 'OK, here are a couple [wardrobe] staples that you need.'' Meghan added, 'This is important because it speaks to … you talk about not having a strategy but always hustling. And being able to say, 'OK, well, I don't necessarily know how to do this, but I'm going to figure out a way to be good at it.'' The 'As Ever' entrepreneur got her big break when she landed the role of Rachel Zane on 'Suits,' having only appeared as a guest in various TV shows or in minor roles in movies beforehand. She went on to detail her low-budget wardrobe with her former stylist. 'You called me and said, 'I just found the best pair of black patent leather Louboutin wedge flats. They're $200,' Meghan recalled. 'I remember going, 'That's as much as I pay – I cannot.' And you go, 'I promise you, you are going to wear [them].'' 'Do you know what's so funny? Of course, I wore those shoes until the red wore out. I wore those shoes on my final audition for 'Suits' when I booked the part.' Meghan left 'Suits' after Season 7. In the wake of her 2018 marriage to Harry, she quit her professional acting career and began focusing full time on her role as a senior working member of the royal family. In 2020, she and Harry made the shocking decision to step down from their official royal positions in order to relocate to California with their son, Archie, Realtor reports. Although they initially lived in a property owned by movie director Tyler Perry, the couple later snapped up their sprawling $US14.65 million ($A20.9 million) Montecito estate. The luxurious mansion is a far cry from the 'little house' that Meghan resided in before landing her role on 'Suits.' It boasts nine bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, and 7.4 acres of land, which the Duchess regularly showcases on her Instagram account. Parts of this story first appeared in Fox News and Realtor and was republished with permission. Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox. RELATED: Meghan, Harry savaged as 'local villains' Prince Harry's $200m UK secret revealed Shock couple in Prince Andrew-trashed Queen's pad
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Meghan Markle opens up about years as struggling actress living in ‘little house'
Meghan Markle has opened up about living as a struggling actress in a 'little house' before landing her role on the hit legal drama 'Suits.' During the latest episode of her podcast, 'Confessions of a Female Founder,' the Duchess of Sussex spoke about what her life was like before finding fame. At the time, Markle had secured only a few minor roles in TV and film, Fox News reports. 'You come into my little house that I was renting, and I remember my closet — do you remember that closet door was within the bathroom?' she asked her former stylist, the CEO of hair and beauty brand Kitsch, Cassandra Morales Thurswell. Thurswell laughed and replied: 'Meghan, we'll call it a bungalow, we'll be chic.' 'It was a bungalow, and you had to walk through my bedroom, past my bed, past the shower and the sink, which were right there and the toilet and then right across from that was the door that opened into my very small closet.' The former 'Suits' star continued to describe her early days as a struggling actress. 'This is pre-'Suits' for me,' she remarked. 'This is really early days when I was auditioning. And I just remember literally going through things, and you think, 'OK, here are a couple [wardrobe] staples that you need.'' Meghan added, 'This is important because it speaks to … you talk about not having a strategy but always hustling. And being able to say, 'OK, well, I don't necessarily know how to do this, but I'm going to figure out a way to be good at it.'' The 'As Ever' entrepreneur got her big break when she landed the role of Rachel Zane on 'Suits,' having only appeared as a guest in various TV shows or in minor roles in movies beforehand. She went on to detail her low-budget wardrobe with her former stylist. 'You called me and said, 'I just found the best pair of black patent leather Louboutin wedge flats. They're $200,' Meghan recalled. 'I remember going, 'That's as much as I pay – I cannot.' And you go, 'I promise you, you are going to wear [them].'' 'Do you know what's so funny? Of course, I wore those shoes until the red wore out. I wore those shoes on my final audition for 'Suits' when I booked the part.' Meghan left 'Suits' after Season 7. In the wake of her 2018 marriage to Harry, she quit her professional acting career and began focusing full time on her role as a senior working member of the royal family. In 2020, she and Harry made the shocking decision to step down from their official royal positions in order to relocate to California with their son, Archie, Realtor reports. Although they initially lived in a property owned by movie director Tyler Perry, the couple later snapped up their sprawling $US14.65 million ($A20.9 million) Montecito estate. The luxurious mansion is a far cry from the 'little house' that Meghan resided in before landing her role on 'Suits.' It boasts nine bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, and 7.4 acres of land, which the Duchess regularly showcases on her Instagram account. Parts of this story first appeared in Fox News and Realtor and was republished with permission.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meghan Markle Makes a Surprising Confession About What She Imagined Royal Life Would Look Like
It's safe to say that royal life is nothing like what imagined it would be, but she was even more thrown for a loop when she and welcomed their first baby just one year after tying the knot. Markle opened up about her motherhood experience while still being new to her role as the Duchess of Sussex during the May 20 episode of her Confessions of a Female Founder podcast while talking to Kitsch founder Cassandra Morales Thurswell. 🎬 🎬 "I will say, for myself, especially when they are baby babies and before I was a mom, I've always wanted to be a mom," she said. "I was like, 'Oh gosh I'm going to give a speech with a baby on my hip.' I had a whole vision.' That didn't exactly pan out for her. 'Granted, I had a lot of external things happening by the time I had both pregnancies and both babies,' Markle said, admitting, 'But it was not the way I envisioned it."Markle and Harry both seem much happier now that they're able to live more private lives in the United States, and they're more able to be the kind of parents they want to be... even if Markle has yet to give a speech with either of her children on her hip. But to be totally fair, hasn't exactly done that either, so maybe it's just easier to leave the little ones at home, royal or not.
Fox News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Meghan Markle says she struggled before fame and royalty
Before Meghan Markle booked her role as Rachel Zane on "Suits," or became the Duchess of Sussex, she had humble beginnings living in a "little house." During the latest episode of her podcast, "Confessions of a Female Founder," the 43-year-old opened up about what her life was like before finding fame. "You come into my little house that I was renting, and I remember my closet -- do you remember that closet door was within the bathroom?" she asked her former stylist, the CEO of hair and beauty brand Kitsch, Cassandra Morales Thurswell. Thurswell laughed and replied: "Meghan, we'll call it a bungalow, we'll be chic." "It was a bungalow, and you had to walk through my bedroom, past my bed, past the shower and the sink, which were right there and the toilet and then right across from that was the door that opened into my very small closet." The former "Suits" star continued to describe her early days as a struggling actress. "This is pre-'Suits' for me," she remarked. "This is really early days when I was auditioning. And I just remember literally going through things, and you think, 'OK, here are a couple [wardrobe] staples that you need.'" Meghan added, "This is important because it speaks to … you talk about not having a strategy but always hustling. And being able to say, 'OK, well, I don't necessarily know how to do this, but I'm going to figure out a way to be good at it.'" The "As Ever" entrepreneur got her big break when she landed the role of Zane on "Suits," having only appeared as a guest in various TV shows or in minor roles in movies beforehand. She went on to detail her low-budget wardrobe with her former stylist. "You called me and said, 'I just found the best pair of black patent leather Louboutin wedge flats. They're $200," Meghan recalled. "I remember going, 'That's as much as I pay – I cannot.' And you go, 'I promise you, you are going to wear [them].'" "Do you know what's so funny? Of course, I wore those shoes until the red wore out. I wore those shoes on my final audition for 'Suits' when I booked the part." Meghan stopped filming "Suits," a USA legal drama, after Season 7. The actress became the Duchess of Sussex when she married Prince Harry in 2018. Since then, they've welcomed two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The mother-of-two admitted she had a different vision for herself when it came to motherhood. "I will say, for myself, especially when they are baby babies, and before I was a mom, I've always wanted to be a mom," Meghan explained. "I was like, 'Oh gosh, I'm going to give a speech with a baby on my hip.' I had a whole vision. Granted, I had a lot of external things happening by the time I had both pregnancies and both babies. But it was not the way I envisioned it." In 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals and moved to California. The couple cited the intrusive U.K. press and a lack of support from the palace as their reasons for the move. Today, the couple call the wealthy, coastal city of Montecito home. Since her royal exit, the Duchess of Sussex launched her new lifestyle brand, As Ever, in April, selling a limited supply of fruit spreads, herbal tea, a limited-edition honey and other products, which quickly sold out in under an hour. Meghan additionally launched a lifestyle Netflix show in March titled, "With Love, Meghan."
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What's the Big Idea? The WWD Beauty CEO Summit Speakers Have Quite a Few
We live in volatile times. To understand how the leaders who are speaking at the 2025 WWD Beauty CEO Summit are approaching both the challenges — and opportunities — around operating in such a complex global environment, we asked them to share their thoughts with us on the key issues of today. For many — the bigger the challenge, the more exciting the opportunity. We asked: As you look to the next 12-24 months, what's the big idea that's going to move your business forward? Cassandra Morales Thurswell, founder and CEO, Kitsch More from WWD Saks Connections: Luxury Reset and Industry Shake-up Saks Arrived on Amazon, the Trade War Is Still on Its Way Saks Bondholders Prove to Be a Tough Sell Despite uncertain times — tariffs, market fluctuations, and industry complexities — we remain committed to what works: incrementality, diversification and meeting the customer where they are. Kitsch is championing this new movement in beauty: leaning into the power of incrementality. In a world that often demands overnight transformation, we're embracing thoughtful, step-by-step growth, both for our customers and our brand. We're curating collections that take the guesswork out of beauty, showing customers exactly what they need and how to use it. Our vision for the next 12 to 24 months is to expand our offerings, explore new channels and strengthen our brand ecosystem. Our approach is inspired by the steady, purposeful growth of iconic brands like Apple — where every launch builds on the last and deepens the connection with the customer. We don't believe in disruption for disruption's sake. We believe in progress that lasts. By staying grounded in authenticity and anticipating real needs, we're making beauty feel accessible, intentional and empowering. When you don't know what's going to happen, you stick with what works, and being responsible always works. By collaborating with partners, staying true to our values and genuinely supporting our community, we're ensuring everyone feels taken care of — even in the face of uncertainty. Incrementality is no longer a slow burn — it's the spark. It's the antithesis of the hero sku, it's a strategic play. And Kitsch is igniting a smarter, more sustainable future, one meaningful step at a time. Michelle Peluso, CEO, Revlon The current macro environment is very challenging, but I'm going to look past that to the impact technology and AI are already having and will continue to have on our industry. My career has always been at the intersection of consumer and technology. The shifts happening today in technology and AI remind me of the early days of digital — where whole industries began to get remade, company by company, click by click. Technology and AI already are and will increasingly remake: How we sense consumer demand How we design How we manufacture product How we organize supply chains How we market How we code How we sell How we solve thorny retail problems, like shrink How we provide service How we learn, and so much more AI already can produce compelling content, visual imagery, dynamic creative, innovative pricing models, automation of code, beauty and packaging design alternatives, sophisticated supply chain insights and asynchronous chatbot servicing, to name a few. Moreover, improvement cycles are happening at a rapid pace. With all of this in mind, the question is how do we future-proof our organizations? We need new models for hiring talent, faster and bolder process redesign, new skills, new teaming, new incentives, and, perhaps most of all, new security and governance models. Never for the faint of heart, revolutions in capability like the one we are in now offer tremendous opportunity for those who are both thoughtful and bold. Emily Essner, president & chief commercial officer, Saks Global My vision for the future is grounded in the notion that when our brand partners succeed, Saks Global succeeds, and even more importantly, our customer wins. In the near- and long-term, I'm energized by the opportunity to deepen our relationships with our brand partners and maximize the impact of our partnership by strengthening our connection and collaborating into action, we'll build the most compelling luxury assortment and bring it to life for customers in a way that is expertly curated to their preferences, ensuring that our customer remains central to our strategy. As the largest multibrand luxury retailer in the world — with scale, expertise and robust customer insights — Saks Global is uniquely positioned to make this vision a reality through our well-located store fleet and unique e-commerce experiences. From bringing the most inspiring fashion and beauty to our customers, to amplifying our brand partners through innovative and exclusive activations, I look forward to capitalizing on the opportunity to deliver luxury perfectly curated to each customer. Saks Global's luxury retail brands maintain distinct experiences — preserving their individual and rich brand identities — but all chart towards a common goal of offering the best luxury fashion in partnership with emerging and established designers. With this foundation, and the customer at the forefront of our strategy, we are delivering 'The Art of You,' an elevated and seamless luxury shopping experience that is personalized to every customer at every touch point. Freddy Bharucha, president, global personal care, P&G Beauty Organizational culture and operating values have the ability to meaningfully impact business growth either positively or negatively. This starts with empowered accountability at all levels, where every team member knows what they are accountable to deliver and are fully empowered to make the bold choices needed to get there. Game-changing ideas can come from every corner, so it's important to constantly work at nurturing curiosity, creativity and bold thinking at every turn while empowering employees to trust their intuition. While not a breakthrough idea, empowered accountability is a big idea that's often easier said than done, and critical to the success of any business. This looks like being able to stay humble to learn, hungry to win, and treating each other with kindness, which helps us stay ahead, even in an increasingly dynamic environment. Jaimee Lupton, cofounder, Monday Haircare, Daise Beauty, Laura Polko Los Angeles, Being Haircare Young women have long been a driving force in beauty. While the term 'Sephora tweens' was recently coined to describe high schoolers swarming beauty retailers with feverish intensity —excitedly strolling the aisles of a Sephora, Ulta or local drugstore has been a pastime for tween girls looking to express themselves and make their mark on the world through their beauty purchases. But now they are the leading force in beauty: Since 2023, Gen Alpha is spending more on beauty than any other generation. The context collapse of social media has meant tweens have gained an impressive knowledge of ingredients and routine in recent years, coupled with their almost insatiable appetite for novelty. Considering their virtually unparalleled enthusiasm for beauty and fragrance, many brands count them as 'accidental' customers as a result of trickle-down marketing — but there are very few brands meeting them where they are with aspirational yet age-appropriate product offerings. In late 2024, we launched Daise Beauty: a mood-matching range of fragrance and body care that will soon expand into skin care and cosmetics, encouraging collectability, personalization and a less-serious approach to beauty. We plan on continuing to create products and brands to meet the fast-evolving needs and tastes of Gen Alpha. Unlike the generation before them (Gen Z's direct and indirect spending power is upward of $450 billion, and this is predicted to increase by 48% before 2030) members of Gen Alpha tend to be more at the whim of parental spending. However, their tastes are mature, and they demand an offering that respects this. Brands looking to tap into this cohort must create with Gen Alpha front of mind, from community and values to packaging and product design, and digital spend and marketing activations. With Gen Alpha at the fore, the future of beauty is bright. Joey Shamah, cofounder, AS Beauty Brands At AS Beauty, our core strategy for advancing the business centers around strategic acquisitions. We have become experts in revitalizing brands that have experienced slow growth. By focusing on digital expansion, operational efficiency and scalability, we capitalize on the brand equity built over time, while doubling down on the brands' origins and roots. We also recognize that not all products are created equal, so we prioritize the ones that truly drive the business, allowing us to focus on what matters most and scaling these key items for maximum impact. Our track record speaks for itself: With our initial five brands, we have successfully repositioned them as leaders in their respective markets and categories. As we look toward 2025 and beyond, we're positioned to maintain this momentum by adding transformative brands to our portfolio. This approach not only strengthens our market position but also underscores our commitment to sustainable, bottom-line growth. Dr Julius Few, plastic surgeon and founder, Dr Few Skincare Dr Few Skincare represents the first-of-its-kind clean, scientifically tested and clinically backed skin care that has been shown to be significantly effective through peer reviewed science publication, meaning it has met the rigorous requirements for scientific journal publication, including unbiased panel review and strict scientific method requirements. Our formulations are designed to address unmet needs in the current marketplace for skin care The next 24 months will be dramatic for managing post GLP-1 (i.e. Ozempic) or glucagon-like-peptide-1-related changes to the body and skin. I've developed a new state-of-the-art topical formulation to address skin-related changes in those individuals on GLP-1 therapy. Patients who notice wasting and premature aging of the skin due to GLP-1 therapy now have an answer, our clinically proven topical rejuvenation product DermaReverse. We believe that this will be a significant anchor to our business and at the same time provide an unmet need. We also believe that there is a significant opportunity to address concerns in the appearance of skin while protecting the skin from the environment, a new area that we are calling Regenerative Biodynamic Cosmeceutical Skincare. Melis del Rey, general manager, health and beauty, Amazon U.S. Stores The big idea propelling us forward is our integrated approach to beauty, wellness and health across the customer experience. From where I sit leading Amazon Health and Beauty in the U.S., my team is witnessing firsthand how these categories naturally converge in customers' lives. Customers shop across categories, from cosmetics to skin care to nutrition regimes and personal care essentials, based on a condition they're experiencing, such as acne, hair loss, antiaging or menopause. Amazon is uniquely positioned to understand these interconnected condition-based shopping missions. Today's customers don't see rigid boundaries between offerings. They're seeking holistic solutions, including, in some cases, access to care and other health services. Looking ahead, we're strategically expanding beauty adjacencies to create a shopping experience that supports Amazon customers to discover the right solution for their needs, all in one trusted destination. Priya Nair, president, beauty & wellbeing, Unilever Beauty and well-being are deeply interconnected: Enhancing one enhances the other and compromising one compromises both. People no longer see the pursuit of beauty and well-being as independent of each other. In fact, nearly nine in 10 people say they don't feel beautiful unless they also feel good on the inside. They're now seeking solutions that support physical appearance, mental well-being and positively contribute to overall health. At Unilever, we've seen this shift happen and are converging beauty and well-being to meet these evolving consumer needs. Part of our approach involves the advancement of new thinking through market-leading science. Unilever R&D started exploring the wellness-beauty connection over a decade ago. In the last five years, we've initiated several programs to establish a direct link between beauty and well-being. For example, stress can accelerate the aging process, signs of aging in return contribute to lower self-esteem which in turn can lead to higher psychological stress. We're also continuing to deliver premium products that address consumers' desire for both beauty and well-being benefits. This can be seen across our portfolio with brands such as Nutrafol and Liquid I.V., where this connection is integral to their core proposition, as well as in new innovations from brands like Dove and Clear. Jamie Elden, chief revenue officer, Listrak The industry is facing a pressing challenge as it navigates the evolving relationship between in-store and e-commerce — amid rising consumer demand for seamless, personalized shopping journeys. Meanwhile, conversations between brands and consumers have evolved. Consumers no longer want to be 'advertised to.' They're interested in brands that communicate their values, participate in their topics of interest and contribute to their conversations. The challenge for brands is to deliver these kinds of hyper-personalized communications, ones that are simultaneously rooted in both the brand's core values as well as the consumer's individual interests, and have those communications be consistently personalized across touch points, from SMS and email to e-commerce and brick-and-mortar. Key elements include: Brick-and-Mortar Meets Technology: Physical stores must evolve into hubs of engagement by integrating technology, transforming stores into experiential spaces and ensuring that shoppers receive tailored recommendations. E-Commerce Becomes More Dynamic: E-commerce platforms must also level up, integrating elements like dynamic on-site product recommendations to help personalize the shopping experience and differentiate themselves from the competition. Marketing Automation as the Bridge: By leveraging technology, brands can understand each consumer, unifying data to deliver hyper-personalized campaigns. Platforms like Listrak empower brands to engage customers effectively with the right content, on the right channel, at the right time — creating a single customer view so you can market to individuals, not just email or SMS lists. By truly understanding each individual, brands can deliver personalized messages that resonate and drive results, by winning, engaging and keeping customers. Best of WWD The Best Makeup Looks in Golden Globes History A Look Back at Golden Globes Best Makeup on the Red Carpet, From Megan Fox to Sophia Loren [PHOTOS] The Best Hairstyles in Golden Globes History
