Meghan Markle is reportedly in full meltdown mode after Harper’s Bazaar shockingly admitted that her recent cover is considered the worst in their history—a statement that has sent shockwaves through the Duchess’s camp and ignited fierce backlash online. The 2025 December/January issue, which was heavily promoted as a defining moment for Meghan’s public comeback, instead turned into a PR disaster with criticism pouring in from fashion critics, social media users, and industry insiders alike.
According to reports, the magazine’s editorial team privately admitted the cover fell flat due to a combination of uninspired photography, poor styling choices, and Meghan’s bare-faced look failing to translate well in print. The once-fashion-forward icon now appeared “washed out” and “detached” in the images, with lighting and makeup choices widely panned for making her look “older and less vibrant” than expected. Critics slammed the shoot as lacking the glamour and sparkle that a Harper’s Bazaar cover typically demands.
The cover story itself, penned by a features director, also sparked outrage for being overly fawning yet contradictory—many readers noted Meghan’s self-description as “authentic” contrasted with what some called a staged and guarded public persona. PR experts called it a “trainwreck” full of strategic deflections, unintended admissions, and language that fueled accusations of narcissism and self-aggrandizement.
Meghan’s team is said to be scrambling to spin the backlash, fearing long-term damage to the Sussex brand at a critical moment in her career. On social media, commentary was scathing, with some users dubbing the cover “the worst in Bazzaar’s history,” and others sarcastically comparing Meghan’s style attempts to “a bad 90s throwback.” A particularly harsh X (Twitter) comment branded Meghan “100% like the bully, fake race-baiting fraud that she is,” reflecting the intensity of public division over her image.
This backlash comes amid other controversies surrounding Meghan, including previous celebrity snubs and ongoing legal battles, compounding the pressure on her to reinvent her public image without alienating her core supporters.
In summary, Meghan Markle’s Harper’s Bazaar cover has backfired spectacularly, leading to a meltdown within her camp after the publication admitted it was their worst ever. With a media storm brewing and social media backlash intensifying, Meghan faces a pivotal challenge to reclaim her footing and public favor.
